DC wants to transfer to UDC

[Anonymous]

DC is a sophomore in one of the DMV privates. Unable to enroll in a physics class for both fall and spring semesters, he is taking the course at UDC (part of the Consortium of Universities). Yesterday was the first lesson. He came home excited saying that finally he has a professor who is actually teaching instead of just assigning work. He also said that the lab portion was great because all students were helping each other and that the teacher was accessible during the experiment. This morning he went and sat at a biochemistry and a psychology class. He texted me (I am at work) saying that all the professors are really good and that he wants to transfer to UDC for next year.

He has a very sweet deal at his current university (sports scholarship) but has been consistently unhappy with the quality of the teaching saying that it's like going to an online college because the professors lecture the entire time, assign work and tell students to go see a tutor when they need help. DC has been doing alright so far (3.54 GPA) so it's not a grade issue.

Should I intervene? He is in a premed track.

[Anonymous]

I will be interested to see what advice your DS gets here.
I work with someone who recently graduated from UDC and the quality of this persons writing and is excellent and their analytical skills are impressive. Speaking to them about their thoughts on their time at UDC they stated that at no other school would they have been able to work so closely with the head's of departments. Their experience was that everyone they wanted to access was accessible for them and they built relationships that led to summer opportunities.
That being said I do not see the connections they have made being of much help as this person navigates admission to law school and seeks to secure higher income while they continue their education.
I wonder if UDC is a gem for a true solid education but as a springboard to a 'successful' career how much they have to offer.

[Anonymous]

Find out their admit rate for med school.

Also, can you share the name of the local private? It might help others avoid what sounds like a less than optimal educational environment.

[Anonymous]

My former roommate graduated with honors from UDC and went to grad school somewhere in Miami.
My friend did her 2 years at UDC CC and transferred to UMUC. She works as a RN in Georgetown university hospital. She got a job working at the hospital (Providence I think) while at UDC already.
I got my BA there and I might go back for my masters. The head of my department was very accessible and so are the teacher.
I have been to 4 different colleges here and abroad. we judge UDC by the kids who go there. There are plenty of hardworking kids who do well there. Lots of foreigners because it's one of the cheaper options.
I had some really good teachers there. My finance teacher was awesome, so was my literature teacher, Spanish teacher and the accounting teacher. Omg, forgot the math teacher, Mr. Bullock. Hope is he still there. We followed certain teacher. Not because others were bad, but we knew the good ones.

[Anonymous]

It will be a miracle to get into med school, not just from UDC but coming from UDC won't help. Not saying he shouldn't transfer, but having done only "alright" so far (even though a 3.54 OUGHT to be very, very good), that ship may have already sailed.

[Anonymous]

There are some programs at UDC that are very unique and world class.

I know it gets a bad rep, but we have a gem of a local University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]It will be a miracle to get into med school[/b], not just from UDC but coming from UDC won't help. Not saying he shouldn't transfer, but having done only "alright" so far (even though a 3.54 OUGHT to be very, very good), that ship may have already sailed.

What do you mean PP? (not the OP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]It will be a miracle to get into med school[/b], not just from UDC but coming from UDC won't help. Not saying he shouldn't transfer, but having done only "alright" so far (even though a 3.54 OUGHT to be very, very good), that ship may have already sailed.

What do you mean PP? (not the OP)

The average undergrad GPA of med school admitted students is north of 3.7. Closer to 3.8, really, and well above that for schools most people have heard of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Find out their admit rate for med school.

Also, can you share the name of the local private? It might help others avoid what sounds like a less than optimal educational environment.

It's gotta be AU, GW, or GU. There are a few other privates in the consortium, but all three of those offer sports scholarships and are close enough to UDC to make the commute feasible (so, most likely AU). Odds are the student isn't at Marymount or Galludet. That leaves Catholic and Howard as the only other options.

I'm curious what he finds superior about UDC's teaching. College is a lot of lecture, until you get into upper level courses that are discussion heavy. There is a lot of assigned work to do outside of the classroom. And tutors are available to students (free at some school!) and a resource they should take advantage of.

