Thanks
I definitely mis understood - but you said “However, state uni is T30 and 10k/yr so I would choose it over a 90k/yr T25, for example.” - so I think you mis wrote.
You basically said, I’ll choose $10K over any over priced, high ranked school./
But now I understand:
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You have a prestige issue with your family - I get it.
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No one guarantees research or shadowing but ultimately what isn’t going to get you into medical school is Rice or UCB/LA (two different schools by the way). As I showed in the example above from Vandy and Duke, they have more Murray State, N Illinios and more as their residents.
The right school for you is the one where you can fit well, excel, get a strong GPA - the MCAT will likely be more you than the school. If you’re in a place with a ton of smart kids, is it as easy to stand out vs. a school where you might overperform?
If you don’t want giant classes, is UCLA the place to be??
So I would think - taking your parents out - what’s more in it for you.
Some schools, like Va Tech, have shadowing on campus, but it’s not assured.
Someone last week posted about Wofford, which has contracts for shadowing at hospitals. Is a smaller school like that a better fit?
Then you note the UCs because they are better in rank. So US News says they’re better, so they’re better? Do you really think going to UCLA is any better than Colorado or Delaware. Their student admission stats are higher, their weather is better and supposedly the food is better. If you like the quarter system and large classes, then go ahead and pay $80K+. But what exactly are you getting better for it than your top 30 for $10K? And what are the massive networking opportunities that you don’t have at any other school in the country?? And what exactly do you hope to get from them?
My kid was in a small sub group of honors program - she had networking opportunities - with diplomats and DC people and more - but she was in a poli sci program. But the school at large…not sure what you would expect from a large public school?
In the end, if you want med school, the true answer is - where are you going to do best.
You are better to go to Rowan or Robert Morris than Rice if you get a 3.8 instead of a 3.0.
You are better to go to a school where you will thrive - whatever that is - because if you’re happy, you’ll likely do better.
You know what doesn’t bring happiness?
Rank or prestige. You will be somewhere four years, day after day - and rank is meaningless to that. There’s lots of kids looking to transfer from top schools because they’re not happy…they likely don’t do as well academically. There’s a Vandy thread right now in fact.
So rather than pick a school because of a name, find a place where you will stand out - so that you’ll get great LORs for med school, etc.
In that sense, I think your search is highly misguided because it seems like it’s built on tidbits of info and not actually looking deep into a school and fit and given you have funds avail, visits.. Understand the parental pressures but that’s my perspective.
Bottom line - kids pick safeties over reaches every day - and do just fine. Both mine did.
So let’s say you don’t get into Rice, UCB, or UCLA and let’s say you don’t get into - whether the top 30 is - UF, UNC, etc. Don’t forget, the UCs won’t see your ACT - they are test blind. So you might be more UCR or UCM than UCLA or UCB.
Then what is your plan - because that’s a likely scenario?
The most important school - not your Rice / UCs but your safety - find one you’ll love.
Good luck.