By: Savvy Pre-Med Staff
We’ve published a list of our 25 Best Colleges for Pre-meds, as well as smaller lists about the Most Overrated and Most Underrated pre-med colleges.
And soon we’ll be launching our Best Colleges for Pre-Meds Search Tool - organized by liberal arts, national, and regional - with comprehensive rankings based on pre-med advising, class size, popularity, clinical experiences, and prestige.
But we don’t want you to simply take our word for it. We wanted to complement our quantitative analysis with some qualitative evidence.
That’s right - we’ve polled actual pre-meds to gather firsthand testimonies about their experiences at their various colleges!
This article will present a variety of their accounts and derive some meaningful takeaways from the trends in our pre-med sample’s feedback on their institutions.
When creating our poll, we asked our pre-meds the following questions:
1. Please tell us the name of your undergraduate college.
2. In terms of being a pre-med, please rate your college on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the most satisfactory).
3. What would you say are the biggest pros of attending your college as a pre-med?
4. What would you say are the biggest cons of attending your college as a pre-med?
5. Would you say that your college did a good job of providing virtual clinical experiences during the pandemic? How many resources or opportunities did they provide?
6. What advice would you give to new pre-meds at your college?
7. Anything else you’d like to share?
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
6
Biggest Pros
Lots of biology classes, tons of biology research.
Biggest Cons
No centralized pre-med advisors from the college.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
I applied pre-pandemic.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Take initiative to email professors to get involved in research. There are tons of interdisciplinary research opportunities from Salk, Scripps, Sanford Consortium, School of Medicine, VA, etc.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
7
Biggest Pros
Good pre-health advising, lots of clinical opportunities that are freely available, tons of research across disciplines, strong pre-med community.
Biggest Cons
Classes were pretty difficult and could be really competitive at times. Opportunities were abundant, but certain ones were tough to get.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Just do the things you're interested in! Emory has a wide array of options for research, student organizations, and community involvement! Take advantage of the diversity and do lots of things! Don't feel pressured into doing something just because you think you should. Do it because you genuinely want to and seek those opportunities out.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
9
Biggest Pros
Very collaborative environment! Classmates were very friendly and helpful, with none of the "back-stabbing" culture sometimes stereotyped with pre-med culture. Professors are very available for questions after class and frequently emphasize learning over memorizing. There are numerous research opportunities that are incredibly easy to get involved with, and it’s not uncommon for pre-meds to gain authorship through these opportunities. As a whole, the school really emphasizes exploring your interests above all else, and academic advisors are flexible with students taking "non-traditional" classes. Fun but still informative courses I took included Healthcare in the US, User Interfaces and User Experiences (a CS course focused on design principles and usability), and numerous biomedical informatics courses. Undergrads also have access to the grad school curriculum, which gave me a chance to take a grad level bio/cs course.
Biggest Cons
Biggest con is the pre-med advising office. The pre-health advising group is small and under-staffed relative to the number of undergrads interested in pursuing medicine. This especially becomes a problem when sending out committee letters in a timely fashion (most are not sent until late August). That being said, the med cycle worked out well for me and my friend groups, and the timing had no measurable negative impact. At the end of day, one should expect to find pre-med advice from upperclassmen and academic advisors.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A - graduated 2017.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Explore opportunities/interests outside of biology/medicine! Yes, it's important to engage in clinical volunteering to be sure you want to enter medicine, but it's equally important that you rule out career professions that could be as or even more appealing. Personally, I find that merging insights gained from other interdisciplinary fields makes for the most interesting perspectives, and these can sometimes be combined to produce unique career paths (Ex: interest in applications of CS led me to biology/medicine which then led me to even considering MD/PhD programs). Currently in my medical school class, I know of several classmates who have applied their interests in humanities to portray narratives of patients with chronic diseases. Objectively, cultivating interdisciplinary interests showcases a stronger application. Subjectively, challenging yourself to engage in multiple communities develops a growth-oriented mindset.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
7
Biggest Pros
I was able to get to know my professors on a personal level in all of my classes, and when I needed letters of recommendations, I had every single professor available which gave me peace of mind.
Biggest Cons
Not having a medical school limits the medical activities, which makes it hard to fulfill the clinical hours.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
During the pandemic, no clinical opportunities were available through school, but I was able to get the opportunity through the organizations in the city.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Do research as soon as possible. There are so many good pre-med clubs available. Start early and get engaged to discover the medical activities available to you in the town.
Anything Else to Add?
UCSB was a school that helped me shine while being a non-traditional student.
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
6
Biggest Pros
Opportunities for research; usually small class sizes.
Biggest Cons
No pre-med track or designated pre-med advisor.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
Not sure if my college provided virtual clinical experiences during the pandemic.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Get connected with the career resource center early on so that you can get plugged in to the right resources to help you stay on track; consider joining the pre-health clubs.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
6
Biggest Pros
Many resources available for pre-meds; the diversity of the student body; the university had its own hospital in walking distance and permitted us to volunteer.
