Transfer from UC to UC ??: undergrad

[santoukie]

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Hi,
----to make a long story short, ive always wanted to attend UC Berkeley, being how it is so close to my home in the bay area. However freshman year i was rejected and i ended up going to UC Davis. I applied to transfer and got in, however, at the time i think i really wished that i was rejected so that i can be content with my stay in davis, since i am already doing so well here and taking advantage of alot of resources. Basically i learned how to work the system.
------However after i applied i now face the difficulty of wether to transfer or not. I would be a junior next year, and i know for certain at least for the first semester my grades may suffer just due to trying to get used to a new system (semester) and campus. Im predicting perhaps a 3.3-4 to my .7-8 grades ive been getting here at davis.
------I applied because its closer to home and financially is better, but on a pure academice/premed standpoint do you think i should transfer? also would it be worth it to give up a full 4 year experience of college for a split 2 year davis 2 year berkeley life experience?
-by the way a big secondary concern is that, the buildings/libraries at ucberkeley are so old, and i find it hard to study in the libraries. versus the library at davis.

i know my posts are always super long, but thanks for reading!

 

[Dr2010]

First of all congrats.

Second of all as a cali resident, who is at UCLA right now and also got into Berkeley, I would suggest going to berkeley from a purely academic standpoint. For me at least the semester system seems like a better fit, although at the time I did not take this into consideration. However, I dont think it would have changed my decision much, seeing as how I could not be a happy student in the city of berkeley- compared to ucla and westwood its pretty bad.

From a pre med point of view, if you are involved in volunteering research etc etc etc and the like at davis plus youre getting high grades, I think it would be benefitial to stay at davis, since next yr your most likely gonna take the mcat, and it would be hard to adjust to a new school and study for that test.

Also you would have to definitely explain this in your app. but you got good reasons so its understandable.

In my opinion stay at davis.

Hi,
----to make a long story short, ive always wanted to attend UC Berkeley, being how it is so close to my home in the bay area. However freshman year i was rejected and i ended up going to UC Davis. I applied to transfer and got in, however, at the time i think i really wished that i was rejected so that i can be content with my stay in davis, since i am already doing so well here and taking advantage of alot of resources. Basically i learned how to work the system.
------However after i applied i now face the difficulty of wether to transfer or not. I would be a junior next year, and i know for certain at least for the first semester my grades may suffer just due to trying to get used to a new system (semester) and campus. Im predicting perhaps a 3.3-4 to my .7-8 grades ive been getting here at davis.
------I applied because its closer to home and financially is better, but on a pure academice/premed standpoint do you think i should transfer? also would it be worth it to give up a full 4 year experience of college for a split 2 year davis 2 year berkeley life experience?
-by the way a big secondary concern is that, the buildings/libraries at ucberkeley are so old, and i find it hard to study in the libraries. versus the library at davis.

i know my posts are always super long, but thanks for reading!

 

[sdnstud]

-by the way a big secondary concern is that, the buildings/libraries at ucberkeley are so old, and i find it hard to study in the libraries. versus the library at davis.

You're kidding right? Which UC Berkeley library did you go to? Doe Library (Main stack) is so much better than Shield Library. You don't like Doe? How about BioScience (VSLB)? Haas Library? Our new State-of-the-art Music Department Library?

 

[Dr2010]

Yea man berkeley has got some sexy libraries especially the main one, i gots to give props to the experimental UC, but us at UCLA got it done right!

come on lets start a board feud...u know you want to

You're kidding right? Which UC Berkeley library did you go to? Doe Library (Main stack) is so much better than Shield Library. You don't like Doe? How about BioScience (VSLB)? Haas Library? Our new State-of-the-art Music Department Library?

 

[nicholonious]

Our new State-of-the-art Music Department Library?

Nice. My gf worked there when she was undergrad. That place is like a piece of art.




Stay at Davis. It'll take too much time, effort, readjusting to go to Berkeley. I went there and grew to love it (although not during freshmen year).

