Second year transfer from UMD to UVA for Biology Major

[Anonymous]

UVA acceptance rate is 24%
UMD acceptance rate is 44%

they are worlds apart

[Anonymous]

The question from OP remains if transferring to UVA would help with opportunities and better chances to Med school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't live in either state but consider UVA as vastly superior to UMD. FWIW Europeans applying to US universities have heard of UVA but not UMD unless under rare circumstances (US relatives).

If it's cheaper its even better

But I don't understand all your questions OP. These should have been explored BEFORE applying for the transfer, surely?

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings

UMD #57
UVA #119

Those Europeans must be provincial.

I'm sorry to say your numbers and attempt to be insulting is actually meaningless. I'd not send my kids to either place, but coming from London (Chelsea) originally, all the rich kids who want to go to US universities either apply to the Ivies or UVA. That's just how it roles.

Too bad they don't teach people how to spell in London!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question from OP remains if transferring to UVA would help with opportunities and better chances to Med school

I think OP isn't very wise to med school applications for even asking this question. What type of research opportunities and ECs is her kid going to get involved in and which of these two schools/places has these kinds of opportunities. Tons of med school applications majoring in biology from state flagships with high GPAs and high MCATS. What else is setting them apart?

[Anonymous]

Look up the percentage of successful applicants to med school from each college

??

[Anonymous]

ok op I found these quotations from US news:

1. University of Maryland 2023-2024 Rankings
32 (tie) in Best Medical Schools: Research and No. 22 (tie) in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care.

2. University of Virginia 2023-2024 Rankings
University of Virginia is ranked No. 30 (tie) in Best Medical Schools: Research and No. 53 (tie) in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP
My UMD kid starts med school in august
UMD had great prehealth advising, prepared him well for the MCATs and offered good research opportunities. However, as with any big school you have to seek out help and opportunities.
The biggest problem was getting clinical experience and in my opinion this is probably the main advantage of UVA - having a teaching hospital on campus is going to provide many and varied opportunities for clinical experience.
In Maryland, the med school is in Baltimore and there aren’t any teaching hospitals in college park.
In terms of prestige, honestly I don’t think that matters very much for med school. In any case, UMD stem programs are probably comparable to UVA. The humanities is probably where UVA has a real edge.
I am assuming you live in Virginia. In which case another key advantages of transferring is to get in state tuition so you can save your money for med school. At that stage, you typically go where you get in regardless of price. Relatively few students get multiple acceptances.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for your response.
You are right about the clinical experience where DS has to look away from the campus.
He has a summer clinical research opportunity and doing another medical science research at UMD Medical School in Baltimore and trying to volunteer with local hospitals. How many hours do you think clinical experience is good for the application?
We are VA residents but the cost is not much different between the two after the Merit aid in UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA acceptance rate is 24%
UMD acceptance rate is 44%

they are worlds apart

UVA is now 16.3%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA acceptance rate is 24%
UMD acceptance rate is 44%

they are worlds apart

what does that mean for medical school acceptance?

[Anonymous]

UVA is very weak in STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP
My UMD kid starts med school in august
UMD had great prehealth advising, prepared him well for the MCATs and offered good research opportunities. However, as with any big school you have to seek out help and opportunities.
The biggest problem was getting clinical experience and in my opinion this is probably the main advantage of UVA - having a teaching hospital on campus is going to provide many and varied opportunities for clinical experience.
In Maryland, the med school is in Baltimore and there aren’t any teaching hospitals in college park.
In terms of prestige, honestly I don’t think that matters very much for med school. In any case, UMD stem programs are probably comparable to UVA. The humanities is probably where UVA has a real edge.
I am assuming you live in Virginia. In which case another key advantages of transferring is to get in state tuition so you can save your money for med school. At that stage, you typically go where you get in regardless of price. Relatively few students get multiple acceptances.

Finally the best answer after reading a lot of useless and bad advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP
My UMD kid starts med school in august
UMD had great prehealth advising, prepared him well for the MCATs and offered good research opportunities. However, as with any big school you have to seek out help and opportunities.
The biggest problem was getting clinical experience and in my opinion this is probably the main advantage of UVA - having a teaching hospital on campus is going to provide many and varied opportunities for clinical experience.
In Maryland, the med school is in Baltimore and there aren’t any teaching hospitals in college park.
In terms of prestige, honestly I don’t think that matters very much for med school. In any case, UMD stem programs are probably comparable to UVA. The humanities is probably where UVA has a real edge.
I am assuming you live in Virginia. In which case another key advantages of transferring is to get in state tuition so you can save your money for med school. At that stage, you typically go where you get in regardless of price. Relatively few students get multiple acceptances.

Finally the best answer after reading a lot of useless and bad advice.

speculation and generalization, which is most of what you get here, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is very weak in STEM.

Oh hi, usual UVA critic who has nothing to back up this statement...you're late to the party!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is from UMD website, nearly 400 were admitted to Med schools in 2023. Not sure if UVA publishes similar information.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ILvCSq1Ido5_ZDYKeJKZ9Cyv5FofP5WI1PxXGdxX_sY/edit#gid=1783452268

It isn't unique individuals accepted or applying ,so not sure it is useful.