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[indecisivegal]

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[TanMan]

UCI seems to have a very small pre-dental society and fraternity? idk it seems more close-knit than the really big UCSD one. however, people do say that UCSD is the best pre-dental club in the world but idk where that's coming from...


second, many have been saying that UCI is easier than UCSD to maintain good grades, especially for STEM majors... i am a biology major 🙁 idk if this is true but ik that GPA is very important for dental school so...

I did like UCSD because there are many research opportunities there. people tell me that it's hard to NOT get involved in research. but now i'm hearing that UCI is improving its research contributions and become higher-ranked than UCSD?

anyways, i'm not too sure if i can even commit to UCI but i've just been having a lot of self-doubt. tbh i didn't really consider UCI because there was no diversity and i didn't really like the area. but now i'm really regretting not doing a lot of research in the school.

they're both the same cost of attendance and close to home which i appreciate.

was UCSD the right decision all along but i'm just stressing myself out for nothing? or should i find a way to commit to UCI now by emailing them...

For the most part, undergrad doesn't matter. Ranking doesn't matter either. A lot of it is luck of the draw. Get a good GPA, get some good LORs, good score on DAT and dental volunteering(and/or research), and you're in. You don't have as much BS to go through like getting into medicine.

As I tell people, if I can get in, anyone can. Good luck in your endeavors!

 

[1942]

UCI seems to have a very small pre-dental society and fraternity? idk it seems more close-knit than the really big UCSD one. however, people do say that UCSD is the best pre-dental club in the world but idk where that's coming from...


second, many have been saying that UCI is easier than UCSD to maintain good grades, especially for STEM majors... i am a biology major 🙁 idk if this is true but ik that GPA is very important for dental school so...

I did like UCSD because there are many research opportunities there. people tell me that it's hard to NOT get involved in research. but now i'm hearing that UCI is improving its research contributions and become higher-ranked than UCSD?

anyways, i'm not too sure if i can even commit to UCI but i've just been having a lot of self-doubt. tbh i didn't really consider UCI because there was no diversity and i didn't really like the area. but now i'm really regretting not doing a lot of research in the school.

they're both the same cost of attendance and close to home which i appreciate.

was UCSD the right decision all along but i'm just stressing myself out for nothing? or should i find a way to commit to UCI now by emailing them...

Lol, you’re worrying WAY too much about this.

yes UCSD has one of the best pre-dental clubs in the nation and it makes it easier to network, get involved in community service, have access to dental jobs, be a part of DAT study groups etc. But at the end of the day you can do this anywhere. And most UCs offer this to varying degrees.

UCSD and UCI are virtually the same in academic rigor in my opinion. I believe UCSD has a greater research output than UCI but getting involved in research isn’t necessarily hard as long as you put forth some effort/show interest. The demographics of both schools are very similar so I’m not sure why you think there’s no diversity at UCI.

In terms of location, I agree it’s hard to beat La Jolla. San Diego is a great city with great food. Irvine/South OC is solid too. The school is 5 minutes from Newport Beach. Did you get a chance to explore the city?

anyways you already submitted the SIR right? I don’t think there’s necessarily a right or wrong decision here. Go wherever you believe you will be able to perform the best. Like the above poster said, maintain a good GPA, score highly on the DAT, get involved in dental volunteering(and/or research), and you're in. This is true for any institution. The prestige of your undergrad does not matter whatsoever

 

[macsak]

UCI seems to have a very small pre-dental society and fraternity? idk it seems more close-knit than the really big UCSD one. however, people do say that UCSD is the best pre-dental club in the world but idk where that's coming from...


second, many have been saying that UCI is easier than UCSD to maintain good grades, especially for STEM majors... i am a biology major 🙁 idk if this is true but ik that GPA is very important for dental school so...

I did like UCSD because there are many research opportunities there. people tell me that it's hard to NOT get involved in research. but now i'm hearing that UCI is improving its research contributions and become higher-ranked than UCSD?

anyways, i'm not too sure if i can even commit to UCI but i've just been having a lot of self-doubt. tbh i didn't really consider UCI because there was no diversity and i didn't really like the area. but now i'm really regretting not doing a lot of research in the school.

they're both the same cost of attendance and close to home which i appreciate.

was UCSD the right decision all along but i'm just stressing myself out for nothing? or should i find a way to commit to UCI now by emailing them...

UCSD is BY FAR the best pre-dental club in the US
they are the only one that gets to go on a Navy Hospital Ship every year (or ever) and they are at the ADA convention pretty much every year
just check their website for all the things they do

how do you know that the UCI predental society is "close knit"?

 

[indecisivegal]

UCSD is BY FAR the best pre-dental club in the US
they are the only one that gets to go on a Navy Hospital Ship every year (or ever) and they are at the ADA convention pretty much every year
just check their website for all the things they do

how do you know that the UCI predental society is "close knit"?

they have a pre-dental fraternity that looked pretty close knit. it's just a group of 30 individuals from what it looks like.

 

[cryingintheclub]

Choose the school where you will thrive overall and receive the support you need. A lot of my dental school interviewers brought up my GPA, DAT, and extracurriculars (most of which had nothing to do with dental, besides shadowing) as some posters mentioned already. I wasn't in any predental club (oops) either, and research isn't a requirement for dental schools. Do the minimum requirements for dental school and then carve your own path.

 

[2thDoc11]

the only way you could really make a mistake choosing an undergrad school is if you go to one that is unreasonably expensive.

 

[GoToHolmes]

recently, i chose to attend UCSD for the pre-dental pathway. however, i've recently been having a lot of doubts because i think UCI may have been better for me...

UCI seems to have a very small pre-dental society and fraternity? idk it seems more close-knit than the really big UCSD one. however, people do say that UCSD is the best pre-dental club in the world but idk where that's coming from...

second, many have been saying that UCI is easier than UCSD to maintain good grades, especially for STEM majors... i am a biology major 🙁 idk if this is true but ik that GPA is very important for dental school so...

i did like UCSD because there are many research opportunities there. people tell me that it's hard to NOT get involved in research. but now i'm hearing that UCI is improving its research contributions and become higher-ranked than UCSD?

anyways, i'm not too sure if i can even commit to UCI but i've just been having a lot of self-doubt. tbh i didn't really consider UCI because there was no diversity and i didn't really like the area. but now i'm really regretting not doing a lot of research in the school.

they're both the same cost of attendance and close to home which i appreciate.

was UCSD the right decision all along but i'm just stressing myself out for nothing? or should i find a way to commit to UCI now by emailing them...

Just do well in school and make a good impression on people. Research, major, etc literally have 0 impact on your app. All that matters if that you crush pre-req courses, the DAT, and make connections with professors and dentists so you can apply