<p>I live in California, and I plan on applying to USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and UCSD as a biochemistry major. A college counselor told me that most students who go to UC's give up their goals of going to medical school within their first year. Personally, I have a passion for science and math, and I've gotten all A's in my math/science classes (most advanced math I've taken is Calc BC, most advanced science is AP Chem, and I'm currently taking AP Physics and AP Bio).</p>
<p>Should I apply to more private schools? Do they really increase my chances of getting into med school? I know that I have to work hard no matter which college I get into. I just want to know if the UC's are really that bad for pre-med because of the competition, and if I should just go to a school because it's easier to get a higher GPA.</p>
<p>Just as a side note, I would be happy to go to any of the schools that I've listed above.</p>
<p>You should ask “most students who go to UC’s give up their goals of going to medical school within their first year” WHY?</p>
<p>The reason is most likely not the school but what the students learn about themselves. Inoculating yourself from one of those schools won’t keep you on the pre-med path, you know. You’ll keep on that path if something internally pushes you fwd. Lots of 17 year old pre-meds. Not that many 19 year old pre meds. That’s just reality.</p>
<p>I attended an HYP and there were plenty of pre-meds my first semester around me. Not so many come 2nd semester.</p>
<p>I want to Cal 20+ years ago as a science major - not pre-med. At Cal it is Chem 1A/1B that eliminated half of intended pre-med candidates before first semester is over. I don’t know if you’ve seem their chem lecture hall there - over 700 people, giant rotating stage with prep room behind. In my day there was Lonnie, the faithful lab assistant much like Beaker from the Muppet Show who would blow something up at the start of each lecture, then the prof would drone on about this and that which was “discovered right here in our department”. TA’s that barely spoke english, very little assistance, all graded on a curve, and the UC has a goal of eliminating 1/2 to 1/3 of students. There are better ways to actually learn chemistry. There was a percentage of students who acted like they might jump out a window if they didn’t get into med school (probably even larger today). 2/3 of the way through - too late to withdraw - I just stopped going to preserve my sanity and focus on doing well in my other 3 classes. I ultimately took chem and O chem in a different setting and got A’s in both - graduated magna cum laude. Chem 1A 1st semester at Berkeley was the worst academic experience of my life. It was like a Navy Seal bootcamp of chemistry trying to find the 12 kids who actually made it through intact. Again, some make it though fine and happy, but the percentages are against it.</p>