Biggest Cons
It's big. Class sizes are large, and it can be hard navigating the pre-med world. The weeder classes are extremely challenging (more than they should be), which plays a huge role in detouring individuals from pursuing medical school and specific majors.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Seek out resources like AAP or from your counselor; you are not alone. Do not allow a bad semester to stop you or get in the way of your dream.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
9.
Biggest Pros
On the academic side, I was able to gain great research experience and attend many sessions of office hours for pre-med courses. With so many students in your classes, there are a lot of TAs and therefore, a lot of office hours! I found those incredibly helpful. There were also plenty of non-medical, extracurricular opportunities that helped me grow outside of the classroom and build leadership skills. I found that being able to talk about what you learned from those activities was especially important during interviews.
Biggest Cons
When attending a large university, especially as a pre-med, you have to put in a lot of effort to get to know professors and seek outside resources if you need academic help. However, I believe this made me more resourceful and motivated moving forward.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A, as I graduated before the pandemic.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
I would say that on the academic side, help is available in terms of office hours and, for large classes, amazing tutoring sessions led by students who already took the class. Taking advantage of those early on in the courses really helped me to manage my stress. On the more personal side, what I really enjoyed about college was going to dinner with my friends and being able to laugh and recharge with them. As a pre-med, having social support and building friendships with those who had similar interests was essential for me.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
1
Biggest Pros
If you like competition, there's plenty of it.
Biggest Cons
Way too many gunners. Everyone competed against each other. I didn't feel any collaboration with any of my classmates.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A, graduated in 2017
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Do things outside of the pre-med community and seek friendships from there.
Anything Else to Add?
You aren't defined relative to others. Just keep doing you, do well in school, and spend time doing things you enjoy. The rest will work itself out.
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
9
Biggest Pros
The advisors can help you ensure you are on the right path. And you can partake in resources that prepare you for professional school interviews.
Biggest Cons
You limit yourself to a pre-med/science path focus. If you end up changing your mind later on about the profession you want to pursue, you may have to start over.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A. I graduated prior to pandemic.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Take advantage of the clubs and resources given for pre-med students.
Anything Else to Add?
No
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
6
Biggest Pros
Small class sizes, easy to get to know professors. Professors are mostly nice and approachable. Also lots of extracurricular activities in nearby hospitals.
Biggest Cons
Advising was not on point. I had to figure out a lot of things on my own. For example, I didn't even know my school offered a committee letter until it was too late. It was also hard to get in for an appointment. Took classes I didn't need to by mistake. Class sizes were very limited. Didn't even get into a prerequisite class until my sophomore year. Ended up taking five years to graduate because of it.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
N/A. Graduated in 2019.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Don't let the "mentors" discourage you from taking the hard classes. Also don't let the hard classes discourage you from trying. This is a tactic used to weed people out! Just do your best, and the rest will fall into place. If you want it, go for it.
Anything Else to Add?
Don't be afraid to take your time with things - your class loads, your extracurriculars, whether or not you take a gap year. Don't rush your application. A rushed application is usually a bad application. Do it once and do it right! Also, find people you look up to one to two years ahead of you. Then follow their lead if you don't know what move to do next.
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
8
Biggest Pros
The teachers truly care that you learn and enjoy learning the material. They will spend extra time to help you with the subject, the problems, and to understand how to use what you learn. I met such amazing professors and fellow students who helped me with my work.
Biggest Cons
The school is small, so if you don't find a professor who's doing research/work in the area you're passionate about, you will have to apply to other schools for research/experience. Also, they don't do as good of a job of helping pre-meds who are more hands-on and less academic-research focused.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
I was not at Carleton during COVID.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Develop your connections with at least one professor you like. They don't have to be a biology or STEM professor necessarily. Go get dinner/ coffee with them. Learn from their experience and seek their advice. Find things you're interested in. If you like many things, that's okay, just make sure you develop those skills and use them to strengthen your resume and your skill set. Everyone is different, so find what makes you special and what you love to do and get good at it.
Anything Else to Add?
Carleton is an amazing college. It's not for everyone, but I would recommend that everyone seriously take a look. Nowhere else have I felt more empowered to be myself and pursue my passions.
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
9
Biggest Pros
I think UCI is one of the medical school feeders, so pretty much anyone, from advisors to professors, is familiar with the pre-medical journey, so students can get support from them. Furthermore, UCI spends lots of money on research and labs, even to the extent that they have allocated their intramural sports funds into building new labs and expanding the previous ones so the school does not even have a football team. As a result, it is very convenient to come by a lab to join to help boost the application. Moreover, there are many hospitals in Orange County, which makes it easy for pre-meds to join them and boost their volunteering hours. Overall a very solid school for someone pursuing the pre-med route.
