I got into both of these schools and was wondering which would be better for someone who wants to go into medicine. What are Berkeley’s strengths? Are there any big red flags (grade deflation, fewer research/volunteering opportunities, etc)
I am out-of-state for Berkeley and in-state for UVA, so UVA is closer and much cheaper for me.
Save money for expensive medical school.
In all practical academic sense, UCB isn’t great place to be for pre-med. Even though the med schools are supposed to consider the more difficult GPA to earn in UCB, because we are all human, it’s just easy overlook someone who only has a low 3-point compared to to mid- or high-3 GPA candidates.
The fact that UCB does not have a med school means there are fewer opportunities within the school to experience the medical profession. And because the academics can be overwhelming, it is questionable whether there is time to volunteer at all without making some significant compromises on school work.
I simply did not appreciate that Berkeley seems to make some of the most convoluted exams on fundamental courses such as general biology or organic chemistry that you can learn from any community college or Khan Academy.
I realize I have no one to blame but myself, but the academic rigor wore me down over the years. The scary part is there are smart folks who thrive in this circumstance anyway and those are the ones who go to med school.
I’ll still take blue and gold over orange and blue though. Berkeley has a weird appeal, and it is undeniable that at least I learned how to learn as I survived through.
Cal might be a hair stronger academically, but UVA is a very good school and I wouldn’t go to any other flagship if UVA were mine, if they offered what I wanted.
Cal is stronger academically overall at the graduate arts and sciences level, but I wouldn’t say that is the case for undergraduate. Unless their is something else compelling, I’d suggest being careful about running up too much debt or depleting savings.
I would recommend attending UVA. Save your money for medical school.
Search for my other posts on medical school admissions and the UCs. Go to UVA.