Hi, I am currently a student at Purdue University. I am majoring Health Sciences with a Pre-Med concentration. My question is I want to go to med school in California specifically the UC’s. I dont know if I should stay in this major or change to a Biology major. My worry is that if I leave this major ill lose my pre-med advising and since biology is geared toward research I dont know what major to pick. Any help.would be much appreciated. Im also glad to answer any follow-up questions.
Thank you
I am about to become a sophmore
Medical school adcomms really don’t care what your major is. So long as you fulfill all pre-med prerequisites, earn a strong GPA and MCAT scores and have an appropriate CV of expected ECs–you’re good to apply to med school.
Your bigger issue will getting accepted at UC medical school. All the UCs are difficult admits. California is probably the worst state to live in if you want to go to an in-state med school. Only 15% of successful applicants matriculated at in-state medical school. California is the largest exporter of medical school applicants and matriculants.
See:
https://www.aamc.org/download/321466/data/factstablea5.pdf
Why do you want to attend a UC? Are you a CA resident?
@WayOutWestMom, is it better to go do an undergrad at a UC then apply to its medical school.
Probably not. UCs don’t favor their own grads.
Stay where you are.
It’s extremely hard to get into a UC med school…or really any Calif med school. Calif has tooooo many premeds and not enough seats.
Apply to the Calif meds (if your stats are good enough), but also apply to some midwest private med schools and other med school based on your stats.
Don’t transfer…that will worsen your chances.
As for your major, there doesn’t seem to be a reason to change it.
What classes did you take last year and what grades did you get?
My GPA right now is 3.6. My worry is that since im a.california resident ill be closer to home thats why i was thinking of transferring. @mom2collegekids
Unless there is a financial constraint, it is best to remain in Purdue than doing a transfer.
Best do your best in Purdue and improve the GPA and study and do well in MCAT and do EC important for MD admission.
Some friends, they sent their kids to outside including CWRU, Purdue, UR, SLU etc primarily they felt it is hard for any thing done in UC because of shear competition (including getting a chance for an opportunity in research or get in to some organized program or volunteer position etc). They say it is relatively easier outside.
As others stated here, there is no difference if your UG is from UC or outside for MD admission.