 

[Haybrant]

ucb has the 3rd best library system in the nation; davis's has cows walk by.

anyway, from a standpoint of med school admissions (which shouldnt really be the overriding motivation) go where you will be the best. If you feel you can do it at Cal then do it (it really isnt as hard as it seems). If you can not then dont. It is better to be at the top at davis than mediocre at Cal or anywhere for that matter.

 

[Tra La La]

Hi,
----to make a long story short, ive always wanted to attend UC Berkeley, being how it is so close to my home in the bay area. However freshman year i was rejected and i ended up going to UC Davis. I applied to transfer and got in, however, at the time i think i really wished that i was rejected so that i can be content with my stay in davis, since i am already doing so well here and taking advantage of alot of resources. Basically i learned how to work the system.
------However after i applied i now face the difficulty of wether to transfer or not. I would be a junior next year, and i know for certain at least for the first semester my grades may suffer just due to trying to get used to a new system (semester) and campus. Im predicting perhaps a 3.3-4 to my .7-8 grades ive been getting here at davis.
------I applied because its closer to home and financially is better, but on a pure academice/premed standpoint do you think i should transfer? also would it be worth it to give up a full 4 year experience of college for a split 2 year davis 2 year berkeley life experience?
-by the way a big secondary concern is that, the buildings/libraries at ucberkeley are so old, and i find it hard to study in the libraries. versus the library at davis.

i know my posts are always super long, but thanks for reading!

Congrats!

From a personal standpoint, I went to Davis over UCLA and Cal out of high school. I do not regret the decision--Davis is a good university and (in my honest opinion) is more laid back than UCLA or Cal. While Davis is not as "great" (whatever that means), it is an awesome place to study, and the research/community/volunteer opportunities are seemingly endless.

I would suggest staying in here in Davis and continuing along the path of excellence rather than starting all over again.

 

[Tra La La]

ucb has the 3rd best library system in the nation; davis's has cows walk by.

Ouch.

 

[Dr2010]

I see no berkeley people have responded to my challenge for a dual, in that case I say prepare the forts, UCLA shall invade cal this summer! Davis I recruit thee!

Also forgot to mention earlier, I like their med center alot, my uncle got a kidney transplant from there.

 

[santoukie]

You're kidding right? Which UC Berkeley library did you go to? Doe Library (Main stack) is so much better than Shield Library. You don't like Doe? How about BioScience (VSLB)? Haas Library? Our new State-of-the-art Music Department Library?

Wow first off thanks for all the responses keep em coming haha. I have to decided by next next friday. Im leaning more towards staying. Never really considered the fact im going to take mcat's in less than a year or so. wow.


Second. i studied at moffit for a ten or eleven hour session, kinda the daily study grind. Talk about crouded, broken down, stinky bathroom, close proximity to the next student, (during finals week) packed, insanity hahah. However i do enjoy the walk to the close restraunts. The mainstacks was okay from what i recollect, havent been to doe or the music library. ive been to the science library once junior or senior year of high school, the one with the dinosaur bones right? but i dont recollect much from it. Im going to check out berkeley again this coming weekend, thanks, ill check out all the libraries this weekend, thanks guys

 

[Crete]

Hi,
----to make a long story short, ive always wanted to attend UC Berkeley, being how it is so close to my home in the bay area. However freshman year i was rejected and i ended up going to UC Davis. I applied to transfer and got in, however, at the time i think i really wished that i was rejected so that i can be content with my stay in davis, since i am already doing so well here and taking advantage of alot of resources. Basically i learned how to work the system.
------However after i applied i now face the difficulty of wether to transfer or not. I would be a junior next year, and i know for certain at least for the first semester my grades may suffer just due to trying to get used to a new system (semester) and campus. Im predicting perhaps a 3.3-4 to my .7-8 grades ive been getting here at davis.
------I applied because its closer to home and financially is better, but on a pure academice/premed standpoint do you think i should transfer? also would it be worth it to give up a full 4 year experience of college for a split 2 year davis 2 year berkeley life experience?
-by the way a big secondary concern is that, the buildings/libraries at ucberkeley are so old, and i find it hard to study in the libraries. versus the library at davis.

i know my posts are always super long, but thanks for reading!

