<p>Cal or LA?</p>
<p>I am pretty sure I will get into both and I am majoring in biology or biochem and planning to go to medical school. Which is a better choice for me? I think Berkeley sounds better and is more prestigious but Berkeley has no medical school. And might competition at Berkeley be too stiff for me to get a good GPA for medical school? Opinions and reasons would be great.</p>
<p>Thanks guys.</p>
<p>One step at a time, grasshopper! </p>
<p>First, unless you already have significant volunteer experience in the medical area you should consider yourself as someone who has an interest in the medical field and intends to explore it more; NOT as a "pre-med". This doesn't mean you should not start college by taking the classes pre-meds take, but it goes to one's fundamental outlook and what you do the next few years. Maybe being a doctor is right for you, but maybe not. It's striking that so many posts say "I'm planning on med school" but you rarely if ever see posts saying "I'm going to become a physical therapist" or hospital administrator, or nurse. Being a doctor is a glamor role and a lot of kids start off with that idea even though they don't really know if the career is really right for them or if there are others even better. If you have volunteer experience now then keep up with it, but if not then you need to get some to find out if its right for you. And this holds true for ANY career from architect to zoologist; spend enough time seeing the day-to-day job so that you know you could see yourself spending 40-60 hours a week for the next few decades at it.</p>
<p>As for choice of college, pick the one you like better. Both are very good, Cal has a stronger national rep, but the difference isn't enough to outweigh a personal preference if it is for ucla. I'm assuming you are a CA resident you you probably know kids at both schools. When school starts up again next year go and visit; bring a sleeping-bag and spend a nite on an overnite visit if you can. Really try to get a feel for the schools and which you prefer. After visiting both many people have a preference one way or the other. Your choice of schools is your immediate concern, because you want to pick the place you're likelier to feel comfortable and to enjoy your college experience no matter what major/career it leads you to. And since you say "Cal doesn't have a med school" it shows you don't really understand the med school admission process very well anyway since that has absolutely no bearing on anything.</p>
<p>Several of the other UCs are pretty good, including ucsd, ucsb, and davis. I wish you luck at cal and ucla, but you might be making a stronger assumption about your chances than is warranted these days -- post in the spring and tell us how it turned out.</p>
<p>the competition is extreme at both campuses; most kids wash out of premed in organic chem if they don't wash out in inorganic. </p>
<p>As mike says, visit and attend the one you like best. Some kids don't like the earthiness of Telegraph Ave, while others find UCLA a little too much LA. Med schools will not give you any "bonus" points on your app just bcos your parchment paper says Cal.</p>
<p>Do medical schools not give preference to students of its undergrad college or quota to fill with its own students?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure I can take the competition in either. I was just wondering if my GPA would be higher in one or the other. Yeah and I have volunteering at a hospital and I've thought it over quite a bit but we'll see.</p>
<p>Definitely no preference for a school's own undergrads. At least, not enough to make any difference whatsoever. My husband went to med school with a guy at a prestigious med school who did Harvard undergrad. He didn't get into Harvard med school, even though he was brilliant and terrific. Why? Too many people apply, and they want diversity. Sound familiar?</p>
<p>I echo other posters. Go where you feel most comfortable, and use undergrad as a chance to explore.</p>
<p>absolutely no preference to its undergrads. In fact, the UCs have a unwritten philosophy of preferring you go elswhere for grad school in general, but not sure if it applies to med school.</p>
<p>I would choose Berkeley because of it's location ..i'm not a huge fan of Los angeles...In terms of academics both are top of top...I strong advise you to visit both and choose the best fit.Good luck</p>