Hey guys, I just got off the waitlist at UCSB and I was wondering how difficult it will be to get a great gpa in biology. I want to go off to dental school, and I know gpa is much more important than which school you go to.
I love UCSB and it is my dream school, but I already SIR’d at sdsu and I feel like I would get a better gpa there.
Please let me know what you think about the difficulties of the major at SB and which school I should go with!
Although UCSB is a much better school than SDSU, it would indeed be harder to get a better gpa at UCSB. But you can take your chances, and if you work hard enough at UCSB, you can succeed there too. My sister got in for biology, and she said that it will be possible to get a good gpa if you work hard enough. If you don’t want to work as hard or put in too much time, then SDSU is right for you.
Although UCSB is ranked higher than SDSU, no one cannot make a blanket statement that SDSU is an easier school since they also have the same “weed” out courses that are notorious for all Pre-med students especially General Chem. I would go with the school where you think you will succeed academically/socially and financially. They have a excellent Pre-advising center along with a very involved Pre-Med club with many great opportunities towards Medically related activities/volunteering/research. My son’s roommate is a current Pre-Med student (Biology) and just raves about the program. Ultimately it is up to you where you feel you can get the best education.
Good Luck.
@sbbryan - Congratulations on being accepted to two very wonderful universities!! As @Gumbymom wrote, both schools have difficult and challenging classes, especially once students get into their upper division courses. I was just reading a few updates about recent SDSU alumni, including several who graduated with biology degrees. One graduated last June and is in a PhD program at MIT, while another biology grad is starting a five year residency program in which he will spend one year as a surgical resident at UCLA, and then four years of radiology at UCSF. Both loved their time at SDSU, and are very proud of the education they received at the school. These are just a few of many, many success stories (just like UCSB has!) I concur with Gumbymom, “go with the school where you think you will succeed academically/socially and financially.” You will receive a fine education at either school, but it does sound like your heart is with UCSB.