You really have to ask yourself if transferring will help you getting into med school. Now while a campus' name definitely helps, if you have an outstanding application at Davis (I'm guessing you have some type of research opp?), then is switching to Berkeley worth it if your app will suffer (maybe grades, but Cal def. does not have great research opp, etc), plus the difficulties in changing campus' when you are about to take your MCATs and apply. I would say no. Though a name helps, if you have two people with exactly the same outstanding application from Davis and Cal, I think Davis would look unique in that you've created opppurtunity at a less known school. Now I'm not saying that schools like lesser known undergrads, but when making decisions, if a school has a ton of applicants/matriculants from a specific school like Cal, they are less likely to pick another alum. Basically, if your app and oppurtunities are as good as you say, there is no reason to switch schools.

P.S. You can always say you got into Cal!

 

[Crete]

It is better to be at the top at davis than mediocre at Cal or anywhere for that matter.

My point paraphrased beautifully! 👍
I'd just add that even being at the top at Cal puts you in a group of many people, but can't really say the same for Davis!

 

[secretasianman]

berkeley is the only uc in which its premeds have this reputation for being stiflingly competitive and cutthroat. i think you have to take that into consideration if you're going to transfer there. and all the rest of the stuff everyone else said.

 

[AxlxA]

Come to berkeley, it's a great place. You really can gauge what your future med school classmates are like, cutthroat and damn evil.

Speaking of libraries, i work within the "library systems office" and we fix all the computers around library. Here's a secret no one knows but us, If you want to print out stuff for free, go to art history library. they have this old computer with a xerox printer that doesn't require logins. I printed about half a year ago and i dont think we updated them yet... cause art history is not priority hehe.

Music library -> all those public pcs... i installed them. it was hard work guys, dont break them!!

Hope my co-workers dont see this post... good thing i'm quiting that job.. only pays $8.57

 

[jeffsleepy]

My point paraphrased beautifully! 👍
I'd just add that even being at the top at Cal puts you in a group of many people, but can't really say the same for Davis!

Isn't that the same thing as saying don't go to Harvard Med because it'll be harder to stand out?

 

[maddscientist]

I see no berkeley people have responded to my challenge for a dual, in that case I say prepare the forts, UCLA shall invade cal this summer! Davis I recruit thee!

Also forgot to mention earlier, I like their med center alot, my uncle got a kidney transplant from there.

Wow, how can you even compare Davis or (UCLA for that matter) to Berkeley? Setting aside the historical value of being the first UC and the beauty of the campus, the academics are simply in a different league. Berkeley is consistantly rated as one of the top research universities in all fields of study. If you think Berkeley is too urban, go check out the northside of campus-I would take that over westwood any day of the week. Yes the competition is intense, but in a cage match I would bet on a Berkeley premed over a premed from any other UC.

 

[Fed Meat]

You'd just give up all the friends/connections you've made in your first two years of college?

I don't know about you, but the friends I made in my first year of college have remained my friends even after I've graduated.

I wouldn't give that up for anything, especially for moving to Berkeley.

I'd say stay at Davis.

 

[santoukie]

So no one here has actually transfered UC-> UC
also ive been leaning toward staying because i hear, a semester of a upperdivision course(speacialized i.e. npb, mcb, or whatever) is too long. Better to do those in quarters?

 

[nicholonious]

Wow, how can you even compare Davis or (UCLA for that matter) to Berkeley? Setting aside the historical value of being the first UC and the beauty of the campus, the academics are simply in a different league. Berkeley is consistantly rated as one of the top research universities in all fields of study. If you think Berkeley is too urban, go check out the northside of campus-I would take that over westwood any day of the week. Yes the competition is intense, but in a cage match I would bet on a Berkeley premed over a premed from any other UC.

And I take it you go to Berkeley?

Davis is rated #1 in genetics as far as UCs are concerned. Stop blowing hot air.

 

[santoukie]

And I take it you go to Berkeley?

