Good premed programs that are not too competitive to get into?

[Anonymous]

Medical schools care much more about your GPA than the quality of the university's premed program. For that reason, a "good" premed program is one that doesn't curve core premed classes like orgo, chem, bio, etc. The easier it is to get an A, the better. For that reason, it would be a good idea to have a match-heavy or safety-heavy application profile, as there are downsides to being at a college where everyone is as smart and hardworking as you and there are only so many As.

Look into colleges that give merit aid (you can get your merit's worth while still being a big fish), large universities that aren't super selective (easy research opportunities), and BSMD programs (keep in mind these can easily be as selective as Ivies; apply one or two ranks below what you think is appropriate https://blog.collegevine.com/a-complete-list-of-all-bs-md-programs/), Early Assurance programs (these are conditional on performance at the undergrad, do your research and caveat emptor https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/medical-school-early-assurance-program/)

[Anonymous]

You need very good grades and MCAT scores to get into medical school. Where you do undergrad is not that important.

[Anonymous]

Also, if they can see themselves in a major that isn't biology, please choose that.

[Anonymous]

University of Vermont

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kalamazoo

+1 This is a great recommendation because this small LAC has a strong bio/chem department and happens to be in a small-mid-sized city where there is another big university (WMU) that produces a lot of healthcare professionals. Kalamazoo was home to Upjohn pharmaceuticals headquarters for a long time (which later became Pfizer which still has a presence there). The small city has 2 major hospitals which is relatively unusual too so students have within walking distance a lot of places to work on research, do observations and health care internships. Kalamazoo College is set up for experiential education so students are encouraged and supported to do these things--and can target their experiences to create an interesting history (e.g., medical care in international settings, healthcare outreach to low-income communities etc). Also, profs really get to know students so they write very personalized letters of recommendations.

I was also going to suggest Kalamazoo, but know the CTCL haters gotta hate.

I'm a K grad and a good chunk of my classmates are doctors, most nearing retirement. Nearly all of them went straight from UG, but a few pursued master's degrees in other areas, then ended up in med school - one even got an MSW, then decided they really wanted to be a doctor.

It's a unique small city with a lot more health/medical related opportunities than for a school that size. And for extracurriculars, they are even hosting the national mixed teams curling event this weekend. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kalamazoo

+1 This is a great recommendation because this small LAC has a strong bio/chem department and happens to be in a small-mid-sized city where there is another big university (WMU) that produces a lot of healthcare professionals. Kalamazoo was home to Upjohn pharmaceuticals headquarters for a long time (which later became Pfizer which still has a presence there). The small city has 2 major hospitals which is relatively unusual too so students have within walking distance a lot of places to work on research, do observations and health care internships. Kalamazoo College is set up for experiential education so students are encouraged and supported to do these things--and can target their experiences to create an interesting history (e.g., medical care in international settings, healthcare outreach to low-income communities etc). Also, profs really get to know students so they write very personalized letters of recommendations.

I was also going to suggest Kalamazoo, but know the CTCL haters gotta hate.

I'm a K grad and a good chunk of my classmates are doctors, most nearing retirement. Nearly all of them went straight from UG, but a few pursued master's degrees in other areas, then ended up in med school - one even got an MSW, then decided they really wanted to be a doctor.

It's a unique small city with a lot more health/medical related opportunities than for a school that size. And for extracurriculars, they are even hosting the national mixed teams curling event this weekend. LOL.

Oh, WMU now has a med school named after Stryker Medical Equipment also based in Kalamazoo.

[Anonymous]

You need to look at outgoing stats as well as incoming.

Lots of colleges, especially smaller, LACs proclaim that a very high percentage of those applying from them get into med schools, e.g., they might say "80% of Widget College students who apply to med school are accepted." What they all too often leave out is that there is a screening committee and it doesn't allow everyone who wants to to apply. As a practical matter, you may need the committee's endorsement to apply. WIthout it, you can't apply or you can apply but, since med schools are aware that Widget has a committee which reviews applicants and has not endorsed you, you are extremely unlikely to get in anywhere.

So, before choosing your safeties, figure out what their process is for medical school applicants.

Please understand that I am not claiming LACs aren't good prep for med school; most are. I'm only saying that you should be a bit skeptical of claims that 80% of Widget students who apply are accepted.

[Anonymous]

Case Western is great for pre-meds but there are many of them. I would imagine it's hard to stand out and is quite competitive. It's similar to Hopkins in this regard.

My advice would be to go somewhere more random (liberal arts), take the pre-recs, do well and get a great MCAT score.

(I went to Case for med school.)

[Anonymous]

This is what I don't understand about all the advice given here:

I've seen this same advice many times given on this forum - for medical school, it doesn't matter where you go to UG. Go to an easy undergrad and get a good gpa and do well on MCATs.

