Hi guys, i’m having a hard time choosing which university to go to as a biology major. I got accepted into both but people are telling me that UCI is really competitive and hard compared to Chapman. Is it better to go to Chapman to get a better GPA because i’m trying to get into med school. At UCI, I heard that I have to take 3 extra writing classes if I do not pass the AWPE exam and i’m sure I won’t pass it because i am not good at writing. Will these classes take up all my time? Also, at UCI the classes get filled up really quickly, so what am i suppose to do if I don’t get the class I want?
All in all, what are your opinions? Should I go to UCI or Chapman to get into medical school? I want to know the workload and all those kinds of stuff at both universities. Thank you!
Hey!!! I’m sort of in the same situation as you but I am still waiting on UCI because I got waitlisted. I got into Chapman as a Bio major and am planning to go to med school as well!! I think both schools are reputable, although UCI is obviously more well known. If you go to Chapman, it may be easier to excel and you would have a better learning environment since there would be like around 25 students per class? Also, are you going to Admission Day this Saturday!?
I have kids who did UC biology majors and a kid who went to a school similar to Chapman. One of my kids is a doctor now, I understand what you are considering. I also have nieces and nephews who attended Chapman and loved it.
A big consideration is personal fit, which school personality is going to fit you, nurture you, enrich you the most. That is not one school better than the other, that is fit and is important. It does not matter how great the school is, it matters what you do there and how great it is for you.
What about cost, average med school graduate $170,000 in loans, having no undergrad loans would be helpful. Is there a large net cost difference between them?
My private small school in her first term knew professors as well as my senior UC kid. Connecting with profs for LORs is important. Do you have the personify and perseverance to connect with UC profs? It’s not easy when you O Chem exams are curved over 1200 students! My kid chose to apply after graduating instead of after junior year, that meant senior science classes could improve the GPA and getting to know professors hot her strong LORs.
In general you will get more personal attention at the small school, but in either case you need to be prepared to rise to the top of your class.
Another consideration, most people who begin University as pre-med do not go on to become doctors. Some change their minds, some font have the scores. UC curves can be brutal. My MD kid never got less than a, and got most and but every A- and B+ chipped away at her GPA. Don’t make all your decisions just about med school, choose what you I’ve. Any non vocational major is OK for med school as long as you take the pre requisite courses. .
If you are serious out med school, start on the core med topics forum now, cs, we have a great record seeing active participants get into med school and residency.
Hey! I decided on Chapman because I feel more comfortable there. I visited the campus and met with one of the professors there. He showed me the classes and labs for biology. He also had two students with him doing research for their capstone project. The students are a lot closer to their professors there. Btw i would have gone to admission day on the 18th but I didn’t find out about it till the day after lol. Thanks for all the advice too!
Hi! I am debating between Chapman and an larger UC as well for bio. I was wondering how you liked the bio program at Chapman? And also how the social life was?
Also, are you going to Admission Day this Saturday!? 