<p>I am entering UCSD this fall as a freshman. I'll be in ERC, majoring in physio and neuroscience. I was wondering what are the chances/how hard would I have to work/etc. to get into top tier medical schools (e.g. JHU)?</p>
<p>The reason I ask is I am an out-of-state student, so in terms of finances, I might transfer out of UCSD for future years (why I didn't pick those schools before UCSD originally? was too idealistic and applied to higher ranking schools/didn't get in) especially if it might be advantageous for getting into better medical schools. I know UCSD's awesome for science, esp. bio, and people keep saying that the undergrad college doesn't matter as much as the grades/etc. you earn from there, but I'm still worried. For me, my in-state options would be UVA or William and Mary, both great schools like UCSD, but I'm wondering if it's worth going through the transfer process, etc. if I can do just as well at UCSD. My parents have already said they'd be willing to pay the exorbitant OOS tuition rates for UCSD as long as I can still get into a good med school, so...</p>
<p>i was almost going to transfer out for a variety of reasons (none of them are related to med school) but i didn't for these reasons:</p>
<p>-good research school, and a lot of labs will take you on after you get through the lower div classes, and i enjoy research
-why lose all my 'connections' after two years?
-have to re-establish myself at the new school, make new friends, etc.
-hassle. think of the paperwork you're going through now and when you transfer, there's more paperwork involved. and when you're applying to med school, there's even more paperwork because you have to put down you went to 2 universities
-lots of pre-med related activities available. there are 3 hospitals on campus, tons of clinics, etc. and a lot of really, really unique opportunities if you are observant.
-lots of biotech-related internships available
-when you transfer, not everything transfers perfectly. which means you lose credits that you worked hard for/made your parents pay for</p>
<p>and several others. but happiness is a big factor, so if you find yourself extremely miserable at ucsd, you should consider transferring.</p>
<p>but to answer your question, working hard is a relative factor. my friend studies an hour and gets an A. i study 10 hours to get the same A. i haven't really had a professor who gave out just 2 A's in a class...they're usually pretty balanced and the curve works itself out.</p>
<p>im also oos going to ucsd this fall and a pre med. i thought about this a lot and to me it is worth the ridiculous oos tuition to be in california, think about it this way, you get to apply to california med schools as an in-state resident, i think? i am not sure how that works if your parents are still oos and paying your tuition though...that would be the situation with me...</p>
<p>sarah: you can apply to any medical schools you want. you're not limited by only your state's medical schools + privates....being in-state might confer a tiny advantage for california though, but that "advantage" is so insignificant that it hardly even matters--there's just too much competition here!</p>
<p>anchor: there are a ton of physio majors on campus. i'd say it's one of the more popular biology majors after genbio, biochem/bio, and human bio...</p>
<p>I'd say physio is less popular than microbio... The requirements for physio are quite a bit more demanding than those for human bio, so there are significantly fewer physio majors than human bio majors (and with the amount of human bio and genbio majors, its hard to believe that there are people in other bio majors). I'm molbio major, and I have NEVER met another one. Oh well...</p>
<p>Anyway... To the original post. Of course you can get into a great med school! The two people that I actually know of that got into medical school (the only premeds that I know that have already graduated) have gotten into Harvard and UCSF. </p>
<p>But will it be hard?? Of course! You are applying to med school! Its no easy feat! You would have to work hard at any school you go to! No school will significantly help you get into medical school. Its really the effort you put forward that will get you in. Get good grades (which really is very doable), get involved in a hospital/clinic, get to know your professors and do well on the MCATs, and you are well on your way to get into med school. There might be more to it than that (I am not a premed, so I am not all that sure) but the point is, the school isn't anywhere nearly as important as what you do while you are there. </p>
<p>and i_lose listed some great reasons for not transferring, especially the connections you make with professors/doctors/advisers/whatever you make. But like he said, if you are unhappy, you are better off transferring.</p>
<p>anchor: I found a few physio majors at the ERC orientation, but most of them were all IR types. Oh well! Maybe we'll see each other in classes this fall :D</p>