<p>UCSF does not offer undergraduate programs, and I want to know if the location and school I transfer to as a junior would in any way at all increase my chances of getting into their medical school. Or would UC Davis be a better option? I think as a school, Berkeley is better, but in terms of getting into medical school, Davis would be better due to grade deflation numbers at UCB. With the intention of getting into UCSF Med, what is a better idea for me?</p>
<p>All things equal, it would be better to go to Berkeley. As I said many times before, GPA and MCAT are usually not the problem for getting into top med schools. The kinds of student that Penn Med or UCSF interview doesn't have to worry whether they'll get a 3.9 at Davis vs. a 3.6 at Berkeley. They're students that get 3.9's at Berkeley. </p>
<p>But, UCSF is such a tough school and your chances of getting in are so small that it's not worth going to a college you don't like.</p>
<p>MCAT scores aside, does Berkeley's deflation status make it tougher to get into medical schools in general? Or is it revered higher? Would it be more worthwhile to go to Davis and be able to get a slightly higher GPA? Isn't Berkeley much more reputable than Davis? And if so, doesn't that make a difference?</p>
<p>Top schools are going to be tougher than lower tier schools. Yet, if you check the roster of students attending all the top med schools, they mostly went to prestigous colleges. So, for getting into top med schools, it's not a matter of attending a top college or getting a high GPA. It's BOTH. The average student at a top med school went to a top college AND got a great GPA.</p>
<p>Now, for an average med school, GPA is going to be more important than the prestige of the college. So, it may behoove you to go to UC Davis for that reason. It depends on where you are setting your sights. If you want to attend a prestigous med school, I think it's harder to get in from a non-prestigous college. If you want to attend an average or low-tier med school, it's probably easier at a non-prestigous college.</p>
<p>This is all assuming that you like Berkeley and Davis equally. There's no point in attending a college where you'll be miserable and where you don't like the environment. You aren't likely to do well at such a college regardless of grade inflation.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, the advice really helped. That last comment made me think it's probably better to go to Davis because I 'dislike' the Berkeley area with a passion. It's the prestige of the school that drives me to attend it. Also, as mentioned above, it is closer to UCSF. But like you said, if I'm going to want to get into there, it's going to take much more than reputation and location... I also like all the internship opportunities available at Davis.</p>
<p>My DD is at Berkeley, her sister was a science major at another UC, Berkeley offers a world famous name, but Berkeley also offers more support and more interesting college experiences than other UCs, esp ones that are commuter schools. I think Berekely is offering a better overall ‘college experience’</p>
<p>Both Cal and UCD students are well represented at UCSF. UCSF maintains cordial relations with both campuses; UCSF cooperates with Cal and UCD to administer joint degree programs (MD/MPH with Cal) and joint training programs.</p>
<p>Matriculant summary (no references for data): [UCSF</a> School of Medicine - News](<a href=“http://medschool.ucsf.edu/news/features/education/031405_Psychiatry.aspx]UCSF”>http://medschool.ucsf.edu/news/features/education/031405_Psychiatry.aspx)</p>
<p>Joint Faculty Development Fellowship: [UCSF</a> School of Medicine - SFGH Family Residency](<a href=“http://medschool.ucsf.edu/sfghres/academics/research_fellowship.aspx]UCSF”>http://medschool.ucsf.edu/sfghres/academics/research_fellowship.aspx)
Joint Medical program with Cal: [UCSF</a> School of Medicine - News](<a href=“http://medschool.ucsf.edu/news/features/education/101804_Joint_Medical.aspx]UCSF”>http://medschool.ucsf.edu/news/features/education/101804_Joint_Medical.aspx)</p>
<p>NCG links to some of Berkeley’s numbers in post #44 here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/283354-list-good-85-matriculation-premed-programs-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/283354-list-good-85-matriculation-premed-programs-2.html</a></p>
<p>Why not also consider UCLA med as well? It sounds like a gem considering it’s UCLA (sports?!?) and it’s a top 10 medical school.</p>