Shoot high or settle?

Applying to College
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<p>I'm a little anxious.
I have been since I picked up interest in medicine, and as a result interest in top UCs. Ive always had decent grades, but it was not until recently that i became aware of what it takes to get into UCLA or UCD. I had higher education in my mind, but i did not take it seriously, so i never payed attention to things that would boost my opportunities. Additionally, i was far too focused on mastering English, for i am not a native speaker.
I currently have a 3.5 GPA without AP or honor classes, and I scored 1950 on the SAT. I'm planning on taking AP classes as soon as i get the chance, and I have also entered into the world of pre-med programs, shadowing, and volunteering at hospitals. I'm not too worried about grades, for I'm not lazy, but Im afraid i entered the game too late.
I am a Salvadorean Immigrant, and I've only lived in the U.S for about 4 years. Although i wish i had not gone through the culture shock, the language barrier, and other things i will not mention, I've heard that my circumstances will help me with admissions. Like i mentioned before, i am afraid im too late to become the best possible candidate for UCs. I know there are other possible ways to get my education such as going to CCs, but i just don't want to settle(not discriminating). </p>

<p>Bottom line is that i want to know if i still have a shot at the top UCs ( i want to go as far away from my house as i can). Why top UC's? because i'd like to have a good chance at attending a good medical school, I dont want to lag on this one. </p>

<p>Thanks,
11th grade student.</p>

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<p>You can apply to all of the UCs if you want and see which ones you get into (though it would cost extra application fees).</p>

<p>You can check the freshman class profiles of the various UCs here:
[University</a> of California - Freshman admission profiles](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/profiles/index.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/profiles/index.html)</p>

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<p>I didn’t read the whole post, but based on the title, I had similar doubts earlier in my college process. The way I see it is that if you never TRY then you will think about what might have been for a VERY long time. You might as well apply to top ones if you have the right stats and all that. Good luck.</p>

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<p>What grade are you in?</p>

<p>You actually may have even better options than The UCs. Many good private colleges would like more representation from Central America. Did your parents
go to college? Are you low income?</p>

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<p>If you’re serious about med school, you should really research what the critical factors are for getting accepted. I know some people think that you have a better shot going to a less prestigious school since you won’t be competing with bunch other pre-meds for grades and class rank. Are you getting any help from your guidance counselor? Waverly is right, you probably have a lot better options than just the UCs.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the help!
Waverly, I am a junior, and I’ve never considered private. They seem so far of a reach because I am low income and I don’t think my grades would help with
scholarships. My mother went to college in El Salvador, she’s one of the reasons why im interested. She was a general doctor in rural El Salvador, and I used to go with her during the days I was not in school.
I have researched the criteria for acceptance, and what is most prominent is the MCAT and the pre- reqs. it seems like I would need to stick out from my class as well. I have spoken to my councellor, numerous times, but shes more like a person who just agrees with you. She rarely offers anything else other than moral support, which is great, but its not helping with the
problem at hand. I will give privates a thought, thanks!</p>

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<p>Given your situation, a private school may give you a free ride with tuition and provide you with scholarships. If not, research all the Cal States as well and determine which one will be best to prepare you for medical school. Additionally, apply to all the UC’s, but don’t get stuck on UCLA or UCD. In fact, UC Irvine has one of the best medical programs in the country and has lower entrance requirements. Seriously look into UC Irvine. Bottom line, if you want to go to medical school you will have to start thinking about MONEY right now. You will be in school for years and years to come and then you will have to do a residency, pass your board exams and do grunt work for a very long time until you actually become a doctor. I would start now looking at organizations that help immigrants and Latino students. The US desperately needs Spanish speaking doctors that can relate to the dramatically increasing Latino population. If you have a 3.5 GPA and halfway decent SAT’s (I’d take the ACT as well as soon as possible – better for non-English speakers. Make sure that you take a preparatory course with a reputable organization). It is NEVER too late and believe it or not I’ve met doctors that started out at a Community College and THEN transferred to a UC after 2 years. This will also save you a ton of money. So, (1) you are not too late – I know people who started medical school in their 30’s. (2) You need to start planning for this 10-year process right away both financially and strategically. (3) If you want to be a doctor you must prepare yourself to NEVER give up no matter what – too many folks drop out as the process seems too daunting. (4) Get in touch with as many support organizations as possible. (5) Start researching and approaching schools now – your essays will be a key factor in what schools you will get into and then I suggest that you go to as many on campus interviews as possible especially for the privates. Many privates schools are searching for kids just like you. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Wait, we dnt know enough details yet to know if private schools are the way to go.</p>

<p>The reason privates may be is that they can give you a diversity boost for being Central American where the CA state schools can not. you have the scores to get into the colleges that meet need but we’d have to know if your family has financial need. What is your family income?</p>

<p>When are you going to take honors and APs?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone! Very uplifting.
My APs will come this upcoming semester, and senior year, im takingnot 5 total. I don’t know exactly what my family’s income is, but it can’t be higher then 20k per year.</p>

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<p>Privates are the way to go with that income. As long as your family also has limited assets, they will be cheaper than UCs or CSUs if you get into the right ones. Try to take as many advanced classes as possible. See if you can bring up your scores.</p>

<p>Search here for the list of colleges that meet 100%'of need and start reading about them.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for the advice. I was not going to concider private institutions at all. Would you recommend any?</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Please check out the PreMed Topics forum here on CC. While great schools, UCs have some negatives connected with them when it comes to premed, mainly tough grading and poor premed counseling.</p>

<p>As well as looking into privates with large merit aid for Hispanic applicants and/or excellent need based FA for low income families, you should check into Questbridge, it’s a college entrance program for low income applicants. There is a subforum about Questbridge under the FA & Scholarships forum.</p>

