When working with students who are interested in attending medical school I often recommend various small liberal arts colleges. In many cases, the percentage of students accepted to medical schools is higher for the smaller colleges than the big research universities. Why is that?
1. Small classes at liberal arts colleges allow students to really learn the subjects they are studying. This is often reflected in strong MCAT scores received by these students.
2. Small class sizes allows students a greater change to get to better know their professors. That is important because you will need recommendations from professors when applying to medical school. The better the professor knows you, the better the recommendation they can write.
3. Smaller colleges often offer more opportunities for research since students do not have to compete with graduate students for research opportunities. While smaller colleges may not have all of the sophisticated research that occurs at a research university, your chances of participating in that cutting edge research is not very good as an undergraduate. Graduate students will always get first chance at that research.
Liberal arts colleges are not the only way to get to medical school and not always the best choice for a particular student. But, for many students, small is the way to go.
As a college consultant, I too like liberal arts colleges for students to prepare for medical school for many of the same reasons you have given. I also believe that many medical schools like liberal arts students. I always encourage the students I assist who are interested in medical school to consider a major in the liberal arts as opposed to science or “pre-med.”
College Direction
Denver, Colorado
Eunsong,
Most professional schools look heavily at your grades so getting good grades is very important for dental school.
There are many issues that may come into play when deciding whether to transfer or not so I can’t really say whether you should transfer or stay put at NYU. If you are not happy with some aspects of NYU that you don’t think will resolve themselves then transferring is an option. For example, if you don’t like big class sizes, then a smaller college may be appropriate. If you don’t like the social life at NYU and don’t see a way to improve it then consider a transfer.
Most students tend to do better at colleges which are a good fit for that student’s needs.
You can get to dental school from any college if you have the grades, do well on your DAT and have some of the other factors that dental schools look for.
Since it appears that you have not yet started at NYU you may want to consider taking a gap year to figure out what you really want from a college and considering applying to other colleges this fall for starting in fall 2012. That may be a better option than if you are already thinking about transferring from a college you haven’t yet started at.
Hello Todd,
I’m in high school and considering to apply for a Liberal Arts School for future Med school. Is there a list of proper LACs you’d recommend? Besides what majors do you recommend with an advantage for Med school application?
Thanks for your help!
Mindy,
There is no ideal list of colleges because it varies from student to student. When we recommend colleges to students that we are working with it is based on the criteria that is important to that student. One of those factors from our standpoint is how the college does historically at medical school placement but that is but one issue.
Medical schools truly do not care what major a student has that is applying to medical school. The best recommendation I can give is to major in a subject that you will enjoy and that you will hopefully do well in academically. Keep in mind the classes that medical schools require but let your interests guide your choice of majors.
what liberal arts colleges would you recommend?