Pre-med advice for Iowa State

**GoSTATE71** · 01-04-2010, 08:24 PM

I started a thread about this during the summer, but I have been accepted at Iowa and Iowa State, I want to attend Iowa State because of their strong science reputation and i just loved the campus and everyone i met, not to mention both my parents graduated from Iowa State. I think I would major in Kinesiology or biology, but I'm not sure about Iowa State's pre-med advisors I never had the opportunity to meet with any of them, and I know in your undergraduate years, having a good advisor will help alot with the grind of all the science classes and pre-med requirements. I'm 95% sure i'm coming to Iowa State next fall, but i'm still worried about advisors, strength, and preparation for medical school. Any advice or current pre-med students would be much appreciated thanks alot

**ISUpremed** · 01-04-2010, 08:56 PM

Iowa State is great for your pre-medical education. I spent my undergrad at Iowa State and am happy to say I am a first year at Mayo Medical School with lots of options to go anywhere. Both premedical advisors are spectacular and will lead you in the right direction. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Iowa State University

I initially worried about going somewhere without a hospital/medical school, but from talking to my colleagues it did not help one bit. Go where you are happy, can get good grades, get involved in cool research (on any topic) and do some volunteer work, and you'll do great.

Go State!

**aauummm** · 01-04-2010, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by ISUpremed

Iowa State is great for your pre-medical education. I spent my undergrad at Iowa State and am happy to say I am a first year at Mayo Medical School with lots of options to go anywhere. Both premedical advisors are spectacular and will lead you in the right direction. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Iowa State University

I initially worried about going somewhere without a hospital/medical school, but from talking to my colleagues it did not help one bit. Go where you are happy, can get good grades, get involved in cool research (on any topic) and do some volunteer work, and you'll do great.

Go State!

I think you meant "it did not HURT one bit" or you meant that it did not help one bit to go to a school with a hospital/medical school. Or maybe you meant "it did not help one bit" to worry about it? This is getting way too complicated-forget my post!!

**ISUpremed** · 01-04-2010, 09:11 PM

It did not matter one way or the other. Medical schools have virtually no association with undergraduate campuses. Plus Ames has a very solid hospital that is willing to allow premeds to shadow physicians there.

**GoSTATE71** · 01-04-2010, 10:11 PM

ISUpremed-the advisors were my biggest concern mainly because i didnt have a chance to meet with any, my dad did his undergraduate at Iowa State and went onto University of Iowa dental school, something else i was worried about was getting involved in research something i really want to do but wasnt sure about the opportunities at Iowa state as far as medicine? I also wasn't sure about ames hospital how they work with premed students and job shadowing etc.

**jsmith86** · 01-04-2010, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by GoSTATE71

ISUpremed-the advisors were my biggest concern mainly because i didnt have a chance to meet with any, my dad did his undergraduate at Iowa State and went onto University of Iowa dental school, something else i was worried about was getting involved in research something i really want to do but wasnt sure about the opportunities at Iowa state as far as medicine? I also wasn't sure about ames hospital how they work with premed students and job shadowing etc.

I have 3 friends who graduated in the past 2 years who all went into medicine. I was going to do that myself until I discovered about 2 years ago how much I love chemical engineering. None of them had any trouble at all with getting into med school. As long as you take the science courses and do well in them, you should have an ok time getting in to med school, no matter where your undergrad education occurs.

**CTAClone** · 01-04-2010, 10:24 PM

I think the only benefit U of I has for pre-med students is they are guaranteed an interview or something. Which really doesn't mean anything. I know it's cutthroat in Iowa City for good volunteer and research positions because of Nursing/Paramedic/PA/and Med School programs there.

**jsmith86** · 01-04-2010, 10:28 PM

[QUOTE=CTAClone;1453563]I think the only benefit U of I has for pre-med students is they are guaranteed an interview or something. Which really doesn't mean anything. I know it's cutthroat in Iowa City for good volunteer and research positions because of Nursing/Paramedic/PA/and Med School programs there.[/QUOTE]

While it might be like that in IC, Ames has positions up for grabs. In fact, if you want a position as a paramedic, PM me and I'll get you in touch with someone who can, assuming you can pass EMT-B, most likely get you a position in Ames or the surrounding areas.

**Cyano** · 01-04-2010, 11:13 PM

I remember hearing that all residents of Iowa applying to U of I med school got an interview, not just U of I undergrads. This may have changed or I may have heard wrong, something to look into.

