choosing between CSUs and UCs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So here are my final few universities I'm deciding on. (not in any order)</p>

<p>UCR - bioengineering
UCSC - bioengineering
UCSB - biochemistry & molecular biology
Cal Poly Pomona - biochemistry</p>

<p>I'm planning to go pre-med and eventually apply to medical school, and I have no idea which university will provide better opportunities for me.</p>

<p>UCR is closer to home and the bioengineering program is ABET accredited, which is the major I originally intended on pursuing. They are also offering me an $8000 scholarship (getting $2000 a year) However, it is considered one of the lower-ranked UCs. UCSC's campus vibe wasn't really for me, but they offered me admission with the major I want, however it isn't ABET accredited. UCSB didn't have bioengineering, so I opted for biochemistry & molecular biology, which I really wouldn't mind majoring in. Also, it is more prestigious than UCR. Cal Poly Pomona is also closer to home, but I originally wanted to attend a UC, so I'm not sure if I should go UC or CSU. </p>

<p>Any insight would be greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>UCR has a medical school and when my son and I toured, they mentioned something like they would pay your medical school tuition if you promised to practice in Riverside for a certain amount of time. I think UCR should be a strong contender. Cal Poly Pomona is going through the change from quarter to semester starting your senior year (2017), so that COULD (not sure) prolong your studies there. Good luck wherever you decide to go!</p>

3

<p>Check into UCR given its medical school and given what @liveonboca said. It also has the major you want.</p>

<p>UCSB is very strong in chemistry and chemE and I would assume would be strong in biochem but I am not as precisely sure about that. I do know my niece who graduated from there a few years ago just was matched today with her surgical residency after med school – unfortunately she tried to get back to Santa Barbara and didn’t get that location, but is going to a hospital associated with an Ivy so I’m sure she will be fine.</p>

4

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<p>CPP has a four year graduation pledge program, although its actual four year graduation rate is low:
<a href=“https://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/”>https://www.csupomona.edu/~academic/programs/grad_pledge/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you do attend, the likely issue to watch out for with the quarter to semester transition is to avoid being in the middle of a year long sequence of courses when the change occurs. In some cases, they may offer transition courses for such students, but it may be best to avoid being in that situation in the first place. They do have a pledge that the change will not delay graduation for students who properly plan their schedules: <a href=“http://www.csupomona.edu/~calendar_convert/documents/SemesterConversionPledgetoStudentsver3.pdf”>http://www.csupomona.edu/~calendar_convert/documents/SemesterConversionPledgetoStudentsver3.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>More information here: <a href=“http://www.csupomona.edu/~calendar_convert/index.shtml”>http://www.csupomona.edu/~calendar_convert/index.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Note: I am not suggesting that you should otherwise favor or disfavor CPP versus the other schools.</p>

5

<p>I forgot to mention this earlier, but UCR has a summer program called FASTSTART. Not sure if you qualify, but it is a program geared towards HS students wanting to go into the medical field or STEM. You have to apply. More information here: <a href=“http://faststart.ucr.edu/”>http://faststart.ucr.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>So being close to home is a plus not a minus? What’s wrong with kids these days?</p>

<p>UCSB would be my choice. UCR is offering med school and health field advising support. Not sure about costs being paid, you’d have to get accepted for one thing, but there are some priority application programs. Depending on looking into those choices, that’s another top choice. </p>

7

<p>UCSB would be my first choice too, followed by UCR. Assuming costs are equal, both would prepare you well for med school - or other careers if you were to change your mind on that (as more than half freshmen do.)</p>