small LAC or state flagship for pre-med?

[Anonymous]

Can't make the decision. For my DD it's between UVA and Oberlin. But the question here is more general. Is it better to go with a LAC that has smaller class size and better access to professors vs. a research university with access to the hospital and research opportunities?

[Anonymous]

Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee has access to St. Jude's hospital.

Access to a medical facility for shadowing & volunteering is important for one to decide whether or not a career in medicine is his or her true calling.

We have many doctors in our family, one quite well known (wrote the most widely used text on a certain type of surgery) & later became president of a medical school. None went to small schools.

In my view, the University of Virginia would be the easy choice over Oberlin regardless of major or career goal other than for music.

[Anonymous]

State university with it's own teaching hospital

[Anonymous]

GPA matters a lot for med school. I imagine smaller classes, more resources, easier to get a high GPA at an LAC like Oberlin than a flagship like UVA. Oberlin probably has an office dedicated to helping premeds get in.

You can do hospital time in the summer. Also researching with professors (I always question how legit undergraduate research really is but apparently we've decided it's a prerequisite for colleges) may be more accessible at Oberlin.

In any other instance, I would, without hesitation, pick UVA over Oberlin or any LAC. But if your tunnel vision objective is to get into medical school, I think Oberlin and small LACs in general are the better option.

[Anonymous]

Summers can be used for research, shadowing, and other opportunities that Oberlin probably lacks. Pick the school that is the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summers can be used for research, shadowing, and other opportunities that Oberlin probably lacks. Pick the school that is the best fit.

But, some students do these type of activities the entire year (12 month--not just academic year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GPA matters a lot for med school. I imagine smaller classes, more resources, easier to get a high GPA at an LAC like Oberlin than a flagship like UVA. Oberlin probably has an office dedicated to helping premeds get in.

You can do hospital time in the summer. Also researching with professors (I always question how legit undergraduate research really is but apparently we've decided it's a prerequisite for colleges) may be more accessible at Oberlin.

In any other instance, I would, without hesitation, pick UVA over Oberlin or any LAC. But if your tunnel vision objective is to get into medical school, I think Oberlin and small LACs in general are the better option.

Are you confusing law school with medical school ? Your last statement is inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a completely personal decision. both schools have a lot to offer, but they are extremely different from one another, and it really should depend on fit because that will lead to success.

[Anonymous]

Realistically during a busy academic semester, these side activities are just not going to be that productive. Summer is a great time for them. A lot of research can be done remotely these days if that is a priority.

[Anonymous]

Both schools are good enough if your kid is committed and driven. Neither is good enough if she’s not.

[Anonymous]

Would a pre-med undergrad ever have a need to access a teaching hospital? The pre-med emphasis will be on core sciences and not actual medicine.

[Anonymous]

It would have nothing to do with coursework. Only reason would be for a side activity like shadowing.

[Anonymous]

There are often excellent research opportunities for students at LACs. My sophomore (at a different LAC) is about to start in a research group. And Oberlin is 11th per capita for students who go on to receive Ph.D.s in Biology, so I'd be surprised if there weren't good research opportunities there. (https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/top-feeders-phd-programs#biological-sciences)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would a pre-med undergrad ever have a need to access a teaching hospital? The pre-med emphasis will be on core sciences and not actual medicine.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GPA matters a lot for med school. I imagine smaller classes, more resources, easier to get a high GPA at an LAC like Oberlin than a flagship like UVA. Oberlin probably has an office dedicated to helping premeds get in.

You can do hospital time in the summer. Also researching with professors (I always question how legit undergraduate research really is but apparently we've decided it's a prerequisite for colleges) may be more accessible at Oberlin.

In any other instance, I would, without hesitation, pick UVA over Oberlin or any LAC. But if your tunnel vision objective is to get into medical school, I think Oberlin and small LACs in general are the better option.

Are you confusing law school with medical school ? Your last statement is inaccurate.

No, not confused at at all. Just sharing my opinion about what best prepares students for medical school, based on my experience in family with multiple doctors.

Both UVA and Oberlin are great schools, I have no connection to either. But I think it's a bit easier to get resources and a good GPA as a premed at an Oberlin than at a UVA. Think small classes versus massive lecture halls designed to weed students out. Whatever research opportunities one might have access to at a UVA won't counteract a worse GPA.

The surest way to get into med school are stellar MCAT and GPA, alongside volunteering/research experience and a narrative to your application. But the stellar MCAT and GPA are non-negotiable, and I think a bit easier to do at an LAC.