Hello. As of the moment, I am very indecisive of choosing which college I should go. CSUF is near home while UCR is an hour away drive which means I would have to dorm there. I had been accepted into University Honors Program for CSUF and I am majoring in Chemistry. Also, the financial aid for CSUF is currently unknown since on the portal it said that my financial aid is on hold and will be disbursed in Fall 2016. For UCR, not only did I like the school but also the financial aid is good ($9602), but I am majoring in Biology. However unlike CSUF, I checked on the UCR website and it didn’t have a master’s degree in Biology. At the same time, I found out UCR have a School of Medicine. After 4 years of college in general, I am planning to go to grad school to be a physical assistant. If possible, I may become a M.D. From what I heard, even though one may go to CSU, one may be able to go to grad school if the grades meet the standards. After processing all of this info, I don’t know which to choose.
Do you want to live at home or dorm? How much are you willing to spend?
Have you visited either campus?
CSUF is nice but it is definetly a commuter campus. Fullerton is a very affluent city and there is lots to do around OC. My brother attends CSUF majoring in the sciences and he likes it a lot, but he says he wishes he had more of a “college experience” with dorms and all.
Riverside is a bit of a commuter campus as well, but less so. The campus is very nice and seems to be working on remodeling and rennovating many of their buildings such as the brand new Rec center. The new chancellor has also made a commitment to lowering student debt 
Have you heard about UCR’s med school? If you get in and commit to 5 years residency they waive the tuition.
You can go to a masters program or med school form either school. You don’t have to get a masters where you get your undergrad degree, most don’t. Even if you went to UCR, you could get a biology masters at a different school afterwards if you wanted
I really don’t mind living at home or dorm, The most I am willing to spend is around $10,000 to $11,000. I have visited both campuses and they are very nice.
I see. So I don’t have get a masters from where I get my bachelors. By “a different school afterwards”, did you meant grad school?
Thank you so much for replying! This helps a lot.
Yes, a masters degree would be considered grad school and you do not have to get it at the same school you get your bachelors degree from, so don’t base your decision off of the masters programs available. If you are living at home, CSUF will likely be cheaper because tuition there is roughly 7k per year. I don’t know much about the science programs at UCR as my major is not in the field, but I’d reccomend sitting in on classes or talking to faculty at either school.
Thank you again
No problem! I might be going to UCR this fall too, so we might see each other around!
oooohhhhhhh~~~!!! Well if you are going to UCR and I choose to go there as well, hope to see you there!
Learn what it takes to get into med school by reading thru the very informative pages at https://www.rhodes.edu/content/health-professions-advising-hpa on the “PreMed Essentials” link. You can find similar info for PA programs on the web (I’m guessing you mean “Physician Assistant” and not “Physical Assistant” since they are related and the job of “Physical Assistant” does not exist.
You need to understand that grades alone, while necessary, are not enough. So locking yourself in the library and acing every class will not get you to your goal. Read thru the info above, and work with the premed advisor when you arrive at college. Not only do you need grades and scores, you’ll have to get to know some profs to get good recs. You strengthen your app by taking part in a research lab. An unofficial requirement to get into med school is exposure to the field thru a job or volunteer experience. PA schools look for this too, and many have it as a requirement.
Either school can provide the education you need. My advice is to go away to school if it is affordable; students do a lot of growing and learning from the other kids, things harder to do when you live at home. But if living at home is all you can afford, so be it.
Oh sorry I did meant Physician Assistant.
Thank you so much @mikemac