My parents want me to pick UCI over UCLA and I'm conflicted about where to go

Parents Forum
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Hi everyone, I got into UCLA off the waitlist as comparative literature. It was my double/second major from my pre-med requirements. Honestly, now that I think about it, I really did literature while taking pre-med requirements since I abandoned being a straight Bio major (I didn’t think declaring as Bio would do much since I didn’t really work with labels at CC lmao…plus certain UC’s didn’t have public health even at my cc I couldn’t declare it)

Anyhow, it kinda throws a wrench into the goal of med school. At my CC, I was in the Honors Program so I got priority registration which allowed me to get into any classes also it’s a CC so no class restrictions. But at UCLA, it would provide a pain in the ass… considering I’m not life sciences. As for UCI, I’m public health policy and I could switch to Public Health Sciences after the first quarter or even double major in bio sci related major (ok that maybe harder to do but it’s more of a possibility at UCI than at UCLA). For Public Health they actually have reservations for certain bio classes I need so I could have the same advantage as bio sci majors

Anyhow, I just kinda wanna say whatever and go to UCLA because it’s UCLA! It would break me out of my shell, let me leave my toxic home life (nothing horrible but doesn’t really help me personally), and it would provide me with lots opportunities. However, I’m afraid to defy my parents. I’m afraid for them to say “I told you so” because they’re convinced I’ll fail out of UCLA… they literally told me that. As for the major stuff, I’ve contacted some departments and they say after I finish certain requirements I could declare a double major or switch.

A friend of mine is pretty biased and is planning to go to med school says public health is basically the same thing as literature and both degrees would be useless towards med school so it wouldn’t matter. I understand he wasn’t trying to hurt my feelings but still he’s really biased towards STEM majors and thinks without them it’s no use applying to medical school which didn’t really make me feel better about the whole situation. I know he means well and I get where he’s coming from because if you major in straight science it shows that you can handle the upcoming workload in medical school; however, I need something to fall back on and a degree in biology/neuro/etc by itself is useless in my point of view.

Anyhow despite all of that, the major choice and difficulty of doubling again is what’s turning me away from Los Angeles… on the other hand, I have a big urge to go and really pursue something I thought I’d never have a chance at. UCI is wonderful and there really isn’t much cons except being close to home and probably sacrificing the experience that UCLA would give me also living with the regret of not going to UCLA. On the other hand, if i hate UCLA, I’ll regret that too so I have no idea what to do. I know no strangers on the internet can make the decision for me but I just had to discuss this since I’m tired of people saying “oh you’re dumb for even asking this, go to UCLA!” it’s not as easy as you think.

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How many of the premed requirements did you complete at cc?

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@VickiSoCal I am completing the year of bio after this summer. I’ve already completed 2 years of chemistry (general and ochem). The only thing I didn’t do was calculus and physics. I was planning to also take biochem and genetics as well as microbiology which aren’t really usually required for medical school but maybe over the summer to help me with the MCAT.

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My opinion…

If you are premed…and especially in CA…you want to go to the college where you will be able to not only take the required courses to apply to medical school…but also where you can attain the highest GPA.

You also need a good plan B.

That being said…UCLA is a terrific college…and you might never apply to medical school. I’m assuming the cost is not a factor?

Re: medical school. You can major in anything…anything…as long as you also take the courses required for application to medical schools. As long as you have the time to take the courses required along with your anyonother major…it’s fine.

You have a couple of years before you apply to medical school…and competency based is how many schools are moving.

Plus…you need a good Plan B in case you don’t get accepted to medical school…or in case you decide not to apply.

@WayOutWestMom what have I missed.

My opinion…I would pick UCLA.

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I agree with @thumper. I would pick UCLA over UCI any day. Tell your friend that is advising you about majors that he or she doesn’t know what they are talking about. My kid majored in Classics and did great with med school admissions.

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Here’s the TLDR I’m reading: I don’t think I’m good enough and neither do my parents.

UCLA wouldn’t have admitted you if they didn’t think you could handle it. I think you need to stop listening to others and do what is going to be best for your future.

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You don’t need more bio to do well on the MCAT. You just need to study the topics. And sooner you take it the better. That O Chem knowledge is not going to get stronger the further you get from it.

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UCLA isn’t that hard and UCI isn’t a lot easier - if you’re committed to working at your classes you can get good grades at UCLA. Don’t make a choice out of fear, choose the University you want to be associated with, the one you want to attend.

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Only go to UCLA if you think you are strong enough to get higher grades than most of your classmates so that you can qualify for medical schools. Statistically UCLA has stronger students than UCI.
Your parents may have a point there.

Go to UCLA if medical school is not your concern.

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“if you’re committed to working at your classes you can get good grades at UCLA.”

All starting premeds thought that way. In the end a large part of them abandoned medical school dream after two quarters.

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I can’t see how the same student would succeed at UCI and fail out of UCLA. Not a valid argument.

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Physician here. Public Health is its own field, it should be done by those who want that knowledge, not as a jumping off point for medical school. There are physicians who add the MS in the field, not a BS/BA level degree, for various reasons. Forget Public Health unless that is your planned career.

Your long post is a bit confusing. It is a great idea to have an undergrad major that interests you. There is no reason to have a science major for medical school unless that is your primary interest. The only reason to add that is because you already have so many of the needed credits that it is easy to complete along with your primary (comp lit) major. See an above post- physicians do have nonscience majors. They teach you what you need to know to become a good physician in medical school- there is no reason (outside of time and interest) to learn material ahead of time.