Davis is rated #1 in genetics as far as UCs are concerned. Stop blowing hot air.

hahah, thats good to hear,
theres actually a professor here who created the pbrsomething something i fergot, its some kind of really cool restriction enzyme. Named after, b. rodreguez(sp?), a intro to genetics prof. Although there must be tons more nobel prize and known prof. at berkeley, this sat. should be my deadline, gonna have a final talk with the dad, and see what happens. 🙂 thanks fer the time guys

 

[santoukie]

well i dont know if everyone forgot about this, but i did choose davis over berkeley.
figured 2 years isnt worth giving up a 4 year experience and plus i promised a friend id be his roomate thanks everyone
later

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Hi,
----to make a long story short, ive always wanted to attend UC Berkeley, being how it is so close to my home in the bay area. However freshman year i was rejected and i ended up going to UC Davis. I applied to transfer and got in, however, at the time i think i really wished that i was rejected so that i can be content with my stay in davis, since i am already doing so well here and taking advantage of alot of resources. Basically i learned how to work the system.
------However after i applied i now face the difficulty of wether to transfer or not. I would be a junior next year, and i know for certain at least for the first semester my grades may suffer just due to trying to get used to a new system (semester) and campus. Im predicting perhaps a 3.3-4 to my .7-8 grades ive been getting here at davis.
------I applied because its closer to home and financially is better, but on a pure academice/premed standpoint do you think i should transfer? also would it be worth it to give up a full 4 year experience of college for a split 2 year davis 2 year berkeley life experience?
-by the way a big secondary concern is that, the buildings/libraries at ucberkeley are so old, and i find it hard to study in the libraries. versus the library at davis.

i know my posts are always super long, but thanks for reading!

Hey buddy, I know how you feel. I had the preconceived notion that life would be so much better had I attended an ivy league school. So I applied to transfer and was accepted. However, after I had gotten in, the whole allure of "ivy league" wore off fast. I ended up staying put. It was more of a test to myself to see if I was ivy material or not, just to boost the ego. I think you made the correct decision.

 

[drmota]

berkeley=great professors, whack students.
-mota

 

[firebird69guy]

I chose Davis over Cal and UCLA.. I just didn't like the atmosphere of the two latter schools. There are still some cutthroat people no matter where you are, but the plus is that it is still a small town and small class feel, and the opportunities ARE endless. I had 2 1/2 years of research (with a publication), where at Cal and UCLA I have heard that it is very very very hard to get into research programs. It's just personal preference though..

 

[santoukie]

I chose Davis over Cal and UCLA.. I just didn't like the atmosphere of the two latter schools. There are still some cutthroat people no matter where you are, but the plus is that it is still a small town and small class feel, and the opportunities ARE endless. I had 2 1/2 years of research (with a publication), where at Cal and UCLA I have heard that it is very very very hard to get into research programs. It's just personal preference though..

awesome, haha thats good to hear. i was wondering though howd you get into the research aspects? i was trying to go about doing that but failed in most attempts of simply emailing the prof.
howd you get your research position can you offer a fellow davis student some advice? haha

-THANKS a lot everyone. especially those comments reinforcing my decision to stay at davis. I now feel qualified and competitive.
and the comment above
berkeley students=whackk with two "k"s hahah jk...they just seem more involved 😛

 

[Haybrant]

ucb is the best place to go for undergrad in the nation; the experience is amazing, at a fraction of the cost of most other schools. You definetly get the benefit of any doubt that arises academically when you apply to med school after graduating cal.

To make your decision, we need to know what youd be transfering to. If you plan to do MCB with, say, a CDB or even neuro emphasis it is not worthwhile to transfer from an academic standpoint. The classes at Cal where you prove your academic prowess are prereq classes in the first two yrs; after that the classes are pretty dilute in MCB.

If you are going to biochem, immuno, genetics or even bioE or engineering, then definetly do it. The classes and profs are amazing and you will have a chance to prove yourself. If you feel you are not challenged at Davis and can compete with the best of the best you must transfer; It will help your thought process and adcoms will be impressed. Do it only if you are fairly certain of this; otherwise it is not worth the risk. Good luck!

