University Comparison for Bio Med, After Grade 12

Don't fret it.

If med school is the end choice, you still can take your first two years at a community college (I did) and complete your remaining courses at a university that is more appealing and offers better instruction. The first four years are pre-med studies. The bigger factor in selecting a school is where you graduate, not where you start.

To put this in perspective, the most popular major for med students is music. The rationale is that music takes less work and it allows students to focus on the tougher subjects. You can get transferrable credits like that at just about any school. I bucked the system by selecting biology as my major, but it requires extra work. The real meat courses are going to be in the last 2 years of pre-med.

Now, just be sure that the target schools for graduating accept credits from the community college of your choice, but that is easy to do with a quick visit to the university consolers.

Lastly, make sure your son maintains a very high grade point average. Medical schools are looking for the best students and a 4.0 GPA will provide a much wider choice of med schools as well as other perks than a 2.5.

The same applies to the first two years. I had my graduating university raise some concerns about transferring my organic chemistry course I took at community college. What saved the day was my A in the class.

The most valuable advice will come from your school's advisors, so stay in touch with them and follow their advice.

It also does not hurt for your son to find a doctor that can mentor him. He will need an endorsement form both professors and actual doctors to get into med school. He will have that chance when he starts volunteering at hospitals, but I befriended a neurologist early on that really helped me.

I wish your son the best of luck. It's hard, but rewarding work.