You also need to look at your science gpa to date and your competitiveness for medical schools. You need to have a plan B since most who consider medical school either change their mind or are not accepted. You need to consider your priorities. WHY be a physician? Etc.

Any school will do for medical school, if you do well on the MCAT and have high grades plus the other current criteria. You need to consider which school will give you the courses you want in your comp lit major. It is good for future physicians to indulge in a college education for its sake and take all sorts of classes unrelated to medicine- especially since there won’t be time for them in medical school and many years beyond. MCAT material can be studied independent of classes.

You give a jumble of ideas in your post. You need to move beyond your CC. Both UC Irvine and UCLA require you to make an adjustment so forget the perks you have had. You need to succeed at a four year U. Both schools are in the same area (think beyond your narrow definition), they are not even in different parts of a large state. I have visited both counties enough times to know how similar they are even if you point out differences.

Finances matter hugely. All money that can be saved for medical school will be needed. Figure out the cost differences. Include tuition/fees/books, room and board, transportation, sundries. Saving money for the goal of being a physician trumps the cachet of UCLA over Irvine.

Most of us do not get to go to our dream school. UCLA means something to you at your age and where you live in S CA. You saved money thus far by attending a CA CC instead of spending it on one of the four year schools. You also gave up the experiences and education of one of many excellent CA schools. You will not be getting the college freshman experience so that is not a factor.

The reason to choose UCLA over UC Irvine is because it offers you a better education in your chosen major of comp lit. You need to look at the courses required and available in the major at both schools. You can offer this as justification for choosing UCLA, assuming there are not huge cost differences you and your family would struggle with (remember how expensive medical school is).

Take time to organize your priorities. Perhaps medical school/becoming a physician is not the direction you should go. Look at where a comp lit degree would lead you.

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Addenda. I absolutely did NOT want to go to my flagship coming from a suburb but it was a world apart and I loved it. Lucky to be from that state so it was an affordable (shoestring budget despite scholarships) option. You will find the college culture very different than your CC one regardless of the school.

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OP made the critical point that he may not get the required classes at UCLA (or not as easily. Or possibly, not the sections/teachers he prefers.) Yes, that’s important.

“says public health is basically the same thing as literature and both degrees would be useless towards med school so it wouldn’t matter.” Your young friend has no idea. Both are fine for med school, IF they meet your present interests and you can still meet the course requirements for med school. In fact, some say med schools like the English or lit majors for the amount of reading they require, as does med school.

The point is to also fulfill those med school requirements. If that’s a no brainer at UCI, I’d lean that way. Yes, UCLA is overall stronger. But the issue is getting weeded out of your med school dreams. Not only could you face this, but not getting the premed courses when you want them. Think about that.

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@wis75 I definitely understand it’s not a jumping off point and it’s it’s own field. I just felt that it would serve me better learning about the workings of healthcare as well as pursing my original path. Moreover, I apologize for the long post it just there’s a lot of things going on and I feel a bit overwhelmed also tired out because I mean I picked this major not to specifically help me out at med school but to find a new interest but also have a plan B. I’ve grown up without much confidence so out of security I’ve made multiple back up plans for myself since I worry. It’s not that I’m not considering medicine is just that I need some major to feel secure.

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I understand my friend also @wis75 are trying to be realistic and help me but definitely it’s tiring to have someone badger me how wrong I am…not saying anyone or @wis75 you’re doing this but I’m just saying I’m really exhausted lmao. I have no decisions or any power whatsoever. Nor do I have control over my own life or future

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A few observations:

Your friend is wrong saying your majors are useless for med school. Public health, comparative literature, English, SouthAsian studies and underwater basketweaving can get you into medical school if your GPA, MCAT scores and med-related ECs are good enough.

Your parents underestimate UCI.

You may overestimate the prestige of UCLA vs. UCI.

Have you carefully checked out the requirements for medical school and whether the CC classes you’ve taken there would count? I seem to remember my niece - who went from a CC to UCSB to medical school had to retake some sciences at UCSB.

Have you carefully checked out the requirements for comp lit? Back in my day, if you wanted to do honors in comp lit you had to have a year of Greek or Latin. Honors would look good on a med school application, but do you want to stay in school possibly another year?

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Two excellent choices! To me, you don’t sound entirely certain about medical school – and that’s okay. It also may be a sign that something else is in your future! Either way, something to consider is that you’ll be an alum of whichever university you choose for the rest of your life. I firmly believe if you can succeed at UCI, you can succeed at UCLA. I also believe you will gain a lot if you select and successfully graduate from UCLA (decision made from strength) compared to if you choose UCI under the particular circumstances you’ve described (decision made from fear/weakness.) You’ve worked hard to gain admission to these two fabulous institutions. Both knew what they were doing when they admitted you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t/won’t succeed there. Follow your heart and intellect and make the choice that’s right for you.

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This. I know USNWR is not the be-all and end-all, but it’s a useful example: UCLA is #19 and UCI is #33. In the big scheme of things that is not a huge difference, and because of the number of tied rankings between them it is actually only a 6 place difference in “level”. Maybe you should show this to your parents. This is not even a real gap in rankings much less one that is the difference between doing well at one and failing out of the other.

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How badly do your parents want you to go to UCI? Like, refuse to pay for you to go to UCLA? Or are just airing their opinions? Or is it so much more for you to go to UCLA that, though they will pay, it’s a painful financial hit? Like how hard of a hit?