Full disclosure, I did my MA at one of the consortium privates, and my doctorate at another (and worked in a non-academic capacity at a third!).

[Anonymous]

OP here.
Thanks for the comments. He feels that the teachers at his current college are very passive and lecture what’s already in the textbook.
Labs have been a problem since there is no help. Once he got so frustrated that I had to ask a co-worker’s husband who works at NIH to help him out. It turns out that there was a specific way of conducting that particular experiment that the teacher never bothered to mention— however told the students that if they were unable to identify all the bacteria correctly after 3 attempts, the grade for the experiment will be an automatic “F”.
He said that at UDC, students were all helping each other and the professor was present and actively guiding them.
At his current school, he does not feel he is getting prepared for the MCAT. I do not agree with the poster who claims a minimum GPA of 3.7 is needed for med school admissions. That’s not necessarily true especially if the MCAT score is high and the student has considerable research and other related work experiences. I know several people who have graduated from “lower level” institutions (including DO schools) and have turned out to be very competent physicians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thanks for the comments. He feels that the teachers at his current college are very passive and lecture what’s already in the textbook.
Labs have been a problem since there is no help. Once he got so frustrated that I had to ask a co-worker’s husband who works at NIH to help him out. It turns out that there was a specific way of conducting that particular experiment that the teacher never bothered to mention— however told the students that if they were unable to identify all the bacteria correctly after 3 attempts, the grade for the experiment will be an automatic “F”.
He said that at UDC, students were all helping each other and the professor was present and actively guiding them.
At his current school, he does not feel he is getting prepared for the MCAT. I do not agree with the poster who claims a minimum GPA of 3.7 is needed for med school admissions. That’s not necessarily true especially if the MCAT score is high and the student has considerable research and other related work experiences. I know several people who have graduated from “lower level” institutions (including DO schools) and have turned out to be very competent physicians.

We need better than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thanks for the comments. He feels that the teachers at his current college are very passive and lecture what’s already in the textbook.
Labs have been a problem since there is no help. Once he got so frustrated that I had to ask a co-worker’s husband who works at NIH to help him out. It turns out that there was a specific way of conducting that particular experiment that the teacher never bothered to mention— however told the students that if they were unable to identify all the bacteria correctly after 3 attempts, the grade for the experiment will be an automatic “F”.
He said that at UDC, students were all helping each other and the professor was present and actively guiding them.
At his current school, he does not feel he is getting prepared for the MCAT. I do not agree with the poster who claims a minimum GPA of 3.7 is needed for med school admissions. That’s not necessarily true especially if the MCAT score is high and the student has considerable research and other related work experiences. I know several people who have graduated from “lower level” institutions (including DO schools) and have turned out to be very competent physicians.

My niece is applying to med school now. I think the MCAT matters more than grades. OP you may just want to find out what UDC's track record is with medical school. But the other thing to think about is perhaps your kid needed a different type of school? What about UMBC? There may be other more appropriate options for schools that have supportive environments.

[Anonymous]

pp, his current school does not have a strong track record with medical school. Most of the biochemistry majors are in the premed track and the competition is fierce. That's one of the reasons every student is for her/himself, including tutors who are graduate students themselves applying to med school. Grade deflation has been an issue as certain teachers give simple letter grades (no + or -). For example in microbiology, anything under 94 is a "B". SO basically an 85 % is the same as a 93.4%. His track has been advised to pursue an MS in sciences before applying to med school.
He definitely has the grades to transfer to a state school in VA or MD. However he has a medical issue that needs to be monitored. UMBC will be a bit difficult as I do not have the luxury of of telecommuting. We will look into UMD College Park.

[Anonymous]

Gotta be Georgetown or GW. Very "sink or swim" mentality in the science programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gotta be Georgetown or GW. Very "sink or swim" mentality in the science programs.

I don't think that is a bad thing in relation to the medical profession. Perhaps those that need hand holding are not equipped for the rigors of medical school and the practice of medicine.