Nowadays not many want to go into medicine because they love it, they don’t want an academic or research career or have interest in revolutionizing medicine. Most want to do this to get a high paying job and this looks like a guaranteed straight path, they aren’t ready (or allowed by narrow minded parents) to be creative or take risks within fields of their interest.
It doesn’t matter to this lot to get quality education at a good undergrad or great medical program, just places to give easy GPA and degrees. There is a common saying that a doctor from any school is a doctor. It’s because all get paid well so nothing else matters.
Why do you reckon medical science isn’t progressing fast enough but healthcare cost is going up every second?
Far from guaranteed, since lots of pre-meds give up before applying, and most of those who apply to medical school get shut out. And the main guarantee for those who get in and do not have wealthy parents willing to find their medical school costs is a huge debt load.
I am a surgeon. I went To Michigan undergrad which was a terrible fit for me as I got lost in the shuffle of fraternity and football and didn’t get into medical school the first time I applying. After a year of grad school I refocused and I was accepted and graduated med school magna cum laude. Your undergraduate school name does not matter at all. Go to where you fit, where you will flourish and be engaged. And do well there. Admission is about GPA, MCAT, and being a reasonable human being- that’s it. See this post more more data: https://www.highereddatastories.com/2018/12/medical-school-admissions-data.html
Also I had zero undergraduate debt and then almost $200,000 after med school. So don’t minimize the financial impact of choosing schools.
Going to an ivy league or highly competitive LAC will not help you get into med school. Period
There is no such thing as “premed prestige.” Medical schools look at grades and MCAT scores. Keep in mind that “doctor” is a popular dream from smart kids coming out of high school. Almost none of them actually go there, because as kids mature, they find hidden passions. You never want to choose a school based on that premise, otherwise you’ll most likely wind up being miserable for the next 4 years in a college mismatch.
If you do decide medicine, Medical school is hideously expensive. You need to keep the debt down. Your best chance for medical school is in your home state, because public medical schools give preference to state residents.
That’s the reason, it’s dumb to pick undergrad school based on medical school acceptance. Majority of pre-Med hopefuls don’t make it into a medical school. All they get is an unremarkable stressed college experience and an undergrad degree from a cheap school in some easy GPA major with weak employability.
Or the same as the above but with more debt and less money available if needed for additional education to switch to a different path, or for start-up costs (e.g. moving expenses) for entering the labor force, if they went to an expensive college.
Obviously, you want to choose an undergraduate college and major that will be satisfying in the likely non medical school outcome.