Biggest Cons
I was an engineering major, so my answer is a bit biased since I didn't have much interaction with other pre-meds. The only downside I can think of right now is the course difficulty, which is again heavily major-dependent. However, the majority of my classes had a generous curve so it did help with maintaining the GPA needed for applying to med school. Overall, I can't think of any more cons, and I'm not qualified to comment on the difficulty of life science major classes.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
I graduated before the pandemic so that does not apply to me. However, in terms of clinical experience, there are many hospitals in the area where students can get their hands dirty. Some medical centers I can think of from the top of my head are UCI Health, St Joseph Hospital, Kaiser, Hoag, and Saddleback Memorial. But I'm pretty sure there are many more. So again, there are ample opportunities here for students to get hands-on experience.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Try to get as much exposure as possible to the healthcare field. Start volunteering at the hospitals as soon as possible. Also, since you guys are coming to a "UC'' school, it is expected to join a lab. Make sure to join one as quickly as possible, so you can get connections, good letters of recommendation, and even get published or at least submit a manuscript. Also, don't forget to enjoy your time and pick a hobby; they will definitely come in handy when submitting your app and even help you stay sane. Although Irvine itself is a dull city, it is in a location where you can pretty much do anything you want to have a good time if you are okay with driving 1-2 hours. Some places I can think of right now are Disneyland, LA, Universal Big Bear (for snow), SD, Zoo, beaches, and even more beaches. So make sure you take advantage of all of it.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
10
Biggest Pros
The university has helped me prepare for medical school.
Biggest Cons
Some pre-med classes I took were especially difficult.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
No, they did not provide any virtual clinical experiences or resources.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Join online shadowing classes like HEAL so that you can get an idea of what to expect in the future.
Anything Else to Add?
HEAL really helped me understand and see what I will experience in the future as a healthcare provider.
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
2
Biggest Pros
My class sizes are extremely small, which allows for a greater relationship with professors, more opportunities for research, and more personal letters of recommendation.
Biggest Cons
There is no pre-med track. There is one small pre-med society that is student-run. There are no pre-med advisors. The classes sometimes feel like they don't prepare you for medical school.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
Poor. The only opportunities they provided were the ones I provided to the pre-health society as the vice president.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
Reach out to multiple medical schools throughout your education so you can stay on track during undergrad. Reach out to career services as they can help with resumes and personal statements. Use all virtual opportunities in front of you. Start studying for the MCAT your freshman year. Possibly hire a pre-med advisor.
Anything Else to Add?
Bridgewater is a very small school in Virginia and has allowed me to gain personal relationships with my professors, but also does not have adequate pre-med opportunities for students, such as clinical internships or shadowing of any kind.
Rate Your College on a Scale of 1-10
6
Biggest Pros
I think that the competitive nature of pre-med is not as explicit as other colleges in the best way. There is definitely drive from many students to get the best grades, but many of them care about a greater good and serving people rather than getting the better grade. The pre-med office is helpful in that they offer one-on-one appointments with advisors starting from freshman year, but their advice isn't as critical or entirely helpful. I think I will get a better sense once I start the process of applying. One of the strongest aspects about Boston College that aid in the pre-med experience is the education on sociology, ethics, environment, public health, etc in medicine. Medicine is not just biochemistry, biology, or chemistry; its science and practice are conducted to a human society, and one needs to be aware of that when approaching medicine.
Biggest Cons
I think the biggest con is probably that they don't offer as much support for underclassmen who want to pursue pre-med. Specifically, underclassmen need the most help in adapting to their coursework and finding summer plans that help them get clinical and volunteer work done. Their online resources are limited since they just link hospital websites rather than explicitly naming programs they can pursue.
Clinical Opportunities During the Pandemic?
My school started a virtual shadowing program, which has been okay. The problem with it is that there is a lack of structure amongst all the presenters, and the presenters are not exactly aware of the differences in knowledge between themselves and college students. I'm not learning as much as I would in a clinical setting where we'd be focusing on one case, or at HEAL when we discuss cases, differential diagnoses, and narrow down the diagnosis using signs, symptoms, labs, history, etc.
Advice for Pre-Meds at Your College
I would say to befriend an upperclassmen who has experience as a pre-med and gaining experience. Sometimes the advisors are too optimistic, and I think that having a little more constructive criticism about the chances of getting into medical school and gaining experiences is helpful. I would also say to try and get new perspectives on medicine, especially with the Medical Humanities or Global Public Health and the Common Good minors. The liberal arts curriculum is strong at Boston College for a reason, and I think students walk away with a strong knowledge and awareness of all the working parts of medicine.
Anything Else to Add?
N/A
If you attend a state school…
If you attend a UC…
If you attend a liberal arts school…
If you attend an ivy league school…
Did your college appear in our testimonies? Want to give us a report on your pre-med college experience?
Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll respond to you personally!
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