LECOM EAP vs UCLA premed (please help!)

[cheeseball-eater]

Hi everyone! I am a high school senior very set on wanting to become a physician and I am having a lot of trouble deciding where to attend. I feel more interested in primary care and want to go into pediatrics or family medicine (I really want to work with kids as a doctor) which I feel is relevant to my decision, and definitely do not want to go into surgery. Both undergraduate schools are also similar in cost so that does not play a big factor in my decision. I also have gotten into all of the UCs with similar aid so if any other schools are better suited for premed please tell me!

LECOM EAP
Pros

• No MCAT needed
• 3.4 GPA requirement
• Affordable tuition
• Good match rate and board passing rates from what it seems
• Less stress about needing tons of clinical hours, volunteering, shadowing
• The program is non-binding so I can apply out if I want

Cons

• Harder to match into competitive specialties- most people seem to match into primary care
• I'd be attending a smaller undergrad school which might have less resources compared to a UC
• LECOM seems to have a bad reputation among premed forums like these (although I have never seen any complaints about the education)

UCLA
Pros

• Many resources available
• I love the campus
• My sibling attends so I would have a support system there
• Strong reputation and name
• Has a hospital

Cons

• There’s a lot of premed students that opportunities can be competitive and harder to come by
• Seems a little bit challenging to get a spot in classes
• Would have to take MCAT
• Challenging to get into clubs for shadowing

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[usagimd]

I would say UCLA (biased as I am an alum haha)! Yes, you would have to take the MCAT and apply to medical school after you graduate. However, a BS/DO program is not as enticing as a BS/MD-- especially if you eventually decide you do want to pursue a more competitive specialty. I truly believe that if you are able to get into UCLA (and other UCs!) and a BS/DO program, you will be able to score well enough on the MCAT to get into a medical school down the road (either MD or DO). You can even look into other programs like FlexMed at Mt. Sinai if you really don't want to take the MCAT lol

Another factor I would consider is that you are young-- UCLA will provide a wonderful undergraduate experience almost unparalleled to other institutions.

UCLA does have a lot of competition in terms of class size, housing issues, waiting in line for food, etc. However, your experience is what you make of it. For instance, if you are worried about getting shadowing (only possible at Reagan thru certain clubs), you can up your hours over the summer or commute to private practices in other parts of LA instead.

 

[da27]

UCLA! Also biased because I went here but everyone I know loved it. If this was BS/MD I would probably change my answer, but locking yourself into a DO program at 18 is not the way to go imo. If you’ve done enough in high school to get into both UCLA and a BS/DO, I’m confident that you will do enough at UCLA to get into an even better med school. I have a ton of friends who applied this cycle, and we all did great. It’s true that at such a large public school with the most premeds in the country, opportunities won’t just be handed to you, but if you look for things to do there is more than enough opportunity for everyone. There are a million clubs and different labs to get involved with. I also just think being here was big for my development as a person, and I can’t imagine being at the same school and city for 8 years, from 18-26 (but maybe that’s just me).

If you have more questions I’d be happy to help answer!

 

[ThePearl]

UCLA no question, especially when compared to BS/DO

 

[nastixnmed]

UCLA, shoot for MD hands down. You lose 100% of shots you don't take

 

[hydroflaskhomie]

UCLA. Don't sell yourself short.