#Need some help deciding a college for undergrad

7 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

clever frost
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(UCSC vs. Cal Poly Slo vs. SJSU vs. UPitt)

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Any advice? Which college might, across the board, have better opps for clinical experience, hospital volunteering, and research?

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I've learned that GPA and MCAT are super important and hold the most weight to a premed app. In terms of tuition, SJSU and Slo are most favorable but there's a very small difference across all the colleges.

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I'm in-state at Cali and live closest to SJSU

dull crow
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I would reach out online and to the schools to see if they have premed advising programs as part of your decision process.

glass ruin
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In all honesty, I don't think it matters what school you go to. If I were you, I would choose the school you feel you would be happiest at.

If you ace your classes, ace the MCAT, and have well-rounded extracurriculars, you will do well no matter where you go.

Pre-med advising programs are important, but just because a school has them, doesn't mean the advising is very good. In my personal experience at a CSU, I have found that I have learned more about the medical school application process on my own through reddit/SDN than from my pre-medical advisor. However, that's not to say it is not important at all.

The biggest part of performing well academically is going to a location where you are content with being at. Whether that means you're happy because you get to enjoy a new city you've always wanted to live in, or because you're close to your support system. I used to go to a school that I didn't really want to be in, and it definitely impacted my grades poorly. I felt like I didn't belong there the whole time I went there. My grades shot up as soon as I transferred out.

n=1, but my CSU is a school that is not known for its pre-health program. However, I had no struggle finding research opportunities, landing hospital volunteering, or finding clinical experience opportunities.

Research opportunities are abundant as long as you're hard-working and seek them out by asking professors. Sometimes professors will advertise it in their classes, and as long as you're doing well in the class and build relationships with your professor, they'll have no problem letting you into their lab.

Hospital volunteering opportunities are easy as well. Just google "(hospital name) hospital volunteering". Most hospitals have volunteer programs where you can just apply, interview, and volunteer there. Clinical experience? You can apply on Indeed to clinics in the area.

Do not lack on getting your non-clinical hours however if you'd like to stay in California for med-school

exotic escarp