Anita
HELP! Which is better: UCONN or MCPHS?
I'm currently a high school senior amidst the college application/decision process. As of right now, my top 2 schools include University of Connecticut and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. I understand that both schools are vastly different from one another but there are attributes to each that I admire. Uconn has all the extracurriculars I've been interested in being involved in (fencing club and bollywood fusion dance team) and it is closer to home. MCPHS on the other hand is much smaller and therefor will probably cater better to each student. It's also in a more urban setting. The plan is to go to medical school after my 4 years of undergrad. Although MCPHS is geared towards the healthcare field, I've read many articles that it is ultimately not a good school. I'm just really confused on how to proceed as I want to make the right decision in ensuring my future-in-medicine path. Any advice is helpful! Thank you :)
2 answers
Rian Alam
Rian’s Answer
I would recommend reaching out to students who currently attend both schools and seeing which student perspective better alines with your personal fit. I would also look into the resources that are offered at each school to support you on your healthcare journey. If research is something that appeals to you, I'd recommend looking into the opportunities offered to students at each school, and determining which one would better support your career. Typically large public universities like Uconn will offer more in terms of research opportunities, but also scholarships. I would also look into the living situations at both schools, and see which one you prefer. While it may not seem like a big deal now, the place/area you live in has a huge impact on your mental health and your ability to suceed.
Thank you, Rian!
Anita
Michelle M.
Michelle’s Answer
It is marvelous that you know what you want for a career and the decision now is which college to attend. I would like to give you some advice to help you along based on the information you've provided but I don't know what major you're looking for. My advice would be the University of Connecticut for a few reasons.
The programs that UCONN offers that would match your plan for medical school are: Allied Health Sciences. Health Sciences Concentration, Healthcare Administration, Public Health and Health Promotion, Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, Medical Laboratory Science, Pathobiology (which is appropriate for Veterinarians), Health Care Management, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Human Development and Family Science, Physics, Physiology and Neurobiology and Pharmacy. Just look at that menu of majors ! This is from their catalog of undergraduate majors.
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a really good program for people aiming for a career as a Dentist and they have majors in Chemistry, Biotechnology, Data Science and Biotechnology Research and Development, Pharmaceutical Science and many, many more for the undergraduate.
Both schools have great programs but need to be pondered over a little more. If it were me, I would choose UCONN. It has great degrees for someone planning to be a doctor, it has the extracurriculars that you want - and the Bollywood dance opportunity sounds awesome. It's closer to where you live, too.
There really shouldn't be any issues with UCONN being large (it's not enormous). I went to a college during the time the student body was a bit larger than UCONN is right now, and I had classes with 6 people and a class with 72 people and everything in between and it did not make a bit of difference. If you need help with something, the professors keep office hours and there are tutors and study groups to help out. This should not be a deal breaker by any means. Also, UCONN has a wonderful reputation on the East Coast. It is well known and recognized.
Since you are doing research between these two colleges and are already finding that MCPHS leaves a doubt in your mind, you can visit the campus and get a feel for it yourself or go with the information you have already obtained. The two college's tuitions are about the same so cost is not really a factor in comparison.
The decision should come from you, but from what you've mentioned, my advice would be to consider UCONN, for all the good reasons !
Best wishes to you in all you do !
Thanks so much Michelle! This really helped put a lot into perspective. :)
Anita
You are very welcome, Anita !
Michelle M.