Pre-med at UCSB.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Barbara
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<p>Hey Guys,
I just recently got admitted by both UCSB and UCI. Honestly, I like UCSB's campus more and the people there, but I know UCI's pre-med program is fantastic. I wanted to find out how good UCSB's pre-med truly is. While I have heard about UCSB's fantastic marine biology program and have read about top notch professors and incredible research facilities, I was wondering if anyone who is now in Med School can tell me how well UCSB prepared you for the MCAT while you were doing pre-med there.
Thanks!
-sharks911</p>

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<p>o mah dude!!! I’m in the same exact position. I already threw Davis out because it’s far and you can’t bring a car, but SB and I IDK what to do. Thread bookmarked.</p>

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<p>I’m also Indian, just FYI, and I hate my own race, if that like changes anyone’s response to this thread.</p>

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<p>I’m in the same boat but I’m deciding between Davis and SB. Can’t decide if SB has a worth while pre med program or not! I really hope it does though :)</p>

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<p>Sharks911, what specifically have you heard about UCI that makes you think it has a fantastic pre-med program? You can do pre-med anywhere with any major. Just pick something you enjoy whether it be history, art or physics. The key is to do well in whatever discipline you are most passionate about. If you think you would fit in better at UC Irvine then by all means go there. But, if you like UCSB go there. Its pre-med is as good there as any other UC.</p>

<p>I say this as a Cal grad with a son at UCSB and a daughter who will start there in the fall. I also have several fellow physician friends who graduated from UCSB and loved their time there. And yes, they were very well prepared for medical school and did quite well.</p>

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<p>@ choroidal - I know how the Pre-med system works…It just seems from what I’ve heard and read that UCSB is more Marine Biology oriented rather than Physiology or something more pre-med related. But if you say the pre-med at UCSB is as good as anywhere else, I will keep that in mind. Thanks!</p>

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<p>What you put in is what you’re going to get out regardless of where you go. Pick your school based on other factors. If you’re at ucsb, you can certainly do just fine with pre med if you choose to, plus you’ll be in an (what I can personally vouch for as) an amazing environment</p>

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<p>Sharks911- Yes, UCSB has a great marine science program, but the rest of the bio department is top notch as well. My brother and several friends did graduate work there and loved the atmosphere and thought the science was top notch. There is tons of medically related research going on at UCSB even though they do not have a medical school. For instance in my own field of ophthalmology there is an excellent research lab at UCSB doing cutting edge work in age related macular degeneration.</p>

<p>I do not think there is any evidence whatsoever that going to an undergrad school with an attached med school increases your chance of med school acceptance. If you look at some of the schools with near 100% acceptance rates (CMC, Pomona, Davidson etc…) they are small liberal arts schools with no medical school and close to zero medical research on campus.</p>

<p>Go where you think you will thrive and be happy. If you do well and enjoy your studies med school will take care of itself. Beware of the “pre-med” mentality which can really detract from your college experience.</p>

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<p>

And strength of research in Physiology matters why?</p>

<p>Sounds like you’re becoming another subscriber to the myth that a few schools have that “special touch” that give their students an extra boost, with you placing UCI in that category. In fact there are many, many colleges that do a good job of preparing students for med school. </p>

<p>Even though you proclaim an understanding of the premed process, I wonder… There are just a handful of classes required to apply to med school. A few calculus classes. Some chem. Some physics. Some bio. That’s it. Nowhere is it required to study physiology, histology, anatomy, etc. That’s what they teach you in med school! Build up a decent grounding in the sciences and you’re good to go.</p>

<p>There’s an excellent premed guide at Amherst that I suggest you read; here’s a quick excerpt

Both UCSB and UCI are fine schools that give you all the opportunity you need to become a strong med school applicant. Seeking out and taking advantage of the opportunities is up to you.</p>

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<p>No offense, but sounds like your a fresh out of high school. Don’t say pre-med major cause I honestly laugh at that response and so do my other friends.</p>

<p>Me: “What’s your major?”
Person 2: “Pre-med”
Me: “Well…what major is that?”</p>

<p>My friend majored in Sociology (The easiest major available at a University) and graduated with a 3.9 GPA and scored a 31 on his MCAT. He took also took the pre-requisite for medical school and got that out of the way while he went to class drunk, took the finals drunk, and bang chicks everyday.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot for the input guys!</p>

<p>@choroidal - I saw about that macula stuff - really cool! :)</p>

<p>@ Mike - I never said anything about research and physiology? Re-read the post…but thanks for the input…I will keep it in mind. Also, you missed Organic Chem in the requirements ;)</p>

<p>@ Lawl - I never said pre-med major…no clue why you mentioned that. Also, if it was that easy to get good grades at UCSB, that does not speak well about the university, but since he scored so high on the MCAT - maybe he is just a genius? :D</p>

<p>Also, one question you guys didn’t answer, which I am mostly curious about out of all of this…did the required pre-med courses you took during your undergrad experience at UCSB prepare you well for the MCAT? Thanks again.</p>

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<p>Sharks911, if UCSB isn’t a reputable school then why is he going to USC medical school? He did also get accepted to UCLA and Standford. </p>

<p>That should tell you that your grades + MCAT matters – not what school you went to.
He is just a genius; he doesn’t work hard but he works smart.</p>

<p>Obviously, the courses he took at UCSB did prepare for him. He took biology, chemistry, and what ever courses required for medical school. (I’m a sociology major, I just need a bachelor degree in order to inherit my fathers business) No one is born knowing about the subject, you have to study for it.</p>

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<p>@ lawl - I suggested that he is indeed a genius as you confirmed…I never suggested UCSB isn’t a good school…I consider it to be very respectable and am seriously considering it as a place where I may have a very exciting undergraduate experience. Thanks for your help. :]</p>

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<p>I wrote about my experience here.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/1090759-my-ucsb-experience-pre-health-majors.html?%20t=1090759[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/1090759-my-ucsb-experience-pre-health-majors.html?%20t=1090759&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;