<p>Hi recently got accepted to UC Berkeley (major:molecular environmental biology) and UCLA (major: Biology). an I just wanted to konw if it really takes 5 years to graduate UC Berkeley with pre med classes? I really want to go to UC Berkeley, but I don't want to spend 5 years. Second is UCLA and the same goes for that university too. And if it does is there anything you can do to graduate in four years.</p>
<p>I’m not sure where you’re getting this info from, but doing any major or pre-professional track at any California public university could take 5 years to complete, because of the limited spaces in classes and funding and such. So saying that doing pre-med will limit you in that way is not the whole truth.</p>
<p>Anyways, the thing about doing pre-med at Berkeley is that it is horrifically cutthroat, to the point of sabotage. I’ve talked to Cal students and alumni, and they’ve told about the things pre-med students would do to each other in order to stay “competitive”. It sounds ridiculous; it’s one of the main reasons why I didn’t apply to Cal.</p>
<p>UCLA, on the other hand, is still competitive, but supposedly not as bad as Cal. UCLA also has its world-renowned medical center and medical school which can provide you many opportunities and connections that will benefit you as a pre-med student. In these ways, UCLA may be a better choice for undergrad. </p>
<p>Most importantly though, you should go to the school you like best and feels right for you. Certainly each of them has their own shortcomings or benefits, but it’s really what you make of them and how they can ultimately contribute to a satisfying undergrad experience. Good luck on your decision!</p>
<p>@kvdpoel
Not entirely true.
Actually, if one wish to attend UCLA medical school, studying undergrad there is a bad choice.
UCLA med school is not so much of a strictly GPA whore like Harvard, however, they do place a higher standard on their own undergraduate studnet. Accordig to two M.Ds who are Alumini to my high school, go to UCLA, and managed to get into thier own medical school, you need at the least a 3.8 if you are a UCLA undergrad going for that.</p>
<p>Besides location, they are both extremely competitive for premed. Assuming you have some AP credits, graduating in four years is pretty easy. Most students do so. (check out the actual numbers on UC Statfinder) Many/most of those 5 year students have to work a lot of hour due to poor finaid, so they end up taking the minimum academic load. Or they end up changing their major a half dozen times.</p>
<p>Speaking of AP/Comm College credits, is it true that to be a competitive applicant to med schools, one should not use AP credits towards pre-med core classes? Bio, Chem, Calc? Seems to make sense that med schools want you to take those at a 4-year U, but I wanted to hear some opinions.</p>
<p>I have a niece in pre-med at UCLA. She WILL graduate in 4 years - but she’s had to attend summer school, take on a heavier load of credits at times and had to be smart and assertive about her schedule needs. That said, she’s loved her experience. She chose UCLA over several other outstanding universities, some of which had offered her scholarship $$. From day one she felt she made the right choice, and that being forced to be more assertive about her schedule has made her less shy and a bit tougher: qualities that will serve her well in med school, I think.</p>
<p>Yes, can someone answer ConcernedDad’s question? I have that question too.</p>
<p>^^ that may be a question better posed on one of the pre-med subforums on CC. </p>
<p>Though at many schools, the elite private ones in particular, APs are sort of a moot point. The schools want to see APs on the transcript to verify the student is capable of accelerated work, but they don’t grant academic credit for them. You will still need to retake those classes at said school. I personally don’t think it’s a bad idea anywhere – why pass up an opportunity for an eas(ier) A ?</p>
<p>^^ Yeah, I just found this link:</p>
<p>[Pre-Med</a> & Medical School - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-medical-school/]Pre-Med”>Pre-Med & Medical School - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>I am sure I can get a lot of my questions answered there. And yeah, that basically was my impression about needing to take lots of AP’s but still having to retake them in college. Certainly, better chances at A’s is one saving grace.</p>
<p>^^C-dad;</p>
<p>Most med schools will not accept AP credits. But even if they do, it is strongly advised to take the next sequence or courses. If using AP Bio credits for example, a student should take two other Bio lab courses at college. And yes, many do forego their AP credit and repeat the course in college for the ‘easy A.’ Of course, what they find is that literally hundreds of other students have the same thought pattern (making the curves brutal, and competition fierce, particularly for those who have a weak background in that “intro” subject.)</p>