I am not talking about anybody on this board or someone in particular. It is my general observation after talking to many premed parents and students.
Yep!!! I didn’t think you were.
Agree, the school grades GPA are highly inflated, and every one has 4.0 GPA UW and even I wonder how the kid will do in college, I feel my kid struggling this semester and may not be speaking truth as the classes are difficult, I will only know for sure after AP results and that is too late for the decision
It is human nature not to talk about issues and try to look only at good things. That is great, except when you need naked truth to make sound decisions.
I agree with you, which is why I don’t look at social media.
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If your child received merit to UNC and SC…out of state…and was also accepted to a BA/MD program, I think it is safe to assume he is a very strong student.
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Yes in general. But that doesn’t guarantee that student will not struggle in college or struggle with some classes like Org Chem or Physiology…
Again I know 2 amazingly smart kids in privates (one in Ivy, one with top name scholarship) who gave up premed after attempting Org Chem.
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Please read this. If your kid wants to pursue public health, they will likely need at least a masters degree anyway, and it doesn’t need to be from the same college where they do their undergrad. Family member here did undergrad at a directional college in this state, and masters at Tufts (which was one of many acceptances received).
University of South Carolina has plenty of undergrad majors that could lead to a public health advanced degree someplace.
Just because UNC offers some assured acceptance to the MPH program, doesn’t mean it’s the only option for a MPH…or even the best option.
https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/study/undergraduate_degrees/index.php
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Orgo has been known to be a dealbreaker for premeds.
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UNC or UoSC would both be perfectly fine. Both come with advantages and near full rides or full ride+:tada:
. So, really, your son should choose the college he likes best. His accept1ances show he’s hard working and talented 
- those qualities won’t disappear when he goes to college. 
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OP-
Maybe this was discussed, but where does your S/D feel they would be happiest?
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This is the most difficult question , as there is no answer. UNC will be good due to friends for now, but I think the same of UofSC as they can make friends easily in college , FAU will be difficult compared to both. But applying to 20 to 40 applications will be hard for UNC or UofSC
UNC will have more smart kids than UofSC, so we assume the GPA will be easy in UofSC , all these are just assumptions
The Major in UNC is public heath , and UofSC it will be Bichem or Nuero… UNC the pre med prereq will be done in first two years , UofSC there will be direct overlap with premed req
What, specifically, within public health? Biostats? Nutrition?
Both schools have smart kids.
If FAU will be difficult compared to the others, I would think twice before attending.
Most premeds go the traditional route and apply to 20+ schools. And…
Gap years are common.
Remember there are no guarantees. Even if your S/D has a guaranteed acceptance, there is no guarantee they will be happy at the school. That will be very hard.
The vast majority of aspiring doctors do this. If they can do it, have confidence that your kid can too.
Is there some reason why they wouldn’t take a gap year anyway after undergrad. That way they could take the MCAT their senior year in college, and then take the time to complete their applications and beef up their medically related ECs.
As I mentioned earlier, the starting age for first year medical school students is now mid 20’s. Clearly…many are taking these gap years.
ETA…if your student does go to medical school, it’s highly likely they will be completing more than 20 applications for residency programs. It never ends.
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I would suggest you at least consider the following:
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Let your kid choose the college where they want to spend the next four years…a place they like.
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Don’t feel any need for any auto accept things for medical school or an MPH program. Many many many (actually most) students are traditional applicants who apply to different places for their masters or professional degrees. They just do. And it works. And yes…it might mean either taking a gap year and then applying or apply while in college. Thousands of kids do this every year.
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I’d consider UNC and USC. Both are great flagship universities (disclaimer, my kid’s second choice…and it was close…was South Carolina). There are plenty plenty of majors at both of these colleges, and a great undergrad experience at both. And while your student is sure they want to be a doctor, really, that could change. So picking a college they wouldn’t otherwise choose…isn’t a good idea.
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There are no easy paths to becoming a doctor. Applications, interview, test tests and more tests. Applications for residencies, fellowships and jobs. And all of these happen while the aspiring attending physician is doing something. The last time they don’t NEED to be in school and doing these other things is if they take a gap year after receiving their bachelors.
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Gap year doesn’t mean sitting around. It means doing volunteer work, patient facing work, shadowing, etc. Or doing something like Americorps (there are jobs related to medicine), or a two year Peace Corps stint (highly regarded by medical schools).
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Actually GAP year for mental heath is highly recommended by many. You need to breath/recharge between BS and medical school.
We are trying to get BS portion (I hope it will work) in 3.5 years, so DD can just work, save money and have a little break in studying before medical school. She can’t have GAP year with LECOM.
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When you choose a BS/DO or BS/MD program, you have no gap year.
@momsearcheng the difference here….your daughter LIKES the undergrad she is attending…and also won’t be staying in the same place for medical school.
I just can’t imagine sending my kid to an undergrad they don’t really love, just for the benefit of staying at the same place for their MD for four more (long and grueling years).
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My poit is that GAP year is not something evil. And should be viewed as a great break to recharge plus do something useful for yourself and society.
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OP I do not understand the opposition to doing multiple applications to schools….given your child does not like FAU.
Given the choice between a guaranteed acceptance to a school they do not like…and the option of attending a school they do, but with applications…to me, the choice is clear.
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