回复：pre-med GPA vs. pursuing ivy school: conflict

1. It depends.  If your kid is bright and at the top 25-50 in ivies, definitely go with ivies.  The kid is going to have better peers.  If the kid is at the bottom 50% then it's probably true just going to a lower school and get higher GPA.  But remember, GPA from different schools and different classes is also considered;

2. GPA is extremely important.  We we also have standardized test MCAT.  As mentioned above, school is also important.  From real world experience, if you graduated from a better college and everything else is equal, you will probably get more interviews for residency;

3. Yes, but you also lost the chance getting into better medical schools.

All in all, if the kid is bright, he/she doesn't have to worry about all those.  If the kid is average, it's going to be tough no matter what.