Pre-med schools

[bigbad]

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So here it is..

I applied last year with a pretty solid gpa & SAT score to the UC schools for undergrad. Long story short I didn't get in everywhere I wanted to but got UCSB, UCSC and UC riverside.

I keep hearing people who don't even go to UCR talk about how the school isn't that great and ranks low among the UC schools. I'm actually interested in the school and think I would be able to do well there. IMO the only thing that kept me from the other UC's was probably the lack of EC's on my application.

I don't understand what people have against the school besides "there's nothing to do there" and "its smoggy".. And UCLA isn't smoggy?

One of the reasons I want to go to UCR is that I would expect lower competition there than at other UC's and therefore have a higher gpa for pre-med. I'm also expecting that I'll be in the honors program.

So my question is, would admissions officers feel the same way about the lower level of competition and not even consider me? Before you tell me to go where I "fit in" I need a realistic no BS idea of what to expect. Is a higher gpa here better than a lower gpa at a higher ranked school?

I keep hearing that before med schools even look at the thousands of apps they get for the few hundred seats they have, they filter the numbers before even looking at you. Would this give me an advantage? Later I hear this is BS and that if you're not from a reputable/prestigious school they'll consider you a joke.

I'm assuming that med school acceptance at UCR is pretty low compared to other UC schools but I'm a good student and I'm ready to work hard. Help me SDN.

 

[Gallix23]

I've debated about this "prestige" issue as well, and every response I've gotten is that prestige doesn't matter. Getting a 3.4 GPA at Harvard is worse than getting a 4.0 at easy-street university.

So basically go where ever you'd like, but just make sure you do really well.

 

[murfettie]

http://www.biomed.ucr.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=49

 

[bigbad]

http://www.biomed.ucr.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=49

Yup, that's another reason I think UCR would be good. But I don't want to base my decision on just that.

I'm definitely going to shoot for that though. How bad can it be if all the applicants are just from UCR?

 

[Tots]

http://www.biomed.ucr.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=49

I was under the impression however that once their medical school opens(expected 2012) that they will no longer have that program?

 

[nick_carraway]

I was under the impression however that once their medical school opens(expected 2012) that they will no longer have that program?

Yeah, but the inaugural class will still be composed entirely of UCR alumni.

As for attending UCR for undergrad, if you like the school it doesn't matter what other people think.

Everyone made fun of my alma mater (UC Davis), but your school is what you make of it. If you like cows and small towns, then who cares if your peers don't. If you like living on the outskirts of a town at the end of a highway, more power to you.

I debated this same issue when I was choosing my undergrad. I didn't apply to UCLA or Cal, but got into UCSD and Irvine and Davis. I dropped Irvine immediately (again, personal preference) but went back and forth between SD and Davis. I finally decided to go to Davis for the same reason you're considering Riverside; that if I could do well at UCSD, I could do even better at Davis. In retrospect, who knows if that was true, but don't use that as a reason for choosing a school. I didn't do great at Davis so it's a bit presumptuous to think that you'll do outstanding at Riverside.

That being said, GPA matters most for screenings and generally nobody gives a crap where you went to undergrad as long as you do well. Most of the nation can't even name three of the UCs.

Pick where you'd like to live for four years and where you feel competitive.

 

[bigbad]

Yeah, but the inaugural class will still be composed entirely of UCR alumni.

As for attending UCR for undergrad, if you like the school it doesn't matter what other people think.

Everyone made fun of my alma mater (UC Davis), but your school is what you make of it. If you like cows and small towns, then who cares if your peers don't. If you like living on the outskirts of a town at the end of a highway, more power to you.

I debated this same issue when I was choosing my undergrad. I didn't apply to UCLA or Cal, but got into UCSD and Irvine and Davis. I dropped Irvine immediately (again, personal preference) but went back and forth between SD and Davis. I finally decided to go to Davis for the same reason you're considering Riverside; that if I could do well at UCSD, I could do even better at Davis. In retrospect, who knows if that was true, but don't use that as a reason for choosing a school. I didn't do great at Davis so it's a bit presumptuous to think that you'll do outstanding at Riverside.

That being said, GPA matters most for screenings and generally nobody gives a crap where you went to undergrad as long as you do well. Most of the nation can't even name three of the UCs.

Pick where you'd like to live for four years and where you feel competitive.

Great. Thanks for the help. 😉 I also got into the top CSU's but if I'm correct their admission rates would be lower than a UC?