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<p>Schools to look at: Bates, Colby, Richmond, St. Olaf, Trinity (CT), Macalester. There are many more, but these are good schools with good aid and they get lots of kids into med. School.</p>

<p>I second entomom, the UCs are not the best place for a pre med.</p>

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<p>Two of the posts state: “the UCs are not the best place for a pre med”.</p>

<p>Where is this coming from? It’s such bad advice. Any top tier university or college with a strong biology/chemistry/bio-chemistry program is a good place for a pre-med. And some of the UCs have incredible science/engineering programs.</p>

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<p>I agree that private is the way to go, and especially East Coast, Midwestern or Southern schools. I suggest that you apply far and wide, and look at both the very top schools that meet 100% need, and at private schools that will give you great aid but are not Top 20 schools. If you are female, look at the excellent women’s colleges. If none of this truly pans out, know that you are lucky to live in a state with a clear community college/UC matriculation plan. It doesn’t need to feel like settling if you reach your end goal.</p>

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<p>Are you currently in a Ca high school? You can certainly check out some private schools, but don’t eliminate the UCs. UCs have plenty of programs for low income kids, and there are a lot of plusses to being closer to home… </p>

<p>Bates, Colby, Richmond, St. Olaf, Trinity (CT), Macalester are all great schools, but let’s get real. You will be facing substantial travel costs, and you are not going to find a lot of kids like you. That’s why Waverley is suggesting them. Maybe that 's not an issue for you, but only you can evaluate that.</p>

<p>UC Riverside has a brand new medical school which is committed to improving health care in SoCal. UC Irvine already has a great medical school. While going there as an undergrad is no guarantee of getting into the Medical Schools, an enterprising kid could do a lot worse.</p>

<p>Keep your options open. Maybe you’d love to spend four years in Maine or Minnesota, but there are plenty of other affordable CA options to get to your goals.</p>

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<p>Thanks! I will look at every piece of advice carefully.
What I’ve gotten out of this is that, although UCs have great academic programs, they don’t do well at guiding the pre-med student. I don’t think I will have trouble with classes, so it comes down to which schools will fit my needs both academically, and economically.
Private schools sound like a great option because, as potrayed by most, they are more prone to accept me and offer scholarships. I will need to do some reasearch, but it seems to me that the bio related programs at private schools would not offer the same type of exposure as UC research would. I would rather receive the best education and exposure. Additionally, it seems to me that medschool adcoms would rather accept a student from a well known university. Adcoms may say that they don’t discriminate, but it seems obvious that a bigger name would sound more desirable for acceptance. Correct me if im wrong, for im
here to learn.
I wish I had the chance to get into top universities with great programs straight out of highschool, that would fulfill my dream as well as my family’s. I will reach my ultimate goal regardless of the path I take, but I would like to take the best I can get.</p>

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<p>The reason the UCs are not the best choice for pre med is because their approach is quite different from that of the privates. UCs weed. This means they have grade curves designed to weed out a significant percentage of those in early pre med classes. A year in, many are simply weeded out of ever being doctors.</p>

<p>Privates take a different tact, they provide deeper advising and work to get as many pre meds through as possible.</p>

<p>The best plan the UCs offer low income students is what’s called Blue and Gold. It covers tuition and fees, but not room and board. The private schools we’re talking about have more comprehensive aid which can
include not only room and board, but travel expenses as well. It will rarely be a full ride, most will have some loans and work study, but they’re capped at a reasonable number.</p>

<p>Also, if you don’t go into a UC with MANY AP credits, it is likely it will
take you at least 5 years to graduate because the budget cuts have made it hard to get the classes you need. So you will borrow money for 5 years instead of 4. This is also true of CSUs. At these
privates you would graduate in 4 years without issues.</p>

<p>It’s true that most of the small privates don’t have the kind of research going on that the UCs do. Size simply wouldn’t allow it. But they know
they have to provide research opportunities for their pre meds and they do. They also help funnel you into summer research programs. These
small colleges are well known to med schools and have been educating many of the elite students in the Country for a century plus. They provide small classes, beautiful campuses, great alumni networks and are much sought after. Statistically, you have a better chance of going to med school from all of these privates than from a UC.</p>

<p>Yes, your background will be different from that of many of your
classmates. Diversity is why these schools seek out students like you. Hopefully you are seeking diversity too and look at college as an opportunity to grow, see new places and meet new people. I think if you wanted to be stagnant and go to your local college, you wouldn’t be on this site. So yes, I’m suggesting colleges that will welcome the diversity you bring while you get better funding than any UC will give you. And
you get to attend an elite college in a new part of the country that will offer you the resources to meet your goals.</p>

<p>My jaw is hanging open right now at the thought of you being advised to stick with your own, stay close to home to go to a school in a system hampered by a devastating budget crisis, and not venture out into a world that holds so much potential for you. I can tell you that’s the exact opposite of the advice I gave my own kids and the kids I’ve worked with. </p>

<p>I sincerely hope that won’t be a path you purposefully choose. CA state schools are very good options, but have a look at the full range of options.</p>

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<p>Listen to Waverly! I need say nothing more. You could get lost at a UC. Given your background, I’d say you would thrive with more personal attention. If you family makes less than $20,000 a year, you must take economics/cost deeply into your decision making process.</p>

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<p>Please reread my post, I did not state what you cited. I said that the UCs are great schools but had some negatives connected with them for premeds. Top tier and strong programs are nice but not always necessary, and they aren’t the ONLY factors that are of concern to premeds. </p>

<p>Rather than accusing you of giving bad advice, I’ll leave it to the OP to research it further and make that determination on their own.</p>