sfsu vs. sjsu vs. hayward

[coreana]

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Can anyone who is familiar with the schools or live in nor. cal tell me the living cost difference, which med schools look favorable upon which post bac program, and/or what are the chances of getting accepted into a medical school after completing the program...

I live in the so. cal area, so i'm not too familiar with the schools up north...

also is post bac programs offered at these schools similar to doing university extension like at uc irvine or ucla?

i would very much appreciated it if anyone can help me out here... thanks~

 

[relentless11]

Can anyone who is familiar with the schools or live in nor. cal tell me the living cost difference, which med schools look favorable upon which post bac program, and/or what are the chances of getting accepted into a medical school after completing the program...

I live in the so. cal area, so i'm not too familiar with the schools up north...

also is post bac programs offered at these schools similar to doing university extension like at uc irvine or ucla?

i would very much appreciated it if anyone can help me out here... thanks~

Question: In terms of just the school, do med schools look differently upon CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge? or do med schools look differently upon UCLA vs. UCSD? No not really. Although UCLA is "more well known", UCSD also is #1 in biomedical engineering. So ultimately doing well at a school is better than the school's prestiege.

Now in terms of cost, SFSU > SJSU > CSU Hayward. SF is insanely expensive, and silicon valley is pretty close behind at SJSU.

In terms of getting accepted to med school. If you had a 4.0 from SFSU, or a 3.0 from UCLA. Regardless of how prestiegous UCLA is, the 4.0 is more impressive and no "prestiege" factor is going to help you. I have been told that UCSF school of medicine does take into account some prestiege factor, but it is relatively minor. More like comparing a 4.0 from UCB vs. 4.0 from SJSU between two applicants in mechanical engineering. With all due respect to SJSU, UCB has a far more competative engineering program.

In regards to post-bacc programs, official, structured post-bacc programs add in extra stuff to help you do better on an MCAT, and/or in classes, in addition to take more courses to boost your GPA. Thats pretty much how it works for the UC post-bacc programs. If you take courses at UC Extension, there is no difference in terms of the classes, but the problem is cost, and the fact that you are last priority for registration. As for CSU post-bacc programs, I believe SJSU is merely a non-degree earning program, so again you just take classes to boost your GPA. The only real difference are the course selections. If you go to say UCLA or UCD, since they have their medical schools, they may offer some interesting courses that will count for your science GPA, and may also be more enjoyable as well.

Ultimately, your school's name alone is this tiny factor in terms of getting into med school. Too many things are considered, so it is pointless to worry. Its more important to consider costs, happiness, and goals when figuring out where to go. The caveat is, if you go to a big name school, like say UCLA, you have the advantage of having their medical school just around the corner providing volunteering, research internships. Of course not saying you can't find any of these EC's if you go to a CSU, its sometimes harder.

 

[nikibean]

Now in terms of cost, SFSU > SJSU > CSU Hayward. SF is insanely expensive, and silicon valley is pretty close behind at SJSU.

In terms of getting accepted to med school. If you had a 4.0 from SFSU, or a 3.0 from UCLA. Regardless of how prestiegous UCLA is, the 4.0 is more impressive and no "prestiege" factor is going to help you. I have been told that UCSF school of medicine does take into account some prestiege factor, but it is relatively minor. More like comparing a 4.0 from UCB vs. 4.0 from SJSU between two applicants in mechanical engineering. With all due respect to SJSU, UCB has a far more competative engineering program.

In regards to post-bacc programs, official, structured post-bacc programs add in extra stuff to help you do better on an MCAT, and/or in classes, in addition to take more courses to boost your GPA. Thats pretty much how it works for the UC post-bacc programs.

Ultimately, your school's name alone is this tiny factor in terms of getting into med school.

All true. UCBerkeley Extension is also just starting a post-bac program, I believe, so you might want to check that out. The East bay is much less expensive than SF or the South bay (If you don't believe me, look at craigslist apt prices). There's also a Mills college postbac program, although it's much more expensive (but the professors are *awesome*). The upside to a postbac is the support. The downside is expense. Do well in your classes; this is of utmost importance.

 

[relentless11]

Mill's college is also cool in that it links you to several schools outside of CA. e.g.: you meet some criteria, and you are guaranteed admission to a med school. I believe one of the school's is Tulane over in New Orleans. Or so it says on the AAMC website..haha.

According to AAMC, the same goes for Scripps down in So. Cal too, however that program is aimed at outstanding non-trads (e.g.: didn't do pre-med as undergrad, but got relatively high GPA anyway...but now decided to do pre-med).

Of course UCR also has a program, but its not really post-bacc. I don't really know how it works, but you essentially attend undergrad there, in a real degree earning program. Maintain a certain GPA, get a specific MCAT and you get into UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine. However you take your first 2 years of med school at UCR, then do your remaining 2 years doing clinical stuff at UCLA affiliated hospitals. I mean really a great program, but that would mean I'd have to go to UCR 😉 (UCR is an excellent school like any other UC, but Riverside is not my cup of tea..for me at least 🙂 )