 

[Haybrant]

I chose Davis over Cal and UCLA... I had 2 1/2 years of research (with a publication), where at Cal and UCLA I have heard that it is very very very hard to get into research programs.

if you play it right you will find a lab where you will get a publication (dare i say a first author!) and a great experience. I recieved a number of publications and it wasnt in lightweight journals; profs at cal shoot for the top and if you ride that wave you'll go to the top too. Its all about putting yourself in position; if you dont, you'll never know

 

[Haybrant]

well i dont know if everyone forgot about this, but i did choose davis over berkeley.
figured 2 years isnt worth giving up a 4 year experience and plus i promised a friend id be his roomate thanks everyone
later

just saw this post; so b.c you promised a friend to be his roommate you potentially altered your future. I hope you dont leave a patient open in the OR b.c you promised ms. cleo youd make your 5 oclock

 

[dsh]

I go to UC Riverside and am doing very, very well here. I applied to and was accepted for transfer to Cal, LA, and some Ivy Leagues. I decided to stay here because I was comfortable and didn't want to deal with the added cost and incredibly ramped up difficulty of another school.

I sort of regret it sometimes because people assume I'm stupid for some reason because I go to UCR but screw them. Of course it'd be nice to wear a Harvard sweatshirt around, but I doubt I'd be able to maintain the same level of academic performance while preserving my valuable free-time (I get lots here 🙂 ).

It's a bit early for me to say anything since I won't be matriculating for a long time, but I think I made the right choice.

edit: Another big factor for me was the friends I made while going to school here. I love my hockey buddies and would like to play a couple of more quarters with them. My other circle of friends is full of good guys and girls that are fun to hang with.

 

[evade]

Unless there is something that is really, really pulling you toward Berkeley, I would consider staying in Davis. There are several reasons for this. . .

One, it is hard to "start over," so to speak, halfway through your college career. While some people transfer and love it, it's hard to integrate yourself into the social scene, and even the academic scene to some extent. If you feel like you're already pretty well plugged in at Davis, it would be a good idea to stick with that (especially if you're already doing research or an internship).

Two, since you are premed, you might consider staying in Davis for the wealth of clinical opportunities you have access to here. Cal has tons and tons of premeds, and no medical school attached to it. I know a lot of premeds there that do research, but many have a harder time seeking out clinical opportunities, in part due to competition. In Davis, you can pretty much waltz in to the career center, pick a branch of medicine you're intersted in, and find a doctor you can intern with, or at the very least, shadow.

Three, and this one's from personal experience, a LOT of people think about transferring out of Davis after their freshman year. I know, because I did. I think it has to do with a number of convergent factors: one, you've just been tossed out of the dorms and into apartments with housemates that you never get along with quite as well as you thought you would. This can be very isolating. Two, UCD's lower-division bio courses can be, well, dull. You can't take a whole lot that's interesting. You slog through the Chem 2, the Bio 1, the math, the stats, and Chem 118. You can end up feeling like you just don't really have much anchoring you to the school. Trust me, it does get better. My junior year was waaaay better than my sophomore, and my senior year was just incredible. Davis has such a diversity of upper-division biology courses that you're pretty much sure never to get bored. In short, things get better after sophomore year.

I, like some others here, chose not to go to Cal. I had a lot of reasons for this, but the most important were that Davis has a very supportive and friendly environment while still being competetive, and that my major (genetics) was not available at Cal. Still, this is your decision, and it's important to weigh the factors that are most important to you. Good luck with your choice!

Oh, and in response to those people who claim that UCD is not competetive and that going to Davis over Berkeley will damage you as a med school applicant, that is completely and utterly untrue. I was accepted to one-third of the schools I applied to (after being interviewed by two-thirds. . .the other schools I interviewed at offered me waitlist positions, which I declined). I'd name names, but I'm sure I'd be attacked by some because I am not attending the highest ranked school I got into. 🙄

 

[AxlxA]

You have such a better chance of getting a research job here at Cal instead of Davis dude. USDA has a place in Albany. We've got Lawrence National Lab, we've got our own UCB, we've got genentech around, we've got all these bio tech companies, we've got UCSF!!!! I work at UCSF because of the affiliation UCB has with them. I think berkeley is a better place for a pre-med.

Btw, i hate the cow smell when i visit my friends in Davis. I think U've already decided where to go but i just want to say how great my undergrad school was.