Medical school?

Question

Can anyone reccomend some good medical schools in the south, south-east? I'm thinking about going to med school then doing a 4-7 year internship to become a surgeon?

Thanks.

Answer 1

You need to buy an MSAR (Medical School Admissions Reference -- I think, it's been a few years) and do some research. Matriculants have an average 3.6 undergrad gpa, 3.5 science gpa, and a 30 MCAT score. Additionally, 1 year blocks of prerequisites such as chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biology, english, and sometimes calculus or biochemistry must be completed, preferrably with As in each. If you've got all this, plus volunteer experience, clinical exposure like shadowing, research experience, and leadership activities, you should (fairly soon) visit the AMCAS website and fill out an application for fall 2008 entrance. If you're deficient in any of these, take a year to improve and apply for 2009. If you still have to take prereqs or the MCAT you want to aim more for entrance in 2010.

It sounds like you're a bit naive about this process. It's extremely complicated, time-consuming, and expensive, so you want to do things right the first time. First, there are MD schools and DO schools, with each having historically different ideals but practically speaking the differences are minor. Second, there are private schools and state schools. Nearly all state schools give 90%+ of their seats to in-state residents, and the out-of-state tuition is typically much more (say $25,000 vs. $35,000/yr) and admission requirements much higher in terms of stats, so it's not realistic to apply to lots of these. Third, nearly every med student changes their specialty interest at least once, so don't get fixated on this surgery thing.

Regarding your question, you really don't want to limit yourself to a specific region, especially the southeast which has few private colleges. Typically people apply to their state school(s), plus 10-15 private schools that their stats line up best with. So if you live in AL, with a 3.9 and 36 MCAT, you might apply to USA and UAB plus Duke, Emory, UWSTL, Yale, Harvard, Baylor, Tulane, Stanford, etc. If you're more like a 3.3/28 you might apply to your state schools plus DO schools, because Duke and Yale are wholly unrealistic. The application and interview process alone can cost upwards of six grand and take a year to complete, so like I said do your research, choose wisely, and do it right the first time. Hope all this helps. Check out http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ for loads more info.

Answer 2

Duke.

You can see Medical School rankings at US News & World Reports. Check out their web site.

A word of caution -- graduate schools should not be chosen based on geography.

Answer 3

University of Nebraska Omaha
but visit a few, apply to more, see who will take you and what programs they offer money wise...in nebraska you can go thru the RHOP program and they pay your way if you agree to do rural medicine..after getting acceptance papers..then decide based on who has the best program, and offers the best finiancial package

Answer 4

It depends on which state you are living in. I live in Iowa and a good medical school will be University of Iowa.