COlsen573

but of course certain schools are indeed better than others, and looking online at stats and what a college says isnt getting a good picture. thats the point of these forums. im wondering how these schools falls into place.

ASMAJ

The school doesn't get you into medical school. Its what you do at the school that will get you in. Prestige will only play a very small factor. A school will pick a person with at 3.8, 34/35, EC's, research at UCF over someone with 3.2, 30, some EC's, no research at harvard.

COlsen573

ok, but theyll take someone with a 3.6, 33, some ec's research at harvard over a person with a 3.8, 34, some ec's research at UCF. hands down.

norcalguy

Not necessarily. The prestige of the school can add 0.2 onto the GPA (AT MOST). The MCAT is standardized so there's no reason to give someone from Harvard a bonus over someone from UCF. The point is that the prestige of the school is behind your GPA, MCAT, clinical experience, EC's, research, LOR's, personal statement, and interviews in importance. Now, if you can find two applicants who are exactly the same in all of those other categories, then, yes, the applicant from Harvard will be taken.

ASMAJ

I was going to response, but agree with everything norcal said.

COlsen573

as well, someone who goes to harvard will have a better chance at getting a better score on the MCAT's. when youre taught by one of the top professors in the world..i think this higher education will help you do better on it. just kidding. i know it will.

ASMAJ

Keep believing that.

norcalguy

Depends. The most famous professors do not always make the best teachers. Professors become famous for their research, not their undergrad teaching. This is why liberal arts schools may not have exceptional researchers but they still teach the premed courses better than top research schools. Besides, the MCAT covers orgo, intro bio, chem, and physics. Not exactly astrophysics. Most of these courses can be taught more than adequately by high school teachers. You don't need a Nobel Prize to teach Bio 101.

COlsen573

theyre at harvard because of their ability to teach as well as their intelligence. not just their record. dont generalize something you have no idea about because you didnt make it there.

COlsen573

(not talking to norcalguy). i can see where youre coming from. im applying to like 3 or 4 LAC's for pre-med. And like Rice, Northwestern..Tufts..pretty much sexy schools for pre-med

norcalguy

Your ignorance is quite astounding.

Bigredmed

Co...

Wow...you're really far off.

Average MCAT scores at Harvard are going to be higher than at a state school because one of the big things that is necessary for admission to Harvard is high tests scores. In general there is a positive correlation between all standardized tests - if you're good at one, then you're likely good at them all because you are a good test taker. It really has very little to do with the actual influence of the school.

Norcalguy has been here a long time, and knows what he's talking about.

The fact of the matter is that ANY school can be a great pre-med school if it is the right place for that particular student. If it's somewhere they can succeed academically, socially, physically and emotionally, that's going to be their best option, regardless of the name. It's far more important to excel SOMEWHERE than to barely get by at a big name school (and in my opinion it's better to go somewhere, do well, and be happy vs go somewhere, do well, and be miserable)

curious55

rutgers honors program or cornell university for premed. take into consideration competitiveness, workload, getting a high GPA. thanks

norcalguy

Choose the college you feel most comfortable at.

bluedevilmike

See post #1. And the accompanying summary: "There's no definite".