<p>I am a student a freshman at University of California Santa Cruz and I was accepted to USC as a Sophomore transfer! I am very excited but am trying to make a decision whether I should go to USC as a sophomore or try to apply as UCLA as a junior.
Options: Go to USC as a sophomore and get my degree from there.
Go wait a year at my current UC and try to transfer to UCLA.
Go to USC then transfer to UCLA.
-I am not interested in advice about financial stuff because I don't know if I got a scholarship from USC yet!</p>
<p>USC
Pros:
can transfer and make connections early (as a sophomore)
Trojan family- connections (no one in my family is in the medical field so I need to meed people that are in it)
Easier to get research because they save spots for undergrads in labs (dont know if this is true)
Easier to get shadowing with connections (not sure if this is true)
Surrounding areas have underprivileged people that I can try to help
Even if I go here I can volunteer at Ronald Reagan Hospital
Better Advising
43% of USC's medical school were USC undergrads
Easier Academics than UCLA (dont know by how much though, could be negligible)
Easier to get internships (idk if this is true)</p>
<p>Cons:
If i go here I will have less priority to transfer to UCLA then if I had stayed one more year at my current UC
Area isnt too safe
Not into partying or frat/sorority life (might be an advantage though if I am more focused than the average student)</p>
<p>UCLA
Pros:
More prestige, really good for premed
53% of undergrads get into medical school straight out
I know people that have done premed at UCLA and got into med/dentistry
I know people that go here that can give me advice
Nicer area
Priority to transfer because I am at a UC right now
Advising might be bad but if I go here I can use the money saved to get my own personal med school adviser
Lots of Labs that are walking distance from dorms
Ronald Reagan Hospital</p>
<p>Cons:
Harder academics, average bio gpa is 3.4 :(
will have to wait another year to transfer possibly</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your advice and thoughts!! </p>