So I got into the VCU GMED program and I received a full scholarship there, but I was also admitted into WashU’s undergraduate class. Is the prestige of WashU worth giving up the guaranteed spot in VCU’s med school?
Assuming you are set on medicine, GMED seems like the better option w/ the full scholarship and the guaranteed seat. I think this is one of the programs that lets you apply out while retaining your seat so you certainly have that option to get into a better med school. And I’d guess that you would be able to achieve a higher gpa from a school like VCU vs WUSTL which will be more important for you med school app than undergrad prestige (though this is a factor).
thank you! But isn’t it difficult for vcu graduates to go to prestigious med schools?
Med school is not like some other graduate schools where the prestige of your undergrad is a primary factor. Yes, the school that you attended will be taken into account when your application application is reviewed, but as long as you have the gpa, MCAT, and ECs, you are still competitive for top medical schools (which VCU can provide).
That said, getting a 3.9 at WashU is more impressive than getting a 3.9 at VCU, and if you were confident you could do well at WashU, it would be the obvious choice (leaving cost aside) since advising is also better. However, doing well at WashU is a big ‘if’ since it has a very rigorous pre-med program. And if you don’t succeed, you don’t have much of a back-up plan. With VCU GMED, you get a free undergrad (useful to save that $ for med school), access to the resources you need to be a successful pre-med, and a solid ‘backup’ plan = lower stress (admission to any US M.D. school should not be taken lightly). You would be sacrificing the opportunity for a more ‘prestigious’ undergrad experience, but this should not really have much of an impact on your long-term career goals.
Also, fyi, going to a prestigious medical school mainly helps if your long term goals are in academic medicine (doing research and teaching at a university affiliated hospital). If your goal is simply to practice, I would not worry as much about med school prestige.
It is not difficult for VCU graduates to go onto medical school. Especially when there is a GMED program! WashU’s prestige is not worth giving up a full scholarship at VCU.
thank you so much!
what med schools do most vcu undergraduates go to?
You know VCU has a med school right? It’s a good one too. Being guaranteed in there (if I’m reading this link correctly – https://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/honors/guaranteed/medicine/index.aspx) is a good achievement!