<p>I am not premed, I want to be a paleontologist; I am one of the rare illusive non-premed biology majors (and on top of that I am Indian which puts me into an even smaller pool). I just so happen to know everything about the premed curriculum because most of my friends are premeds and because I am very active on the Berkeley forum.</p>
<p>I do not regret choosing Cal, because all the other UCs absolutely suck when it comes to paleontology. HERC (Human Evolution Research Center) and the UCMP (University of California Museum of Paleontology) are both located in UC Berkeley. Berkeley is the only place in California with such large and broad fossil assemblages (the Campanile is really filled with fossils, it is not just a rumor). </p>
<p>Going to a lesser UC to get a higher GPA could very easily backfire on you; research opportunities will be much more limited in UCSD and UCSB. Also, medical schools know the difference between a high Berkeley GPA and a high San Diego GPA.</p>