<p>I just finished my sophomore year at UCSC, which wasn't the best fit for me. I'm a human biology major with a 3.7 GPA and was just accepted to USC as a Global Health Studies major. I would love to go to USC, since it has everything I want in a college: great academics, great alumni network, prestige, and a fun social life. Also, I want to go to medical school and I think that USC would help me get there. However, I was given literally no financial aid, and I will have to take out loans upwards of $100,000. Since I am planning on medical school, this would add up to a lot of student debt. Also, most of my credits from UCSC will not transfer to USC. So is it worth it to transfer to USC and take out loans or should I return to UCSC and apply to UCSD and UCSB for fall of 2015? I know UC's generally favor community college transfer applicants over those from 4-year universities, but would I have enough of a shot?</p>
<p>It’s too late for you to apply to other UCs. You should have applied in the fall of your sophomore year as they only take junior level transfers. Just stick it out at UCSC, it’s only two more years. You have a good GPA and their Human Biology program is great with the required internship and all that. And medical schools don’t care where you went as long as you have a really good GPA, MCAT score, and resume. It doesn’t make sense to transfer to USC if it’s going to put you in debt, your credits won’t transfer, and since you’re with a bunch of smart kids who were probably at the top of their classes in high school, the curve is harsher, so it might be hard for you to maintain your GPA and it could potentially decrease. If USC is really your dream school, just apply there for medical school. When it comes to a field like medicine, where you do undergrad doesn’t really matter. There are kids from UCSC who got accepted to Harvard and Yale for med school so you’re not in a bad place.</p>
<p>Also I know UCSC is among the lower ranked UCs but for your program it’s ranked high and it’s still within the top 100 of the nation. I mean it’s part of the #1 state university system. I’ve toured the campus and it seems nice. Try to join more clubs and get involved in something that fits your interests, maybe Greek life, idk.I unfortunately got waitlisted and later rejected there due to a stupid major choice so I’m going to UCR but if I really don’t like it there I may include it in schools I will try to transfer there.</p>
<p>Also are you from NorCal or SoCal? </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter to the med schools where you graduate from. USC is not an option unless you’re raising oil in the back forty. Stick it out at UCSC and get over the fact that it doesn’t fit.</p>
<p>I think you would have to take a year off to apply to other UC to apply as a Jr. See your advisor but I don’t think they will take you with more advanced standing. Yes the pipeline is for cc transfers, but 4 years are taken too, some campuses give a breakdown.</p>
<p>Taking on that debt for USC doesn’t make any sense. Especially with credits not transferring it makes even less sense. It would be one thing if your parents had the money set aside for college and your family had to decide to spend it or get a better deal. But 100+, which seems like it will really be 180k should be out of the question. We don’t go to any school just because they accept us, no matter the insanity of massive loan debt.</p>
<p>I agree it seems you should just do your best where you are. If your goal is med school, then being focused on getting into that should be your main activity, like most med students who make it. You will incur plenty of debt if you succeed and your future self will have a lot more flexibility to do what you want and not be forced to do things to service major excessive debt for just 2 years of having fun.</p>