UCLA or UCR for Undergrad.

[closet_premed?]

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I am currently a CC student and took all my premed classes at a CA CC and I am not sure which of these two schools I should go to finish my undergrad. I will be applying to UCLA as a Physiological Sciences major and UCR as a Biological Sciences major. Any input at all is very much appreciated.

 

[kevster2001]

I always thought UCLA was more prestigious. Also if you manage to get into a lab w/ the medical school you can get a killer LOR for UCLA med

 

[KittycooMD]

UCLA all the way!!
Definitely more prestigious and you can't beat the location. Lots of shops, restaurants, etc. You will have an awesome time wherever you choose though. Best of luck!

 

[pnoybballin]

yea UCLA is a nice school. however UCR has the UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program. you might want to look into that.

 

[Putrescine]

UCR's Thomas Haider program has just recently changed. It used to be open only to incoming freshman out of high school under their "Biomedical Sciences" major. Had the program been like this, then you'd have no chance at medical school as a transfer student.

Now, any student who has taken a certain amount of units at UCR and only UCR, I believe its probably around 60+ or more may apply for the 24 seats that they have for admission into their joined UCR/UCLA Medical program. You will undergo the traditional medical school process with Pre-Reqs, which you've already completed, as well as MCATs, interviews, Rec letters, and filling out the AMCAS. You receive your M.D. from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

The M.D. class of 2010 is the first medical school class accepted under these new changes, and I believe there were probably 300 or so persons applying to the 24 seats. So, all in all about an average of 12.5 applicants to 1 seat. I believe applying to the traditional route to UCLA which has about 120 seats sees anywhere from 4000-5000 candidates... Like 40 applicants for one seat. I think the odds are much tipped in your favor, however their new mission statement is tendered toward primary care in underserved areas in California.

http://biomed.ucr.edu has much more information than I can tell you here.

 

[squatter]

I'm a physiolgical science major at UCLA and let me tell ya... it is HARD. This major has one of the lowest class gpa's due to 1) cut-throat competition and 2) medschool level course work. You're basically gonna be stuck with the same people for the last two years here because certain required upper divs are structured in a series format, and also because there is just not many electives to pick from in this major. So, the advantage is that you'll get to forge close bonds with your fellow classmates (even with the ones you're dying to beat), but the downside is that once you figure our your class standing you're basically stuck there.
Sometimes I regret chosing UCLA over UCR cuz in the end GPA's going to be one of the major deciding factors in your application. As long as you have "UCLA" in the name of the premed program (ie. thomas haider UCR-UCLA program), I think they'll put some weight on it.
But then again... I don't want to underestimate your abilities... perhaps you would be a threat to my GPA if you were in my classes now 😛 .
But don't get me wrong, I still love my major... because i consider it a "practical science", meaning you can actually apply lecture material to your own health and well being, as opposed to the "theoretically sciences" that just nerdifies you more and more as time goes on.
Last but not least, I love UCLA. 🙂 We have a beautiful campus and a diverse student body. Also, we've got GREAT FOOD!!! Westwood is just filled with food food food, and a huge variety too! You'll also run into celebrities here and there. 😀
So there ya have it... UCLA's a great place and phy sci's a great major for people interested in physiology. I'm not discouraging or encouraging you to come here, I just wanted to give you the insider's scoop on what its like. Good luck on your decision!