PreMed: UCSD v UCSB/I

<p>Hi guys I was wondering if I could get some input here as I plan to go to med school. Having read around here, "undergrad doesn't matter, just get high GPA and MCAT and you're fine", I still look for some advice from current students and alumni.</p>

<p>1)Got in @ ERC for UCSD for Biochem.
2)Got in Bio Sciences @ UCI
3)Got in Pre Bio @ UCSB</p>

<p>Money isn't a real issue and I'm most likely going to dorm wherever I go. Socially I'm not looking for the best school to party or make friends because as you all know, you can find them anywhere within a school.</p>

<p>1)I like SD for its excellent programs and all the opportunities for research and volunteer/internships, but I'm a bit intimidated by MMW, the amount of hate I read for UCSD from many UCSD students, and finally the competitive atmosphere and difficulty to get a high GPA compared to the other two schools. I'd also like to know if it's common for ERC bio chem students to graduate in 4 years; I worry for this because of ERCs GEs which are 2nd to Revelle in difficulty.</p>

<p>2)I like this school because I've read that it has great bio and pre med paths to lead me to med school, kind of like UCSD just a tad bit less. And that it's easier to rank higher in your class than at which means more As than at UCSD? (I'm just assuming). I also like how I've read that students who go here are happier compared to SD. However the amount of people majoring in bio and going for pre med is staggering and I don't know how that should affect me positively when looking for internships.</p>

<p>3)I like this for its amazing campus, its social aspects, and the fact that there are less bio pre med students than the other two which again means easier to get a higher GPA. Reading that it has great science programs, I'm more worried about research and intern/volunteer opportunities because I don't know if they have an abundance of them. Also I am in the dark of how well UCSB and its professors prepare its students for med school.</p>

<p>If students past or present could shed some light on these schools for me that would be great! I've been trying to decide for weeks now I find myself getting headaches.. that's not good haha.
Again I don't really mind how much a school parties or if it doesn't at all because again, there's a social/party scene anywhere; I am much more focused into choosing the school that would best help me succeed in getting into med school. </p>

<p>I've probably made many errors in my assumptions so please help me fix them!</p>

<p>And that it’s easier to rank higher in your class than at which means more As than at UCSD?</p>

<p>I doubt that. UCI is loaded with determined pre-meds.</p>

<p>*how well UCSB and its professors prepares students for medical school. *</p>

<p>This is rather naive. Schools don’t really “prepare students” for medical school. Schools offer the basic Gen Chem, Bio, Ochem, Physics, etc. The student takes those classes as well as the classes for their major. Virtually all good schools are going to teach those prereqs well. It’s up to the STUDENT to do well in those classes - study, learn the material, get the A’s. If the student understands the material and didn’t just learn the concepts for class exams, then he should do well on the MCAT. </p>

<p>Every school has “excellent profs,” “ok profs,” and “rather lousy profs”. Some profs were hired for their amazing research, but they’re not so hot in the classroom as teachers. </p>

<p>The school that you’d have the best chances at a high GPA is Santa Barbara. But, again, that’s up to you. Premed prereqs are hard at every decent school.</p>

<p>Cool thanks for the response, but I do think that it’s harder pre med wise to do well among your peers at UCSD than at UCI…</p>

<p>Any other thoughts? :/</p>

<p>While that may be true, the difference is likely very small. All the UCs are extremely competitive and cut-throat, especially for pre-med. </p>

<p>Be careful with things that you “read” or “heard”. Have you visited each school? I am choosing between Davis and UCSD and I am planning on visiting both.</p>

<p>For sciences, this isn’t even a question. San Diego should be the obvious choice. Only Berkeley is a little better than SD. All others are far behind.</p>

<p>@above
Ucla is better than SD. And OP is looking for a school we it would be easier to get into med school, not just for reputation.</p>

<p>Any past or present students from these schools willing to give more insight on this?</p>

<p>@SwooshBS,</p>

<p>Both of these schools are excellent for premed. They are very comparible in rank, prestige, and academic rigor. The common misconception is that all people do in SB is party. Thus, people think that it might be easier to get A’s in SB. This is totally false. I have met a few people at my CC who got kicked out of SB because they couldn’t keep up with the workload. In fact, many of the people who party at UCSB are actually SBCC students and many are from out of town.</p>

<p>Do not listen to many of the biast (or ignorant) comments on this site. There is such a small difference in academics, prestige, and rank between these schools that you couldn’t go wrong with either one.</p>

<p>

That’s just misinformed. The amount of research that goes on at most UC campuses far exceeds that of most other state flagships. I’ve worked for UCI professors who did some incredibly important work in the physics field and they taught their courses at a very high level. I’m almost positive that most other UCs do the same.</p>

<p>The one issue I’ve heard about from premeds regarding UCI is the lack of on campus hospital. For some reason, UCI’s medical facility is located about 15 minutes away, which means that students have to shadow doctors from other hospitals. It’s not a big problem, and certainly most schools don’t have an attached hospital, but it’s not like UCLA which has the Ronald Reagan Hospital within walking distance. </p>

<p>UCI doesn’t have the level of competition that UCLA does, but it won’t be easy by any stretch. I’ve used some of UCI’s OCW videos to study for various tests, and the professors usually demand a good deal of critical thinking during lecture. Presumably they also demand it during lab and recitation.</p>