<p>I am currently an undergrad at the University of Arizona and have been accepted as a transfer student at UC Berkeley and UC San Diego. Would it be better for medical school to finish my undergrad degree at U of A (most likely with a higher GPA) or to transfer to UC Berkeley or San Diego (most likely GPA would not be as high)?</p>
<p>Where are you instate?</p>
<p>What grades are you getting at UAz? (I’m guessing that you’re finishing your sophomore year).</p>
<p>Have you completed your premed prereqs? If not, what do you still have to take?</p>
<p>How much would it cost for you to go to Cal or UCSD?</p>
<p>In truth, med schools aren’t going to be more inpressed by the UCs.</p>
<p>Im in state California and have about a 3.8 at UA. I have completed most premed prereqs (bio, chem, ochem, calc, physics I) still have to take another semester of physics. It would actually be about $7000 more a year to go to cal or ucsd</p>
<p>University of Arizona is well respected, much more respected than ASU. If Cal Universities cost more, I Do NOT see any reason to transfer. SAVE the money for med school.</p>
<p>No, they don’t care if you went to Berkeley or UA as long as you have everything else in order. (GPA, MCAT etc)</p>
<p>To medical school, prestige does not seem to matter. As long as the university is well regarded (there are literally hundreds of universities that fall in this category, including both UA and ASU), what will matter most are your GPA, MCAT, essays/statement of purpose, research experience, internships etc…</p>
<p>The UCs would cost you more and you’ve taken nearly all your prereqs at UAz. So, nothing to gain by transferring.</p>
<p>It would actually be a setback for you to transfer. It would be harder for you to get LORs.</p>
<p>When do you plan on applying to med school? If you plan on applying during the 2014 app cycle (next summer), then transferring now would be a very bad idea.</p>
<p>Stay at UAz and figure out who will be writing your LORs. Are you doing medically-related ECs and shadowing?</p>
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<p>I disagree with the generality of this statement, at least for the OP, a Calif resident, who will likely be applying to UC med schools. OOS med schools won’t care (much), but the UCs will take note.</p>
<p>Undergrad prestige can be a small plus factor when applying to grad/professional schools. And there is clearly a prestige difference between the top ~30 colleges and #120.</p>
<p>That being said, I 'd recommend staying put. The only reason to transfer to Cal is if the OP had his/her heart set on UCSF.</p>
<p>thanks a lot for all of your input! I would be applying next summer and I do have a good number of medically-related ECs and am shadowing this summer.</p>