Excellent question. It would be good to understand this and this would help make the choice.
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Back in post #9, it was mentioned that 3.6 GPA and 513 MCAT applicants had a 57% chance of getting admitted to a medical school (typically just one), presumably after the usual dozens of applications.
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Thanks @WayOutWestMom for your time and inputs & @thumper1 - to you too. This is totally new information to us. We’ll definitely explore more on this. My daughter was really thrilled to have the BSMD acceptance. She also knows a couple of kids in undergrad but no one in Drexel medical school. We’ll definitely keep all these points in mind before coming to a decision.
What are these regional medical campus affiliates about? Do the students opt to do their training there?
Thank you for your inputs. We felt that she will be given better resources for premed in terms of personalized advising/resources/LORs in private premed schools though it is a bit more expensive. But I do see your point. Thanks.
Now I know what kind of questions to ask when we visit. We’ll try to reach out to the current students too. Thanks again.
what would you suggest as a good option from the list of premed colleges we have currently?
That may be - I didn’t understand the UMD and UW in consideration - vs. other publics that are much less expensive. I don’t see why they are worth - 20, 30K more than you could find (still) elsewhere at a like school.
I just spoke about debt with my dermatologist - as she was cutting away.
It’s a real thing!!!
But things have a cost in life and if you believe you are getting something for your money, that matters too!!
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@WayOutWestMom Sorry. Regarding the regional medical campuses in other states, I re-read and found the answer from your earlier responses for the regional affiliations. These will be for the away rotations depending on their residency then.
Well UMD is 10k more than the UC cost at 48k not 20 or 30. . Being in CA I know the location of Merced and riverside is big issue for many kids would not choose that location.
The student is on multiple UC waitlist at UCSB, UCSD and UCB and if one of them comes through yes choosing them over the other choices may make more sense.
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My point is - why not a UAB (for health) or Bama or MS State or others - maybe in the midwest - that for this student - assuming a top GPA and test score - could be sub 20K up to - in the 30s.
That’s just a few - there are others - so when I see UMD and UW, there are others substitutional that could save $100K - which at 8%, over 10 years - is $1100 a month!! Where’s it coming from?
But it seems like they are more focused on the privates and see value there - and that’s a different equation. My comment was specific to the two OOS publics mentioned.
Of course, everyone is free to spend how they want but given today’s medical has become corporate and doctors are more and more becoming employees - they themselves will tell you as my derm told me - debt is a serious issue for those in the industry. They will have financial strangulation for many many years.
btw - Riverside might be the best place for a UC kid to go if interested in med school…they certainly have a well defined program.
Again, OP obviously will go where they are interested - but was just providing a different perspective. Admittedly, I look at everything from a value bent - it has worked for my kids thus far.
School of Medicine Undergraduate Medical Education | (ucr.edu)
I understand the importance of staying out of debt . Having said that the student has selected these colleges based on the criteria they had and they may have eliminated others for whatever reason. I am not sure how adding more colleges to the list at this stage helps when they already have good options.
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And it isn’t…it’s what I threw out there. To me, I’d stay in state - and it seems like they are focused on CWRU or Drexel.
It’s just a post - like any, it can be ignored. Once in a while, someone says something that makes one thinks about something they weren’t aware of or opens a mind and that’s good too. Perhaps they weren’t aware of the UCR program (if they were admitted).
One never knows.
Thanks
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We’re in the DC area, and my daugter felt this way until her health challenges came back in September and wouldn’t go away. Something to keep in mind since they will be gone for 4 years.
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All medical school students have required rotations. In our experience, the medical school assigned these…student really had no choice. Some medical schools do provide lodging during rotations that are not near their campus. But some do not. I’d ask about this also.
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These required rotations are not dependent on residency choice. All students do the required rotations.
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I hope there is someone here with first hand knowledge of UC Riverside for premeds.
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I personally would go Merced. Great opportunities for research and mentoring. I know some outstanding profs there. People say there is nothing to do in the surrounding area, well less distraction that way…
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My daughter is currently a junior at UMD and is thriving there. The university offers excellent opportunities and support for pre-med students. She conducted research during the summer after her freshman year and for two semesters in her sophomore year. Additionally, she accumulated volunteering hours on campus and joined several health-related clubs, through which she volunteered in local communities and the DC area.
Did you daughter get accepted to (ILS) program? It’s an outstanding honors program where many pre-med students live in the same dorm, take honors classes, and/or other courses together. The program provides advisors and staff to support students during their first two years. It fosters a close-knit community where students learn and have fun together.
So, why UMD for us? It’s a great local school with in-state tuition and offers fantastic opportunities and support. I’m sure there are several schools like that in your state, but the big question is, "Will your daughter like the school?
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I think being instate v. paying OOS tuition(ie., twice more) is key here.
ILS is an awesome program and those admitted definitely have a leg up for med school admissions.
https://www.ils.umd.edu/overview
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Totally agree. That was one of the factor, when my daughter applied to college there years ago. She also wanted to apply to a few BS/MD programs but only applied to Pitt GAP, where she got invited to apply but got rejected later. 
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The value is that it takes the uncertainty out of the med school application process. The student knows they will be going to med if they meet the criteria of the program.
Med school admission is holistic, but stats are the basis of the first round of culling applicants.
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