<p>Outside of cost and fit for any particular student, I always advise students to look for schools with strong science and easy access and amply opportunities to hospital volunteering, physician shadowing, undergrad research, and community outreach. Those are the things that help set med school applications apart outside of stellar GPAs and MCATs, which everyone has. The two best schools to build those credentials in Pennsylvania are the University of Pennsylvania in Philly and the University of Pittsburgh because both are among the nations top 5 health/bioscience research universities and both have large, and top ranked hospitals right on campus that are easily accessible to undergraduates looking for such experiences while going to school.</p>
<p>If a student has any interest in becoming a physician-scientist by going through a MD-PhD program (which are highly selective but would pay for med school), then undergrad research opportunities take on additional importance.</p>