<p>Well for various reasons my parents are making me go to UCR. I’m doing premed.
I got into a bunch of other schools that are unarguably “better.”</p>
<p>My ultimate goal is to get into medical school and become a doctor.
UCR has about a 33% rate. The parents think this is a great rate. They figure if I could get into Hopkins, I can stay in the top third at UCR. They think going to UCR will not at all damage my future because I can end up as a doctor regardless. They even printed out various articles talking about how where you go doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Their argument is essentially that my goal (to get into medical school) can be achieved at UCR. (The debate isn’t about other places being better, but UCR being sufficient).</p>
<p>I feel like going to UCR would be a huge step backward, but maybe that’s just my ego talking.
Are they right? If not, please give me factual arguments against theirs. And please don’t just talk about vagaries like “growing as an individual,” as important as that is, because that won’t work.</p>
<p>Your parents sound like they have your best interest at heart, but is YOUR heart set on becoming a doctor? I would go to JHU without a millisecond thought, unless money is an issue.</p>
<p>Becoming a doctor is my choice, not my parents’. They just think UCR can accomplish that just as well as anywhere else. Because once you’re accepted at med school, it doesn’t matter where you went to undergrad. And if you graduate med school, and you get a job as a doctor, it sure as hell doesn’t matter where you went to undergrad.</p>
<p>But it feels so stupid to turn down Hopkins, an Ivy League, even other UCs (LA and Cal) for UCR. It’s something I would be embarrassed to admit to anyone. Also I would be much happier at certain other schools. But they’re very pragmatic people and don’t think the additional thousands of dollars (even if affordable) are worth getting a better “experience” as long as the purpose of college (getting into grad school) is achieved. Maybe because where they went to school no one cares about this holistic self-growth stuff; you go to college so you can get a job or get into grad school and then get a job.</p>
<p>To be honest, everything I’ve heard about the environment at Hopkins makes it sound unideal for me. But several other schools I was accepted at do seem like better “fits.”</p>
<p>"It’s something I would be embarrassed to admit to anyone. "</p>
<p>Its your life and your decision. I wouldn’t do it, but when you become a doctor then you will have the last laugh. Just one note. I had a friend who was going to be a Lawyer her whole life and she was in pre-law in college and got into a top 15 law school and dropped out first semester because it wasn’t for her. She is now a teacher and very happy. </p>
<p>You never know which direction life is going to take you and if you were meant to be a doctor you can do so from JHU, Cal or UCLA. BUT those schools will give you a WORLD of options that you wouldn’t otherwise have at UCR. (I love the UC system UCR and UCSC included but thats an honest answer) There are simply more resources at JHU, Cal or UCLA.</p>
<p>Also, its about connections. You will meet many more future leaders at the bigger schools and be exposed to more people from different background. One day you may want to open your own clinic or non profit. Having friends from JHU or Cal would serve you well.</p>
<p>Personally, if Cal is an option I would go there and save the money over JHU. But I wouldn’t pass on either (or UCLA) for UCR.</p>
<p>Yeah, I always hear about opportunities and stuff.
But what exactly are these, and in the end how much worse off will I end up by going to UCR?</p>
<p>As far as connections, while important I think those are more relevant for careers in other areas, and I already have some potential connections so I don’t think UCR will handicap me in that respect.</p>
<p>Cal still costs way more than UCR (where I have scholarships), but regardless it isn’t about the money. Except that money shouldn’t be wasted if it’s not needed such as paying thousands more for a somewhat better “experience.” These are my parents’ views but they’re scarily becoming mine.</p>
<p>Hopkins seems like it’s synonymous with anything that involves medical school(at least here on cc).
If you weren’t going to medical school will this thread still be about UCR vs Hopkins? In my opinion it just seems like you’re being extremely unreasonable and unlogical about your parent’s position, especially when they’re probably paying for your college education. A lot of kids would give their left arm to be in your position.</p>
<p>If you’re Ivy material, which you are(since you’ve mentioned that), there’s bound to be a halfway meeting point between UCR and John Hopkins that is affordable for your parents and still a “top” school(according to your criticism of), ie UCLA UCSD or any mid tier UC or private(that has made it affordable for you and your family).</p>
<p>Now if all things are equal in terms of financial aid, just go against your parents wishes and take all the responsibilities of loans to attend the school of your choice, because in the end UCR vs X school will be the same and if your parents are only willing to accept and pay for UCR then thats on them.</p>
<p>^It’s not about the money. They just want me to stay at home for various non-financial reasons. And there is no halfway-point school at home. The price difference is just another reason against moving away if the end result is the same, but they can afford it.</p>
<p>I can’t afford it on my own and I don’t want to be mired in debt nor do I want to “run away” and become estranged. I just feel like UCR will ruin my life and potential (sorry if that sounds arrogant), not to mention I will be unhappy there. Plus I think I’ll regret not having gone to an Ivy/Hopkins when I had the chance (it’s way harder to get that opportunity in med school).
Almost everyone I ask, when I say UCR vs. Hopkins, says Hopkins without a doubt (unless you can’t afford it).
