You know what?
Kids are academically strong enough and organized enough and motivated enough to get into a BA/MD are highly likely to continue to be academically strong, organized and motivated to do what it takes during college to get into a medical school via the traditional pathway.
There is no reason for a student to attend a college that they don’t like. They only get to live their life once. Let them choose how to live it.
So…is the BS/MD at FAU? and the student likes it because of med school but doesn’t like it for undergrad? Is that correct?
My daughter was a biology major, chemistry and Hispanic Studies minors at UNC. She was OOS and considered herself to be premed for all 4 years.
To the OP: your student is obviously very, very impressive and there is no reason why he/she would not have a high gpa at UNC if he/she put in the time. Both grade inflation and grade deflation have been reported by students who never…ever…attended UNC. My daughter did not find either to be true.
My daughter did research starting in the fall of her freshman year. Anybody who wants research will do research. She was also published a few times.
You said most at UNC take gap years. Most at any school take gap years- that is not unique to UNC.
My daughter had a volunteer position at the hospital, was involved in clubs on campus, and spent 2 years working with a family of refugee status. There are MANY opportunities available. She shadowed during school breaks. She was also paired with a current medical student who she met with 1-2x a month.
Let’s discuss a Plan B. Before becoming a biology major she was in the school of public health (nutritional sciences) and this was the perfect Plan B…but not for her. She liked straight science, so she switched to bio. FYI she has friends at UNC who went on for PT, PA, teaching, biostats etc… lots of Plan Bs. Her friend who was a psych major took a job in a private school teaching math. Another FYI about the Gillings School of Global Public Health- she continued her research there (one of her positions) even after leaving public health.
Well…junior year she received an email from Teach for America inviting her to interview. She went through a series of interviews and was accepted. This became a temporary Plan B…her second Plan B. FYI: TFA is highly valued by medical schools. If she wanted to continue teaching after completing TFA, she could have. TFA paid for most…almost all…of her masters.
She did this…stayed a little longer…and then accepted a position in a hospital. She worked under MDs and PhDs, completed patient interviews, attended conferences, was on a DEI committee, and was trained to complete a specific medical procedure. This could have been a delayed Plan B, as they offered to pay for her masters. They actually offered her the job at the same time that she began TFA (June after graduation). She returned to this hospital after TFA.
IMO she was a strong applicant (nothing is guaranteed and most do not get accepted) but decided against medical school. She found the career which is very well suited to her interests, and that she loves… and is truly her calling. She is back in school now completing that degree. That application process was also exhausting and stressful.
I am not in agreement with some of your opinions regarding UNC…. Specifically grade deflation in chemistry classes and lack of Plan Bs. There are many majors, many…many Plan Bs.
My child is also a U of SC top scholar (they must both be McNair as $12k enrichment fund here too on top of full-ride) and in-state UNC tuition on pre-med path. They love the public health path program at UNC, but worry about being a number and fighting for classes and opportunities. U of SC feels like everything is handed to you, but not as strong in public health. I see why UNC is attractive for plan B, but not fully seeing why U of SC couldn’t be too? I think the personalized attention would allow them to pivot easier, no?
Echoing posts above…
All students are different. Some are what I call super human whith 3.9999 GPA and studying and working non-stop.
Some are more normal kids that are very suitable for medicine (according to people who worked with my DD in medical setting) but will not have 4.0 and value their life.
DD is very happy with her college choice. In 1 year she had more fun than I and my other DD had in 4. This is very important for her since she fully understands that 4 years of medical school will be very challenging. Top medical school or top residency are not her goals. Her goal is to help people and family medicine sounds perfect. We are very happy for her.
My daughter may appear to be “superhuman” on the outside, but on the inside she had a lot of anxiety. Looks are often deceiving and despite being “superhuman,” many of those years were difficult for us emotionally. Thankfully she is doing very well now and has learned that she could succeed while toning it down a few notches. Honestly…she was scared of failing at UNC. When she walked into her first class…her first year…one girl announced that she was premed and planned to compete with all of them. While intellectually my D recognized the ridiculousness of that public display, it also made her incredibly anxious. Many ignored that girl, but not my kid. Anxiety is not rational. And that girl…she dropped premed.
This particular student would likely do very well going to medical school through the traditional route.
And… your daughter should be commended for her accomplishments. She got into a BS/DO program. I would also consider that to be “superhuman,” as she knew what she wanted while in HS and went after it. Not everybody is a “straight arrow” at the age of 18.
