I’m looking into pursuing a pre-med track and am looking for a college where I would be happy and have time for a social life (NOT partying or drinking, just being able to spend time with friends on weekends, be involved in fun activities and relax) while still maintaining a high GPA but also receive a good education.
That is…if that’s at all possible, haha. I applied as a biology major everywhere.
I’m deciding between:
UC Berkeley–8.9k in aid/scholarships per year
UCLA–7.8k in aid/scholarships per year
UCSD–no aid
UCSB–Regent’s Scholarship
UC Davis–Regent’s Scholarship (but most likely won’t be going because of weather and the town, no offense to anyone that’s going there right now of course)
Biology major and premed is going to be insanely competitive everywhere.
(I’m assuming you’re instate for all).
So, if you were NOT premed, which school would you prefer?
What benefits do you get for Regents at UCSB and UCD ?
Agree with above posters, take UCSB Regents or UCD Regents. Many advantages such as priority registration to select the best professors/class times, the scholarship to help bring costs down, and faculty mentorship which would give you an inside track to research/internships for Medical school.
@MYOS1634 It would probably be Berkeley because of the semester system and location.
@Gumbymom Thanks for the advice I actually got the most money at Berkeley. SB is 6k/year and Davis is 7.5k/year. But I do see that there are other perks to Regents. Is it true that Berkeley doesn’t really care for its undergrads?
Yes, it’s true.
If you’re serious about being premed, take Regents at one if the universities that offered it. The perks are worth it but for a premed they make the difference between having a shot at med school and not having a shot at all and having to find another outcome.
@MYOS1634 Thanks for the information, sincerely appreciate it. I like UCSB but I can’t help but feel that I worked hard (well at least academically) for 4 years just to go there
I mean, it’s a nice school. I’ve visited the campus 3 times, stayed there for 2 weeks as a camp counselor…but…it’s UCSB, still really great, but when compared with Berkeley
I’m sorry if this comes off as narrow-minded and naive and am also sorry if you graduated from UCSB but that’s honestly what I’m thinking rn.
Think about which of these locations would appeal to you most in terms of things you would be able to do while spending time with friends on weekends, and the types of fun activities available at each location, and different ways of relaxing. For some people, there is nothing better than a walk on the beach and swimming, but for someone else, they would prefer to go shopping in the city or out to eat, or just take a stroll across a lovely campus. It seems like you are leaning toward Berkeley, which is routinely ranked the number 1 public university in the USA. If you can afford Berkeley, that might be your best bet. It really depends on your priorities and preferences. Do the perks of the Regents Scholarship outweigh what Berkeley offers? Can you replicate those perks by seeking your own faculty mentor and research opportunities at Berkeley?
Don’t let your fear of competitiveness stop you from choosing your favorite university. What you can do is consider other available majors that still allow you to meet all the pre-med requirements. You can start in Biology, but if it seems too competitive and the professors too distant, then you can look at other majors that will still allow you to take enough science courses to prepare for med school applications. Med schools accept applications from all types of majors, including those in the liberal arts such as English, as long as pre-reqs are met.
It is not that UCB doesn’t care about Undergrads, but it is true that any University that has a graduate program, Undergrads will be competing with Grad students for Research/internship opportunities. You need to be proactive and seek out these kind of opportunities yourself. They will not be handed to you.
I understand. I’m totally not from ucsb but you need to go into this with your eyes open: there will be lots of opportunities once you graduate from Berkeley, but med school, statistically, will not be one of them. Med schools don’t care where you graduate from, what they want is a 3.6+ and this will be very very difficult to get. After your first semester at least 70% premeds will be out of the running and remember Berkeley had the top students in the state. So basically it boils down to attending Berkeley and finding another desirable outcome than med school or pushing this realization to junior year in college at ucsb once you’ve shown your mettle.
Yes. Premed at UCLA and UCB is a bloodbath (think cornucopia scene in Hunger Games :P… Kidding but you get the idea).
At the other UC’s it’s merely insanely hard. Any advantage (IE., Regents ) may make the difference, in particular priority registration, and to a lesser extent honors seminars (as those aren’t graded on a curve.)
At each college probably 70% (some say 80) students never complete the premed requirements (can be higher at some colleges). Of those 25-30% left, on average half will get a place at one med school. The percentages are actually lower in California because it’s a huge state with thousands of stellar students and not enough med school places.
However, there are thousands and thousands of interesting jobs that don’t involve being a physician at all. Many seniors have been exposed to very few careers and say ‘med school’ reflexively, because they’re smart, love to learn, are good at science, like to work with people, Santa to help others, and know it’s a well-paid, prestigious job. The nitty-gritty of the job isn’t something they have thought through. Some students have but not many have shadowed doctors in their day to day jobs. And few know about the thousands of interesting jobs out there.
Should I just go with UCSB then (#3 pick after LA and Berkeley)?
Are there any merits at all to LA and Cal?
I don’t mean to anger anyone and realize this may come off as naive and immature (which I am) but a guy who spent his weekends doing drugs, partying and getting stoned, slacked off in HS and slept in all of his classes is also headed to UCSB. What I mean to say is that SB is a great school but it’s a little hard for me to realize that all of my “hard work” in HS (at least academically) leads to SB? Same school as the stoner/slacker?
If I where you I would go to UCD I live an j\hour away but have a sister whose going there it way better for you major and a lot of kids who go to SB are huge partiers. UCD is a much better school for biology and there are always things to do in the Davis and sac area
@emli8100 I won’t dissuade you from Cal or UCLA because they are both great schools - I will have ties to both in the fall. But there are plenty of hardworking smart kids at UCSB. My son doesn’t drink or do drugs and has a great time there. Has he seen some stoners, sure. Not his thing. He also has plenty of friends who are also not into that stuff. It’s there, but plenty of other kids are not involved in that. He’s also a Regents scholar there and with a ton of hard work is able to get excellent grades there -better than I ever thought possible based on my college experience. UCSB also has free tutoring for the lower division math and science courses including chemistry and physics (don’t know about bio since he didn’t have to take that). I think UCLA also has free tutoring based on something I read the other day, but not 100% sure yet. I have no idea if Cal does. The vibe at UCSB is not for everyone though - I have one there who loves it, but another one who will turn down a Regents there to go to UCLA. But he is not premed and won’t have those kind of GPA worries a premed will. Good luck with your decision, you have a lot of good choices.
Well, imagine that all students will be thriving for the same thing , being top 20%. Most were top 10% in their classrooms in their school, if not higher. They know 80% won’t be top 20%, they have study skills, they’re competitive, and if they don’t make it they’re out of the premed program. Add to this the fact classes will be cued so that about half the class gets lower than a B-and about half the class gets higher, no matter how strong and competitive and prepared and driven the students are.
That should help you see what I mean.
For all of the schools you’re considering, check out their medical or pre-health advising offices.
Regardless of your ultimate choice, you’ll want to connect with that office early on in your freshman year and stay in touch throughout your undergrad years.
Since that’s where you’ll be going to find assistance with med school letters of rec., etc.
be sure that you’re comfortable with the office staff; giving you the right information early on, and hopefully with a welcoming attitude.
I actually got the most money at Berkeley. SB is 6k/year and Davis is 7.5k/year. But I do see that there are other perks to Regents. Is it true that Berkeley doesn’t really care for its undergrads?