Undergrad: UCSD vs. CSUSM?

[subwayrider]

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I'm a CC student getting ready to transfer next year. I'm majoring in Psychology and perhaps minoring in one of the Biological Sciences. In any case, I'm taking the science pre-reqs for osteopathic school at whatever university I choose to attend.

I'm worried about transferring to UCSD because of how competitive it is. It's likely that I would wreck my shot at being a DO if I were to attend that school because of the competition. While I know the classes there would better prepare me for MCAT and osteopathic school, I think they would also set me back quite a bit in terms of GPA.

Conversely, I know I could pull, or come very close to, straight As at CSUSM. Going to CSU is a sure thing in terms of GPA, but I'm not sure the preparation would be the best. I'm not sure how admissions committees would see my choosing to attend that school over UC. Is the reputation of the school taken very much into consideration?

I talked to the DO at my school and he says he attended Texas State University and got into an osteopathic school in Texas. I emailed a rep for the osteopathic school I plan on attending and she said MCAT scores and GPA are more important than the school that I attend.

I have to apply for transfer next month. I am having a hard time deciding what is the right thing to do. If anyone could offer suggestions or information, it would be much appreciated.

 

[Mr Kenobi]

I'm a CC student getting ready to transfer next year. I'm majoring in Psychology and perhaps minoring in one of the Biological Sciences. In any case, I'm taking the science pre-reqs for osteopathic school at whatever university I choose to attend.

I'm worried about transferring to UCSD because of how competitive it is. It's likely that I would wreck my shot at being a DO if I were to attend that school because of the competition. While I know the classes there would better prepare me for MCAT and osteopathic school, I think they would also set me back quite a bit in terms of GPA.

Conversely, I know I could pull, or come very close to, straight As at CSUSM. Going to CSU is a sure thing in terms of GPA, but I'm not sure the preparation would be the best. I'm not sure how admissions committees would see my choosing to attend that school over UC. Is the reputation of the school taken very much into consideration?

I talked to the DO at my school and he says he attended Texas State University and got into an osteopathic school in Texas. I emailed a rep for the osteopathic school I plan on attending and she said MCAT scores and GPA are more important than the school that I attend.

I have to apply for transfer next month. I am having a hard time deciding what is the right thing to do. If anyone could offer suggestions or information, it would be much appreciated.

Are you in San Diego? Have you considered SDSU or do you want to be in La Jolla or way up in San Marcos? All three of these schools will prepare you for what you need to be successful in your goals. If you live in San Diego, or are within traveling distance, check each one of the schools out and see how you feel about them.

I am a native San Diegan [insert Ron Burgundy joke here]. I went through CC and transfered to SDSU. I chose SDSU over UCSD because of the excellent sports medicine program they have that is not available at UCSD. Ironically I spent my 2 year clinical sports medicine internship required by my major working with the docs and athletic trainers at UCSD...so I spent a lot of time on campus with UCSD students.

Regardless, SDSU has become much more academic than it was consdered in previous years. It is voted the top small research university in the country for consecutive years....so there are lots of opportunities to get involved in the sciences at this university if you want to. From the SDSU college of sciences website:

For four straight years, Academic Analytics has ranked SDSU #1 out of 92 small research universities in the United States. Further, SDSU faculty research productivity is currently ranked #15 out of all 155 public research universities, and #35 out of all 222 American research universities. Within SDSU, the department of Biology has one of the strongest research programs, with undergraduate, Master's and PhD programs in the areas of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology

There is great faculty and bad faculty here just as you will get at any university. I know people who have taken classes at both UCSD and SDSU and said they were equally difficult and similarly competitive. So be wary of the preconceived notions you might have there.

I can't comment extensively on CSUSM even though I do know many people who have gone to school here. CSUSM has grown a lot over the last decade but I am unsure of any academic notoriety of the school.

I know SDSU's psych department is very good and know people who have done undergrad and grad school in psych at SDSU and loved it. However, I believe the UCSD psych program is suppose to be exceptional though...like really exceptional.

Good luck!

 

[DrWily]

Are you in San Diego? Have you considered SDSU or do you want to be in La Jolla or way up in San Marcos? All three of these schools will prepare you for what you need to be successful in your goals. If you live in San Diego, or are within traveling distance, check each one of the schools out and see how you feel about them.

I am a native San Diegan [insert Ron Burgundy joke here]. I went through CC and transfered to SDSU. I chose SDSU over UCSD because of the excellent sports medicine program they have that is not available at UCSD. Ironically I spent my 2 year clinical sports medicine internship required by my major working with the docs and athletic trainers at UCSD...so I spent a lot of time on campus with UCSD students.

Regardless, SDSU has become much more academic than it was consdered in previous years. It is voted the top small research university in the country for consecutive years....so there are lots of opportunities to get involved in the sciences at this university if you want to. From the SDSU college of sciences website:

For four straight years, Academic Analytics has ranked SDSU #1 out of 92 small research universities in the United States. Further, SDSU faculty research productivity is currently ranked #15 out of all 155 public research universities, and #35 out of all 222 American research universities. Within SDSU, the department of Biology has one of the strongest research programs, with undergraduate, Master's and PhD programs in the areas of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology

There is great faculty and bad faculty here just as you will get at any university. I know people who have taken classes at both UCSD and SDSU and said they were equally difficult and similarly competitive. So be weary of the preconceived notions you might have there.

I can't comment extensively on CSUSM even though I do know many people who have gone to school here. CSUSM has grown a lot over the last decade but I am unsure of any academic notoriety of the school.

I know SDSU's psych department is very good and know people who have done undergrad and grad school in psych at SDSU and loved it. However, I believe the UCSD psych program is suppose to be exceptional though...like really exceptional.

Good luck!

San Diego. Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina.

I vote SDSU or UCSD. (also native san diegan).