Pre-med at LACs (Haverford [list price], F&M [$30-35k], Lafayette [$30-35k])

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My advice hasn’t changed from the first thread…and please reread the answer you got from @WayOutWestMom

I’ll comment on this first…no, these stats cannot be trusted as they can be “manipulated” any number of ways. @WayOutWestMom can explain.

A few things:

  1. I would take medical school out of the equation for now. Your student needs to find an undergrad school where they will be happy to be for four years. Medical school application decision can can and should come later.
  2. Unless money is no object, please consider that medical schools will cost $100,000 a year or more by the time your student gets there. So…if you choose to, conserve undergrad monies for that potential cost.
  3. Re: committee letters…that’s a double edge sword. If you attend a college that does them, and you don’t get one, your application to medical schools will be doubtful. OTOH, schools without committee letters do not gate keep medical school applicants in the same way.
  4. Most students who enter college with a premed intention don’t ever apply to medical school at all. They find something else that piques their interest. And of those who do apply to medical school, only about 40% get even one acceptance.
  5. Every premed should be open minded and have a plan B in case they decide medical school isn’t going to be for them.

Your student has some very fine acceptances. As parents, you need to figure out whether the costs are OK for your family. We can’t do that…it’s a family decision. Some families do pay higher costs for undergrad…and if you can and want to (without jeopardizing your overall financial picture) that’s fine to do…and a wonderful gift to your student.
7. Re: shadowing and volunteering. Many students shadow during vacations from college. Volunteer opportunities with less privileged populations can be found just about everywhere. And some students do a year or two after undergrad to do these things as well as prep for and take the MCAT, and complete applications (do not underestimate the time it takes to complete applications).

@WayOutWestMom what did I miss?

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