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Which university should someone who wants to study Biology and then attend medical school choose?

I am a high school senior living in Virginia, and I aspire to become a doctor. I have received my college admissions results, and I have been accepted to the following schools:

George Mason University
James Madison University
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
University of Washington
I have been accepted into the Biology program and plan to continue to medical school afterward. My long-term goal is to become a cardiac surgeon.

I am currently undecided about which university to choose, and I would love to hear from those who have studied or are currently studying at these institutions. Based on my research, having a university-affiliated hospital can be a significant advantage for internships and work opportunities. However, I have also come across opinions that suggest it may not be as crucial.

Additionally, some sources indicate that if a university has its own medical school, it might offer a small number of reserved spots for its pre-med students (provided they meet the necessary academic requirements). Considering this, James Madison, VCU, and the University of Washington have their own medical schools, whereas George Mason does not.

In terms of cost, George Mason, James Madison, and VCU have similar tuition rates, and since they are all in Virginia, I would be closer to my family. However, attending the University of Washington would require me to relocate and pay higher tuition.

I understand that choosing a university is a critical decision for both my career and networking opportunities. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate any insights or experiences from students who have attended these schools.

Thank you in advance for your help!

college medicine college-advice doctor university college-admissions medical-school surgeon cardiology cardiac-surgeon vcu george-mason-university james-madison-university university-of-washington
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Albert’s Answer

Mert- From your question, it looks like you've really given YOUR DECISION a lot of thought! I capitalized "your decision" because no matter I say it's going to be your call. I'm assuming you've discussed this with family and have gotten their input also.
Okay, here are my thoughts...many things are weighed in making a decision, with each of them being assigned a weight by the decision maker (er, you). Actually, this decision you have to make is good practice for you...for you will find yourself in the same situation when practicing medicine...it's called a "judgement call". Weighing pluses and minuses, risks and benefits, costs and effectiveness, etc. (sound familiar?).
What to do? Weigh everything and make your best call. Remember, decisions are made with the information you have at the time you make them. Make your call and don't look back.
Wherever you decide to go to school you need to do well to obtain admission into medical school. From the way you posed your question, I'm betting you will! Good luck Buddy!
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Mert
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Rita’s Answer

Personally, I don't think the university you go to will make a huge difference in acceptance to medical school. I'm sure others will disagree. I was 90% sure I was going to UCI for undergraduate but went to Pomona College instead. I'm sure Pomona helped me because it was a small school environment which I needed. I know some students from my high school went to Stanford and they were premed but did not end up going to medical school. I don't know what happened but my thought was that the competition was too tough.

I think if you can go to a good college, you should be fine. Just get good grades. I also recommend everyone interested in medical school work as a medical scribe. This is for several reasons listed below:
1. It lets you speak with doctors and experience what it's like to be a doctor. Perhaps you will change your mind.
2. This will prepare you for medical school. Medical school was one of the most difficult experiences I ever experienced. I'm a slower learner and it would have helped if I was introduced to the language of medicine and learning how to deal with patients.
3. I think this experience will help you on your resume. You can tell the interviewers that you have worked as a scribe and understand the challenges of medicine and still want to become a doctor.
4. They pay you. This is the least important.

Being a CV surgeon is very challenging. It's already difficult getting into medical school and now you need to compete with the best of the best to be a surgeon. I would go to a "good" medical school because you will to compete with these students to be a surgeon.
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Avonlea’s Answer

You've done your research and picked some great options! I know several friends from a small state school I attended who went on to medical programs. They saved money and still got a great education that prepared them for their medical careers. Trust your instincts and choose what feels right. You'll succeed wherever you go. Good luck!
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James’s Answer

The good news is that all of your choices are excellent. I have physician friends and colleagues who were very successful coming out of just about every respectable college and university in the USA. I would recommend you go to the school that made you feel most like you belonged, and would be happy there. Going deeply into debt isn't a wonderful thing, so only pick the more expensive choice if you really felt it was the best fit for you. I believe that living in different places and experiencing different things is a huge plus to being a physician, but the cost does matter.
Extracurricular activities matter in addition to a strong biology/science curriculum. Medical schools generally prefer someone who did more than got good grades in biology. What college has the sports, music, speech club... you may want to join?
Enjoy this wonderful time in your life!
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