Hello! So the May 1st SIR deadline is quickly approaching and I’m completely lost on what to do after high school. After receiving all my rejections and my acceptances I’ve narrowed it down to UCR, CSULB, or CC. I applied to 6 UCs and CSULB and reality hit me hard and I only got accepted to UCR & CSULB, got waitlisted into UCI, UCD, and UCSD, and got rejected from UCLA & UCB (of course). I know I probably have no chance of getting off the waitlists to any of these schools so I’m not getting my hopes up. I plan on majoring in Psychology and then hopefully getting into med school after undergrad. I’m slightly leaning towards UCR right now since it is a UC, therefore I’ll have more research opportunities as opposed to CSULB. However, UCR isn’t a “top-tier” UC and I’ve heard many negative things about it, while on the other hand CSULB is a top-tier CSU and has positive reviews but I don’t think I’ll have as many research opportunities. I also live closer to CSULB and as a result wouldn’t have to worry about housing or anything. Or should I just take the CC route from where I can hopefully transfer to UCLA or UCSD in a year because I have lots of AP credits and save lots of money? I don’t even know if I made sense but I’m very torn apart on which path to take. I sincerely appreciate any advice. Thank you so much in advance 
If your plan is to go to Medical School:
- Medical schools will not accept AP credits for any of the required courses for the application.
- Medical schools frown upon taking any of the required courses at a CC such as Bio/Chem/OChem/Physics etc… so you will be limited to GE’s at the CC. Also not all AP credits will transfer to a UC, so you may have to spend more than a year to transfer into UCLA or UCSD.
UCR is an excellent school and although it is considered a low tier UC, your goal for Medical school is to get the highest GPA possible, do well on the MCAT and have medically related EC’s which can all be accomplished at UCR. Since they are opening a Medical school, UCR students will have priority, so that is also something to consider. If financially UCR will be an issue, then CSULB would be a good alternative. I still vote for UCR. Most negative reviews about UCR or any other school, is based on hearsay by HS students that have never attended or visited the school (s). Good Luck with your decision.
@gumbymom Thank you very much for your advice!!
UCR would be best since they’re going to have a med school and they’re designing all kinds of “pathways to med school” programs.