Does it really matter what university you go to if you want to become a doctor?

Question

i really want to go to stanford, but my parents wont let me even if i get accepted. they want me close to home... now, im wondering, does it really matter if i go to a school like ucla, ucsd school of medicine, instead of a school like stanford? whats the difference? do doctors from stanford/ivies make more money than doctors that graduated from a university like a UC? thanks.

Answer 1

UCLA and UCSD are fine medical schools.  The money is going to depend mostly on the specialty you choose.  It's a little hard to believe your parents still need to keep tabs on you when you're going to medical school unless you're Doogie Howser.

Answer 2

it depends. i think if you go to a well know school and make good grades, you have a better chance at going to a well known medical school, which in turn will give you more prestige when you get out.

however, i had a friend in your shoes. she always wanted to be a doctor, so she went to princeton and majored in premed. now, she was the top of her class at our school, and make a 1600 on her sat. however, when she got there it was too hard for her, so she switched to another major. i think she went into some liberal arts field, not sure what though. anyways, she graduated and is not having to go back and take all those pre reqs for med school that she doesn't have. in addition to this she is in debt over her head, and her grades are not good enought to get into a good medical school. if i were you, i would do what she didn't do. take the full-ride scholarships that these non-ivy league schools are giving you (just so it is a well known school), get good grades, and try to get into a great medical program...best of luck!

Answer 3

doctors from better universities probably don't make much more money but i think they're more likely to be employed in the first place, when i was talking to my dad about universities recently he said that your more credible for the job if you've gone to a better uni than not

go for stanford, tell ur parents that time spent with u will be more cherished if u have to make more of an effort to visit :D  

Answer 4

The more "rated" the undergraduate school, the better your chance of getting into a better medical school.  The "big name" schools didn't get that way by being "sloppy" with their students!

Answer 5

What matters the most to med schools are your GRADES. Also they will want you to take just as many liberal arts courses as you do science and math. So don't load yourself down with a ton of biology and chemistry lab courses each semester. Take English and History and a foreign language as well.

I'm assuming you live in California? When you start college, you should be 18 or over...so your parents really can't have any say in where you go. If you want to apply to Stanford, go for it. Also be sure to apply for all the scholarships and financial aid you're eligible for and apply EARLY.

It really doesn't matter where you go. As for the question about who makes more money, it really depends more on where you work and who hires you. Most med schools like to accept a great diversity of students: Some who went to public state schools, some who went to private liberal arts schools, some who went to majorly well-known universities. So, if you have something to offer them, it could definitely work in your favor. But like I said, the most important thing will be your grades.

Answer 6

By "doctor" I suppose you are referring to the job instead of degree title.

Are you applying to univs for undergraduate program, then planning to go for Med school? If so, I think Stanford is indeed a better school than UCLA/UCSD. However, UCLA/UCSD are very decent and they wouldn't set up any difficulties for you to apply for med school later. Therefore I don't think it really matters that much.

If you already have undergraduate education and you are applying for Med school, stanford Med school is not the best. UCSF is better. UCLA is about equally good. and UCSD is close.

Right, as the friend above me mentioned, once you get the job, it doesn't matter if you come from Stanford or Stamford, you will probably get the same salary and so on. However, a better school gives you better chance of getting the job in the first place, not just because of the "name", but also you get more chances to have shining records to put on CV.