Any former Cali CC who transferred to UCLA here

[SnYpaJY]

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I'm a Cali CC student (Peirce college). I am expecting to transfer to UCLA with a Life Science major (Physiological Sciences) in the Fall of 09. To have a good shot at transferring to UCLA, I need to complete the following at my CC..

IGETC- All GE classes - Have completed
Honors Program - Have completed
Life Science 1 (General Bio 1)- taking Fall 08
Life Science 2 (General Bio 2)- taking Spring 09
Life Science 3- taking Winter 09
Life Science 4- taking Spring 09
Calc 1- A
Calc 2-taking Fall 08
Organic Chem 1- taking Fall 08
Organic Chem 2- taking Spring 09
General Chem 1- A
General Chem 2- A
General Physics 1- Planning to take after Transfer (correlates to Physics 6ABC)
General Physics 2- Same as Physics 1
Biochemistry- Taking Spring 09

Fall Schedule- 15 Units
General Bio 1
Organic Chem 1
Calc 2

Winter Schedule 3 Units
Life Science 3

Spring Schedule- 16 Units
General Bio 2
Organic Chem 2
Bio Chem
Life Science 4


Is taking Ochem, bio, and calc in one semester bad? keep in mind that its a 16 week semester. Pierce is pretty easy, but some of the science course are just as if not more challenging than UCLA's program. I guess it depends on the teacher.. (pierce bio teachers are supposed to be extremely challenging).

So far I have a 4.0 GPA, will be IGETC certified, and Honors certified. I've also done several different EC's at my CC.

I'm afraid that taking most of my prereqs for med school at a CC is going to hurt my chances of getting in. My counselor told me that because my major is science related, as long as a maintain a high GPA AFTER I transfer, Med Schools will realize that I can do well in both the CC and University level.

I haven't done any hospital volunteering (planning on doing it soon)- how many hours will be sufficient?

Research- Because I'm in a CC, research is limited. I will have to begin research my third year, which will be at UCLA. Will this hurt me? Should I gunner for research right now?
I'm also thinking about doing a summer research program prior to transfer, but I don't know where or when to begin searching for this.

Shadowing- Have done with two different types of doctors 5 weeks each, at 10 hours per week) is this good enough?

MCAT- Planning on taking it after third year of undergrad, (after taking physics). Good or Bad?

I read The economist daily to increase vocab strength, and also because it's a great magazine, but I'm afraid its not enough. Should I start doing ExamKrackers vocab? When is the best time to begin studying/practicing?



Am I on track?

All of these questions are extremely important to my future goal. I would really like to go to UCLA Med or another top tier school, but I'm afraid that my current disadvantages or my future mistakes will harm my chances.

 

[JamesBond15]

You are taking all your pre-meds at a CC?

 

[SnYpaJY]

All but Physics, and that's only because I will not be able to transfer to UCLA with a science major if I do not.

UCLA undergrad wants most of my premajor reqs done at CC prior to transfer and unfortunately those reqs are also med school prereqs..

 

[JamesBond15]

Well, at UCLA there is a ton of research. You actually don't need to be a UCLA student to volunteer in a lab, it helps if you are, but that is not a requirement. Just a thought. I don't know if you show wait till you get in or start now. However, it will be pretty darn hard to commute from the valley to do research like everyday. Just wait I guess.

Shadowing is about the experience not really the hours, at least in my mind. So you did 100 hours.. hmm. On a UCLA standard, that is so-so. Most people do at least 200. Most people at UCLA join either Care Extenders at Santa Monica hospital (there is a hospital in the valley that has it too) or Stroke Force. There are a ton of other volunteer groups, but these are the two biggest. Both are hard to get into, start trying in the summer before you start UCLA.

 

[IvyLeagueThug]

You are in good shape.

I started out at a CC. I had Ds on my HS transcript and <1200 SAT score.

I heard non-stop from people about how certain schools would never look at a CC transfer, don't waste your time, etc.

When I was done, I was offered full junior status at Yale, Dartmouth, UNC Chapel Hill and UVA.

It shocked everyone to the point that the New York Times wrote an article about what I did.


PM me and I will send you a copy of it.

The CC hate on this board is ridiculous. People have no clue.

You really can't generalize about academic standards at any particular type of school.

Still, if you want to see joker academics and grade inflation and you had to generalize, I would place my money on a PRIVATE 3rd or 4th quartile 4-year school over a 2-year school affiliated with a state run university system any time and twice on Sundays.

The CC faculty has no motive to move you forward. At the 4th quartile private school, the faculty needs to get students to the upper level classes in order to keep their overtime (they call it overload) coming.

Moreover, very bright people have a motive to attend the CC (dirt-cheap costs). Why in the world would someone who could do better pay $600+/credit to attend a 4th quartile private school? The answer is usually because they couldn't get in anywhere else.

Granted, there is a lot of bias at the med schools. People like you can help change it.

Still, there are plenty of places that don't give a damn if the rest of your package is complete.

Don’t let ANYONE tell you "you can't get there from here."

Believe in yourself, work your ass off, and just walk away when you hear the naysayers.

You'll have the last laugh.