But I still don’t know how to argue with their reasoning.</p>
<p>If it’s really not about the money I would ask them to visit both schools with you and see the difference first hand. I would set up a meeting with a Dean who will help explain the difference. Hopkins will give you access to many things UCR won’t that would effect many careers in medicine.</p>
<p>However, kids often tend to believe it’s not about the money when it’s all about the money.</p>
<p>If you go to UCR, not getting into any med school at all is a real possibility. You can’t just say “I’m in the top 33%”. It isn’t that simple.</p>
<p>If you do get into med school, you are less likely to get into a top one (which may or may not matter to you). If you go to Hopkins and get good grades, you will get into a med school. If you work hard and do really well at Hopkins, you have a good shot at a top med school. </p>
<p>And what is this other Ivy? All of them are as good as or better than Hopkins for pre-med, with the possible exception of Cornell and its grade deflation.</p>
<p>And frankly, if they can afford Hopkins, making you turn down a better UC for Riverside borders on the crazy. I didn’t think the merit scholarship were very big these days, what’s the cost difference?</p>
<p>Right, Hopkins is considered to be the second-best med school with tons of amazing research happening. That doesn’t translate to the second best graduate placement, which seems to be OP’s concern.</p>
<p>^ actually, 83% of Johns Hopkins students will enter graduate or preprofessional schools, the [highest percentage in the nation, so graduate school placement shouldn’t be an issue here.</p>
<p>I knew this senior girl who was my RA freshman year, she was a civil engineering major and was just accepted into Stanford graduate school for engineering… She also was accepted at Cornell as well. Many people you find at Hopkins are very career oriented and will pursue a masters degree or go onto preprofessional schools regardless where they would have went to school… </p>
<p>It’s not like Hopkins made them a better applicant, it simply gives a motivated student the faculty resources and research opportunities that may be less accessible for a freshman or sophmore if they have not had prior research experience back in high school. I think just the volume of medical related work at the med school gives ppl the opportunity to conduct research earlier on in their college careers… At major state schools, you have so many students asking professors with limited lab space and financial resources… so it wouldn’t be surprising to have to wait till your junior year to get a research assistant position at a lab…</p>
<p>The opportunities to do medical related research at Hopkins is unparalleled… Believe me… I’ve checked the Harvard student employment website many times before… Their opportunites for medical related resaerch aren’t as well advertised as the ones at Hopkins… Most are through Harvard med or MGH… and they are seldom posted as well…</p>
<p>That doesn’t tell you the medical school acceptance rate, which is what we are talking about. I know, for example, that Yale’s number is higher (and Yale does not screen like Hopkins does).</p>
<p>edit: sorry, I posted this before your edit. I’m not sticking on the first sentence you wrote out of a long post.</p>
<p>lockn, graduate placement for Pre-Meds from Hopkins is second really only to harvard. The often brought-up Wall Street Feeder ranking of only Medical, Law, and Business Top 10 schools does Hopkins a great disservice in that Hopkins has very very very little Pre-Law or Business students in comparison to its peer schools, but places relatively highly on the list almost simply on the strength of its medical students alone.</p>
<p>They printed all these articles that say UCR has good rankings (89th best national university, 40th best national public university, etc.), a strong pre-medical education, many opportunities for undergrads to participate in research, etc.</p>
<p>Everyone on this website is saying that Hopkins (or any other school) will offer greater opportunities for research and better resources. </p>
<p>Is it true that I can go to Hopkins and get into med school, and I (the same exact person) can go to UCR and not get into med school? </p>
<p>The 33% rate is lower than others (though way higher than other countries’ unis), but is it really that hard to be in that top third at UCR?</p>
<p>That is the bottom line for them. It is not a matter of degree, where one place is “better” than another. It is simply that there is this threshold that must be crossed (getting into med school), and while Hopkins may go above and beyond, as long as UCR crosses the threshold it’s fine.</p>
<p>They sincerely, genuinely believe that I can go to UCR and become a successful doctor.
If you can challenge that specifically and factually, please do so.</p>
<p>Every single elite school follows the supposed “pre-screening” that Hopkins does.</p>
<p>However, “pre-screening” in and of itself is a stupid way of looking at it. All pre-med students at every single school meets with advisors for pre-med.
At the crappy/sucky schools, any student is likely to get recommended, and as a result, the results are lacklustre and poor.
At the top schools like Hopkins, Yale, Harvard, etc, students are evaluated individually and with attention, and given recommendations based on his/her grades, MCAT, activities, etc. However, the choice of applying is still 100% up to the student. Even if you have a 2.0 at Hopkins, the pre-med committee cannot stop you or deter you from applying. However, they are also not going to LIE in their recommendation and say that Hopkins recommends you without reservation, etc. because that would tarnish the reputation of the University as a whole. Every elite school practices this method from harvard to brown to hopkins to NYU to UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>The biggest PLUS for Hopkins is that the people ADVISING you were once the admissions counselors at the toughest and arguably most respected Medical School in the world who know exactly what they are doing.</p>
<p>At Hopkins, every single applicant to medical school will be written a 9-14 page letter of recommendation from the Hopkins Pre-Medical Committee based on personal interviews, transcript, other teacher recs, etc. that will fully symbolize the support and weight of the Johns Hopkins University on the individual. Not every single school pays this much attention to their students, and this weighty Hopkins letter is perhaps one of the most respected recommendations a student can get from any school anywhere, except perhaps Harvard.</p>
<p>Stop with the “i heard” or “he said, she said” because all of that is usually just exaggerated bull from the mouths of whiny failures.</p>
<p>I think your parents are right in this. The key is that you must proactively connect with te relevant faculty at UCR and ride that resource for all its worth. You will then have: research experience, faculty recs, high gpa. The MCAT is all up to you and won’t change regardless of your undergrad school choice.</p>