I was just at UC-Davis. They like people with ties to northern California and don't interview below 210, with 220 putting you in good/fine/acceptable position to get in.
You might check out UCSF-EB- they are a good program but less competitive for entrance becuase of location in Oakland, academic affiliation rather than institution and the lesser known component of the SF program.
Otherwise, in southern california there are at least 9 programs and where you look depends on if you want community or academic, surburban or hollywood populations. Community-based programs with a community/provate practice goal tend to be less competive, or draw fewer of the high hitting applicants.
Best advice for you- improve your application in the only way you can- get glowing letters (work hard, appear interested and respectful, be nice) from big name people, especially people who trained with the program director or chair at the school you are applying to. You can choose which letters go where, so if you need to get 7 surgery letters and you can, then do it. BTW, non-surgeon letters, no matter how powerful, basically mean nothing in my experience. So get to know your friendly neighborhood surgeons!
Good luck!
