California Premeds out there...UCR or CSULB?

[jrci215]

HI, I am in a dilemma right now- I can't decide where to transfer (I am a community College student) to pursue Bio and premed- UC Riverside or CSU Long Beach? Others say that CSU's don't prepare premeds well for med school...CSU is closer to home and a lot cheaper...if you were in my shoes, what university would you pick, and do you think that school is ok for med schools?

Thank you!!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Bikeage]

the only thing I would think as benefits of UCR would be the UC name, as most CSU schools don't have the recognition UCs do. CSULB is not a bad school (i currently attend there), just doesn't have the name to it.

I could have went to a UC, but instead chose CSULB because at the time, it seemed to fit my needs more

 

[Sprite]

Also, from what I hear, UC Riverside is known for its biology program. Heck, UC Berkeley's biology classes have standardized on Dr. Campbell's text; Dr. Campbell is part of UCR's faculty.

Two more things:
- UC Riverside is gunning for its own medical school:
http://www.newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=1194

- UC Riverside has a biomed program that, if you can survive through it, provides guaranteed admission to UCLA School of Medicine. It's very rigorous, however.

I'd say that you have a lot more medical-based opportunities at UCR. The city life there, on the other hand, is sorely lacking, so if you love suburban sprawl, go for this school.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Also, from what I hear, UC Riverside is known for its biology program. Heck, UC Berkeley's biology classes have standardized on Dr. Campbell's text; Dr. Campbell is part of UCR's faculty.

Two more things:
- UC Riverside is gunning for its own medical school:
http://www.newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=1194

- UC Riverside has a biomed program that, if you can survive through it, provides guaranteed admission to UCLA School of Medicine. It's very rigorous, however.

I'd say that you have a lot more medical-based opportunities at UCR. The city life there, on the other hand, is sorely lacking, so if you love suburban sprawl, go for this school.

Sprite beat me to it. I'm not a huge fan of UCR, but I do think that the biomed progra and close affiliation with UCLA is definitely a great reason to go there.

However, if you will be a commuter, stay close. Commuting is hell in LA. HELL!

 

[hmack]

HI, I am in a dilemma right now- I can't decide where to transfer (I am a community College student) to pursue Bio and premed- UC Riverside or CSU Long Beach? Others say that CSU's don't prepare premeds well for med school...CSU is closer to home and a lot cheaper...if you were in my shoes, what university would you pick, and do you think that school is ok for med schools?

Thank you!!!

UCR! My sis goes to CSU long beach and she isn't a huge fan of the student atmosphere because its a communter school. That and you will have an easier time getting into med school going to a UC.

 

[MediMama23]

UCR! My sis goes to CSU long beach and she isn't a huge fan of the student atmosphere because its a communter school. That and you will have an easier time getting into med school going to a UC.

Provided that you don't screw up while at UCR, you MAY have an easier time getting in than if you went to CSULB. But don't forget that people from Spodunk University have also gotten into medical school, and who knows where the heck that is?!?!?! And if you want to give weight to name dropping, going up against someone from Harvard with similar stats to yours will get you passed up. If we're all about names, maybe you should transfer to UCLA or UCSD.

It's a crapshoot. Go where you feel most comfortable, and where you feel you'll get the most out of the experience. It may well be UCR.

 

[infiniti]

You can't transfer to UCSF as it lacks any sort of undergraduate program. UCSD, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC merced, UC santa cruz, UC Davis, and UCR will do. I am sure I am living out a couple of UC's.

 

[Elastase]

I would definitely attend UC Riverside, especially since you have that extra opportunity to do the UCR/UCLA program.

 

[MediMama23]

I would definitely attend UC Riverside, especially since you have that extra opportunity to do the UCR/UCLA program.

Apparently, you have to be admitted as a freshman to be elligible to do the UCR/UCLA thing. If that will be your case, OP, and you have at least a 1300 SAT, I say go for it. You'd be starting the UCR part Fall 2007 if you were accepted.

 

[Elastase]

Apparently, you have to be admitted as a freshman to be elligible to do the UCR/UCLA thing. If that will be your case, OP, and you have at least a 1300 SAT, I say go for it. You'd be starting the UCR part Fall 2007 if you were accepted.

I don't think thats true. You can now apply to the program as a community/junior college transfer student. The OP is a transfer student.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Even if you don't do the UCR/UCLA program, I think that you'll have a better chance of getting into medical school coming from UCR.

 

[wildcatbio06]

Here is a similar thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=261354&highlight=cal+state

 

[thirdclius]

HI, I am in a dilemma right now- I can't decide where to transfer (I am a community College student) to pursue Bio and premed- UC Riverside or CSU Long Beach? Others say that CSU's don't prepare premeds well for med school...CSU is closer to home and a lot cheaper...if you were in my shoes, what university would you pick, and do you think that school is ok for med schools?

Thank you!!!

I'm a fan of the Cal-State systems. I graduated from CSU-SB not LB. I really like the small class system at cal-state science programs. At CSUSB, Teachers focus more on their students rather than on their research. Your profs are the ones giving lectures, grading your exams, etc. There's a lot of oportunities for research with faculty as well. Students are also in a less toxic environment, where students help each other out. I heard that UCR biomed program is very competitive in the classroom where I heard bad things (ie students screwing each other's labs, not helping classmates with notes) but of course those are what I heard when I was in undergrad. yeah, I know someone who got in UCLA medical school through the biomed program but it is extremely competitive. I think if CSULB has a small class system then go for it - forget UCR!!!

Also, Cal-state systems is much cheaper than UC system.
PM me if you want.

 

[jrci215]

UCR! My sis goes to CSU long beach and she isn't a huge fan of the student atmosphere because its a communter school. That and you will have an easier time getting into med school going to a UC.

what's a commuter school?

 

[iviikoivi]

a school where the majority of students commute from home

 

[dabigv13]

School prestige isn't all that important in this process, and I think the difference between UCR and CSULB would be negligible in the minds of most admissions committees. However, I imagine there would be less premed competition at LB than UCR, so it'd probably be easier to get that stellar GPA, and a 3.9 from CSULB would look much more impressive than a 3.5 from UCR. Also, the LA/LB area will probably have more opportunities for clinical experiences than Riverside will. And CSU is probably cheaper yeah?

I suppose the two drawbacks to CSU are 1) not as much research opportunities 2) that it is a commuter school, but if you're transferring in, that might not be as big a factor.

 

[notdeadyet]

If your sole criteria for choosing your undergraduate college is how it will affect your ability to get into med school (which is probably not a great thing) then definitely go to UCR.

There is a big difference between the UC and CSU system in terms of research and funding. Also there is a big difference in perceived reputation. A UC degree has a level of acceptance that a CSULB will not.

CSULB can be tough. I took classes there and my sister went to school there. It's very much a commuter campus, student social life is tough. At UCR, you will NOT find that a majority of students happen to be living in Riverside at time of application (which is common with CSULB) so you have more of a community vibe. I taught there for a short contract. Not my favorite place, but much better opportunities than CSULB for a premed.

Good lucK!

 

[thirdclius]

Being a commuter school shouldn't matter to your premedical education. Now if you're looking for parties then maybe try Chico State/San Diego State or UC Santa Barbara! 😀 It may be better to go to a commuter school because there's less distraction!
I am unsure about the second statement.

UCR! My sis goes to CSU long beach and she isn't a huge fan of the student atmosphere because its a communter school. That and you will have an easier time getting into med school going to a UC.

 

[smcin001]

The UCR/UCLA program is now no longer an undergrad program. You apply like any other med school, the only exception is that you have to attend UCR for at least your Junior and Senior years. Just to clarify...