<p>Hey there!</p>
<p>So i have been accepted into both Cal and UCI as a transfer student from a CC. I have completed most of my prereqs for med school and I only need physics and biochemistry for the MCAT next year. I am interested in joining the MCB major and possibly doing Immunology/ Pathogenesis. </p>
<p>My science & math gpa is a 3.8 and I'm afraid that going to Cal could potentially ruin my gpa.
Would it be smarter to major in a non-science? And just take the remaining sciences? Or are the upper div science classes more doable w/ hard work (compared to lower divs)? </p>
<p>Also, how difficult is to land a research position w/ a professor? (for letters of req) </p>
<p>The pros for going to UCI is less competition, lots of great research opportunities, and classes are tough enough to prepare me for the mcat but seem less likely to ruin my gpa. It's my dream to go to Berkeley but UCI seems like the more practical decision. </p>
<p>Any other advice would great! Thanks! </p>
<p>Some medical schools are said to frown on CC courses for pre-med requirements, so if you major in a non-biology/chemistry/physics/math subject, you may want to take a few upper division biology or chemistry courses to show that you can handle such courses at a four year school.</p>
<p>^Yes, I’ve heard this a lot. You’d want to take upper div courses in the pre-req subjects.</p>
<p>If you’re only going to be in Cal for one year before you apply, I don’t think it would “ruin” your gpa that much, even if your average was a B/B+ for both semesters. </p>
<p>Also don’t forget about Semester Vs Quarter system.</p>
<p>But, I don’t think the competition between UCI and Cal is drastically different, as in I do not believe that someone who did horribly at Cal would exceed in any class at UCI.</p>
<p>I have a kid who went to each of those schools in science. I would say the kids at Cal are no smarter than the kids at UCI, in fact you may have more studious kids at UCI, just not quite as amazing, well rounded an application. Do not choose UCI because you think it will be easier, you might consider, though, the Berkeley reputation and how that affects you. My DD has been surprised how well respected Berkeley is both out of California and out of the US.</p>
<p>It is no surprise that Berkeley is highly respected. Even in conventional rankings (US News) it is the top ranked public university. And it should be kept in mind that US News uses several criteria that generically disadvantage public universities, such as the rate of alumni giving, and class sizes (though I recognize that smaller class sizes have an advantage). Most relevant is that in several international rankings of scholarship and research, Berkeley is ranked near the very top in the WORLD—as high as second, but routinely in the top 5. As for the concern that Berkeley will be a GPA killer, I doubt it, as I would point out that grading in upper division classes is typically less tough than grading in lower division classes. </p>