She actually knew as a kid that she wanted to be a doctor. She was always concentrated on helping people (in everyday life). I think she has it in DNA. Her 2 great grandparents on my husband’s side were pediatrician and cardiologist.
When my D was in college it seemed like everybody knew what they wanted to do. Not this kid. She planned on medical school…then a PhD, then she considered MD/PhD, then considered teaching then back to med school…etc… It took a few years for her to gain the confidence she needed for the degree she is currently pursuing. She loved science, but had difficulty narrowing down where to take it.
Yes …she is smart and to some, appears to be “superhuman.” It is not easy parenting kids like this. It is quite difficult. Thankfully she is doing great now!
I actually envied parents with kids like yours. To me…they were “superhuman” with a direct path. It’s all about perception.
Now back to the topic.
UNC Public health program has 2 ranking and it has direct path to MS for Plan B, Yes McNair scholar with National Merit award is free ride for UofSC … wondering if your kid has selected the college?
Gillings is ranked #2 for its grad school, not undergrad. I don’t know if or what it is ranked…for undergrad (I never cared).
Does your child like UNC? SC? If yes, what is the issue? As I noted above…he/she would most likely be very successful as a premed. Your child is clearly an impressive student.
UNC Public Health has many Plan B’s. The school overall has many plan B’s. That is not a problem…at all.
What is the issue? And why attend a school for 4-8 years that the student doesn’t like?
I am not sure that it would help but maybe it is useful for thinking process for best fit.
Since DD is not “go getter” in CC terminology and is not ready running over other kids to get “golden opportunity” (she absolutely hates it), we were looking for more relaxed premed path in a smaller setting (so public were ruled out). She is also not comfortable in huge classes of uber smart kids to ask maybe “silly” to them questions.
She got what she wanted.
Rhodes does not have classes with more than 35 kids. They just do not exist for any subject.
She loves her 8am Org Chem vs 9am (students can attend either) since there are only 15 kids that get up early and she can ask questions openly (vs. cramped 9am with 30 kids and you do not want to derail the class).
She feels that she is among right peers. Kids are mostly like her. Smart but not uber smart.
The only minus is crappy registration every cycle exactly because of the above advantages. There is no honor program or pre-registration and classes are limited and some are only available once in 3 semesters!
We also need to jump through a lot of hoops since she needs to satisfy Rhodes requirements, her major requirements and LECOM requirements simultaneously. This is extremely difficult and I am helping with that optimization process every semester. I feel that I am getting PhD in Rhodes registration. You need to calculate what options will be available by the time you can register and get on all waitlists possible and impossible. Last semester we scored. She was coming of WL for one class 4 times but couldn’t take it without change of schedule, so I said go back on WL. Finally one day she miraculously came off WL for 2 classes…
So no, you can’t have it all. Research, access for registration, guaranteed access to medical school, no grade deflation, small tuition, good friends, etc.
But…you CAN have a place where your student actually wants to be. I think this is very, very important.
I can’t imagine spending eight years of my life at a college/med school at a place I wasn’t thrilled to be at.
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UofSC seems to be easy to GPA and meet the requirements for pre med and UNC has better plan B options in comparison , FAU assured … just different options
100% agree. So my DD is happy to go to Rhodes and do PBL (Project Based Learning) route at LECOM near Pittsburgh. It is also optimal cost for us.
Why can’t your child meet the premed requirements at UNC? And…why is this “easier” at the U of SC?
It seems to me that your child would do well at both schools.
Agree, GPA assumption is based on senior friends and others who are in UNC. In general UNC chemistry department has tougher grading perception. Most of the kids will end up doing a minor in chem as one of the premed chem pre req in UNC has no lab and they end up taking one more class,
My daughter’s chemistry minor came automatically with her biology major. She added a Spanish minor and her Spanish is definitely an advantage. She is happy she kept it up.
I disagree with you about grading within the chemistry dept. Neither my D nor her friends had any issues. That doesn’t mean there isn’t work- there is. Her Orgo 1 prof gave them assignments even before the class started. Those students who did not begin during the December break were behind on day 1.
Mine is considering Chem minor too. Missing only one class after taking all premed requirements. She loves Chem and does not like Bio. Luckily, there are not that many pure Bio requirements that she has.
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The only review that is accurate is the one reported by the student. My reviews are based on my own kid.
Others may have a different impression. But this is true at all schools.