Usually, when posters say to go to an easy undergrad, they mean a lower ranked ug.

But, these two facts are also true:

It's still hard to get into medical school. Even if you have a good GPA/MCAT, you can still be denied entry into medical school. Look at poster 8:14. On this forum, I have read similar tales.

These kids are still in high school. How many high school students enter college thinking they want to attend med school but change their mind by sophomore year?

Given those two facts, isn't it still good advice to tell the kids to still pick the best college they can get into because of all the different opportunities that college will give them?

Let's say OP's son is able to get into UPENN. Sure, he may have an easier time getting into med school if he attends Juniata, but will he have as many opportunities for other things if he attends there? What if in his sophomore year he decides he doesn't want medical school. Would Juniata still be considered a better pick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a safety- but agree with Case Western. They have a med school.

+1
They also have an excellent BS-MD program although it is extremely selective.
With the Cleveland Clinic and UH Hospital system across the street from campus the availability of shadowing and research options is significant.

[Anonymous]

I went to HSYP and was pre-med. Decided to go a different direction (research) but I took all the pre-med courses and graduated with a typical pre-med major. I don't know a single person who didn't get into medical school who applied, with one exception and he was a bit of a weirdo. They didn't all get into top programs, but they got in somewhere decent. Obviously, anybody who can get into HSYP is already predisposed to being a good student as an undergrad and scoring well on the MCAT. If I had a choice, I'd go with an elite school again or else go to a SLAC where you are not just a number to your professors. You need people in positions of power who can get you internships, write LORs, and help you with coursework when you're stuck in order to get the best outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what I don't understand about all the advice given here:

I've seen this same advice many times given on this forum - for medical school, it doesn't matter where you go to UG. Go to an easy undergrad and get a good gpa and do well on MCATs.

Usually, when posters say to go to an easy undergrad, they mean a lower ranked ug.

But, these two facts are also true:

It's still hard to get into medical school. Even if you have a good GPA/MCAT, you can still be denied entry into medical school. Look at poster 8:14. On this forum, I have read similar tales.

These kids are still in high school. How many high school students enter college thinking they want to attend med school but change their mind by sophomore year?

Given those two facts, isn't it still good advice to tell the kids to still pick the best college they can get into because of all the different opportunities that college will give them?

Let's say OP's son is able to get into UPENN. Sure, he may have an easier time getting into med school if he attends Juniata, but will he have as many opportunities for other things if he attends there? What if in his sophomore year he decides he doesn't want medical school. Would Juniata still be considered a better pick?

The options people are discussing aren't usually between UPENN and Juniata. A student who can get into U Penn and can afford it, probably should go there because it supports many different opportunities. The decision would be more for situations like Pitt and Juniata. Pitt is higher ranked for what that is worth, but they can get an excellent education at both that applies to many areas of study and they would likely have better med school admit rates from Juniata if there were a strong student. It's not just med school admit rates, its also access to a supporting environment that works to keep you on the pre-med track rather than weed you out. That said, a weak student isn't going to get into med school period--doesn't really matter where they go to college.

Also, med school for many students isn't as open to change of mind as other majors. Many kids just know they want to be a doctor due to their life experiences or there is considerable family pressure to become a doctor and that's what they are expected to do regardless of their feelings. If that's the case, optimizing med school admission might make more sense for UG. If it's not the case, then optimizing school reputation and other aspects of fit might make more sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think any high stats kid should count on UVA or U Penn anymore.

UPenn is an ivy. Penn State has a 50+ % acceptance rate.

Yes, the really smart pre-med student would be in the Penn State program.

https://science.psu.edu/interdisciplinary-programs/premed-med-bsmd/admission-requirements
The Penn State-Jefferson Accelerated Premedical-Medical (PMM) is an accelerated BS/MD program where admitted undergraduates study at Penn State followed by admission to the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) College of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Students complete the seven-year program, three years (no required summers) at Penn State, followed by four years at the medical school.

The Penn State B.S. degree is awarded after the first year of medical school and the Thomas Jefferson M.D. degree is awarded after year four of medical school. More than 1,000 students have earned their B.S./M.D. degrees through this cooperative PMM program. Dr. Melissa Krajcovic is the PMM program director at Penn State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rice, Tulane, UNC

Rice has a program that you can get into medical school straight from Rice.

Not anymore. The program ended this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rice, Tulane, UNC

Rice has a program that you can get into medical school straight from Rice.

Not anymore. The program ended this year.

A lot of these 'straight admit' programs have been struggling and are becoming increasingly stringent in who they accept for straight admit and also having tighter rules on how you end up staying in a program. So a straight admit is less of a sure thing than it used to be.