Jennifer Owens was just starting as pre med advisor when I graduated, she was nice and easy to work with. She was switching over from a biology advisor so she was learning as she went, but I thought she was doing good, and if she is still the pre med advisor she has had several years of experience now.

Research at ISU is not a disadvantage to research at Iowa, if you look around campus there are plenty of research labs to get involved in, start by volunteering or doing a summer program. Just because there isnt a medical school doesn't mean their aren't medically oriented research labs. A lot of the labs in Science II and Molecular Biology are directed at human medicine. I don't think this is the important part though. Medical schools just want to see that you have the drive to investigate on your own.

Good luck at Iowa State! When you apply to medical schools don't forget about applying to Des Moines University, Iowa isn't the only medical school in Iowa. DMU is a great program and their simulation lab ranks in the top 5 out of all medical schools in the country.

I'm probably biased though...ISU and DMU alum

**cycloneman42** · 01-04-2010, 11:13 PM

I did my undergrad at ISU and am now in my second year at UofI med school. I'm very glad I went to ISU for undergrad. I would major in bio over kinesiology if you are on the fence. Also- minor in something unrelated to medicine that interests you (like Spanish, polsci, history, etc).
I'm very glad I went to ISU for undergrad and I love Iowa for med school. Great professors and a lot of fun classmates.
But my two favorite teams will always be the Clones and whoever Iowa is playing that day.
PM me if you have any more ?s- glad to help.

**CyPride** · 01-04-2010, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Cyano

I remember hearing that all residents of Iowa applying to U of I med school got an interview, not just U of I undergrads. This may have changed or I may have heard wrong, something to look into.

Jennifer Owens was just starting as pre med advisor when I graduated, she was nice and easy to work with. She was switching over from a biology advisor so she was learning as she went, but I thought she was doing good, and if she is still the pre med advisor she has had several years of experience now.

Research at ISU is not a disadvantage to research at Iowa, if you look around campus there are plenty of research labs to get involved in, start by volunteering or doing a summer program. Just because there isnt a medical school doesn't mean their aren't medically oriented research labs. A lot of the labs in Science II and Molecular Biology are directed at human medicine. I don't think this is the important part though. Medical schools just want to see that you have the drive to investigate on your own.

Good luck at Iowa State! When you apply to medical schools don't forget about applying to Des Moines University, Iowa isn't the only medical school in Iowa. DMU is a great program and their simulation lab ranks in the top 5 out of all medical schools in the country.

I'm probably biased though...ISU and DMU alum

Does Des Moines University offer M.D., or only D.O.?

**everyyard** · 01-04-2010, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by CyPride

Does Des Moines University offer M.D., or only D.O.?

my advise is save DO schools for if you don't get into traditional allopathic med schools. your life will end up much easier as far as residency, job opportunities, etc.

**cycloneman42** · 01-04-2010, 11:43 PM

DMU is solely an osteopathic school so its a DO degree. But truthfully, the whole DO vs MD thing is blown out of proportion. There are good DOs and good MDs and some really bad DOs and some really bad MDs.
DMU is one of the top osteopathic schools in the country and Iowa is one of the top allopathic (MD) schools in the country. So you can't go wrong either way.
I love Iowa med school and have many friends at DMU that love it.

**Cyano** · 01-05-2010, 12:41 AM

DMU's medical degree is DO only, no MD. (They also have Physician Assistant, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Masters of Health Administration, and Masters of Public Health programs)

Although it may have been more true of the past, I believe it is becoming less and less that students are using DO programs as their fall back if they don't get into an allopathic program, although I'll admit it still happens. I know you were speaking in general and not singling me out, but DMU was my #1 choice and I don't regret it. When applying to residency I felt I had the advantage and I have no worries about finding a job afterwards. I am in an allopathic residency program (meaning it is associated with an allopathic medical school and must meet guidlines established by the ACGME). It is allowed to select both MDs and DOs and last year my program selected a class entirely of DOs.

(end defensive rant...the stereotype that DO students didn't get accepted into a MD program has always been a pet peeve of mine)

This is not meant to argue for DOs over MDs. My suggestion is to look at all schools individually, whether they are allopathic or osteopathic programs, and decide based on the program. If you like one school over another it should not matter what letters you get after your name.