At first, I was sure that I wanted to go to Cornell just because as an Ivy it has a great reputation and amazing opportunities. But, after reading more about the universities, I’m not so sure anymore…
I heard that Cornell in general is very tough when it comes to grading and that UCLA might be “easier”. Of course, I’m hard working etc. but it´s very important to me to get a 3.7+ GPA to attend a prestigious medical school. Another plus for UCLA is the location, the weather and the vibe. Now, do you think the name of an Ivy with a let’s say an average GPA can get me into a great medical school better than a very good GPA from UCLA?
In my high school, I’m valedictorian and my SAT was pretty good. But, at both schools there will only be smart and determined people.
So, do you have any experience at these colleges or any advice? Is Cornell really so much harder than other great schools, especially with regards to the pre-med track?
Remember that medical school can cost around $400k if you are lucky enough to get in (maybe $300k if you are very lucky to get into an in-state public), so avoiding debt and saving money in undergraduate can help. Also, the process of applying to medical schools can be expensive.
UCLA will not be easier than Cornell. If you want to attend a prestigious medical school like you say you should be able to handle the rigor of Cornell or UCLA. If you can not, then you may have to consider another career path or less prestigious medical schools.
With US medical schools; it’s pretty much all the same classes, all with very accomplished fellow students, at every school. Most medical school applicants are happy to get into one US medical school, and any UG is getting way ahead of themselves to start selecting a “great” medical school.
And premed everywhere is tough; all premeds have the same goal, take the same classes, and need to assemble the same activities for their applications.
Although this post is very close to the ultimate pre-med thread:
“Easy undergraduate schools for pre-med”>
dk where you heard that. Some of the CA posters will set you straight pretty fast I’m sure
Nope
Fwiw, you will have to work your backside off at either place to get the grades you need for med school. In some ways UCLA will be worse, b/c the grade expectations will be just as high but you may have more trouble getting the classes you need when you need them.
For med school it’s GPA + MCAT, then everything else.
Honestly, if you. are concerned about not working too hard you are in for a surprise: even at your safety you will have to work hard to get med school qualifying marks. And I don’t even know what your safety is!
@collegemom3717 . . . just one correction. The graduation rate at UCLA for four years is now ~ %80, so there isn’t a problem getting classes. It’s not as high as Cornell’s ~ 86%, but it’s slowly ascending.
There is no objective way to compare the grading standards at Cornell and UCLA, so don’t let that be a factor in your decision. Instead choose the college that offers the opportunities you need to do your best work. You are the valedictorian of your high school class, so you already have proven that you are capable of earning good grades. Granted college work will be more challenging, but it is a challenge you can meet if you work hard.
“at both schools there will only be smart and determined people.”
This part is true. Your premed classes will be full of smart and determined students at either school, and also at your safety (assuming that you applied to one or more safeties).
Have you been accepted to both Cornell and UCLA? Would you need to take on any debt at all for four years at either of these schools?