Also, koko said that if the biomed program is removed the new medical school will only be open to UCR undergrads. Is this a standard practice for new med schools or was this stated somewhere?

 

[talbo]

I don't think that it will be open solely to UCR undergrads when the medical school opens, but it is probably safe to say the majority of the students will be from UCR. The Thomas Haider Program is a def plus for UCR. What about UCSB? You don't like it there? Good luck wherever you go!

 

[sleepy12]

You seem to really be leaning towards ucr. For being premed i think it is fine especially with that program and the new med school opening up. But honestly, in terms of having fun things to do during your college career, I would highly recommend ucsb over that. I've been on several interviews this year and have met a pretty good amount of ppl from ucsb that are interviewing but I have not met anyone from ucr on the trail, but that just might mean not as many are interested.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

These people that like to bash other peoples Undergraduate schools probably need to get their heads out of their asses. You have just a good of chance at being accepted to medical school from UCR as you will at UCLA.

 

[MissIrish]

...

 

[WaterBird]

One of the reasons I want to go to UCR is that I would expect lower competition there than at other UC's and therefore have a higher gpa for pre-med. I'm also expecting that I'll be in the honors program.

First of all, if you like UCR, go there...the prestige factor between these UCs isn't going to make a huge impact on your application - most non-Californians probably wouldn't even be that aware of the exact UC hierarchy. (Although, yes UC >> CSU for med school admissions)

HOWEVER, I don't think the reason quoted above is a good one. A lot of people thrive academically when they are with other smart, motivated people. Just because a school is less competitive does not mean you will do better there. (Disclaimer: I don't know anything about UCR, so I'm not trying to imply anything about their students.)

Also, you might not stay pre-med (more than half the people who start college pre-med do not apply to medical school, and of those that apply, around half get in the first time). So you should choose a undergrad school based on other factors as well.

 

[nick_carraway]

Great. Thanks for the help. 😉 I also got into the top CSU's but if I'm correct their admission rates would be lower than a UC?

Also, koko said that if the biomed program is removed the new medical school will only be open to UCR undergrads. Is this a standard practice for new med schools or was this stated somewhere?

Regarding what I said about UCR's inaugural class, I might be misremembering an article I read a couple years ago so I defer to whomever disagrees.

Regarding CSUs vs. UCs, I'm at SFSU for a post-bacc right now and in some ways, it is preferable to Davis. Certainly the research capacity at SFSU is much lower than at UCD, but there are tons of students in labs both here at SFSU and across the city at UCSF. The professors here are even much more willing to give you authorships and to mentor you in their lab. There's no shortage of clinical experience around SFSU and having community clinics might be preferable to a major academic hospital where you might not gain very much experience.

The most striking thing about a CSU compared to a UC, however, is that everyone here is pre-nursing whereas everyone in Davis was pre-med. It means you have far less competition and the classes tend to be more straight forward. The professors here tend to be very good, since the CSUs place more emphasis on teaching than do the UCs and they're very approachable. Your LORs consequently might be more impressive at a CSU.

In terms of pre-med advising, Davis was MUCH MUCH MUCH better than SFSU, but this will vary from campus to campus. UCR might have a very good advising program simply because of the Haider program, but so too might some CSUs.

All things considered, however, the budget cuts are putting CSUs in difficult positions regarding class number and registration priority and things may get worse. The price tag certainly makes CSUs much more appealing that UCs, but ultimately the decision is yours.

The take-home message is that you can do well anywhere if you enjoy where you are; CSUs do not handicap you if you are determined to use your resources.

 

[bigbad]

I don't think that it will be open solely to UCR undergrads when the medical school opens, but it is probably safe to say the majority of the students will be from UCR. The Thomas Haider Program is a def plus for UCR. What about UCSB? You don't like it there? Good luck wherever you go!

I'm sure Santa Barbara is a great school too but its about 3x as far as Riverside and I like the fact that I would be able to come home without too much travel if I needed to.

UCR isn't in the most interesting of places compared to SB but not having distractions may be a good thing. (And you get a lot of those in SB as the stereotype goes 😀)

One more thing so I don't have to open a new thread, should I be doing anything important in the summer before undergrad?

Also, thanks for all the responses. I guess it really is what you make of it.

 

[nick_carraway]

One more thing so I don't have to open a new thread, should I be doing anything important in the summer before undergrad?

Also, thanks for all the responses. I guess it really is what you make of it.

Nope. Enjoy your break. Have fun, but be prepared to hit the ground running.

(STUDY. GO TO CLASS. VISIT OFFICE HOURS.)