<p>I really want to go to Cal, but is UCLA better for pre-med students?</p>
<p>No; Berkeley's science and engineering departments for the most part rank above UCLA, and UCSF is a better medical school than UCLA (though both are highly regarded).</p>
<p>good luck getting a high GPA at cal!</p>
<p>I think that Cal and UCLA are about equal when it comes to preparing premeds.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think wherever you are happier might be the best place for you, as you would probably do better when you're happier.</p>
<p>UC Merced -- the number 1 criteria for med school is gpa....go where you can max it.</p>
<p>Yeah I hate that.</p>
<p>Having been on admissions committees for many years (but not for a couple of years), I would suggest that UC Merced being the best option is a little short sighted. Most med schools use some type of initial formula involving gpa +mcat scores to determine where a particular applicant falls in the range. This is usually only used as an intial determination of students automatically getting an interview. However, many (or most) use this only as a very rough preliminary screen before interviews (and many have been screened out that fall above the cut that obviously don't demonstrate characteristics that appear suitable for certain schools-translation: nothing is for certain even above a subjective cutoff). For those with scores above a certain cutoff, they may be a little more lenient in granting interviews. For applicants falling below the initial cutoff, they probably get a more comprehensive review before being asked for an interview. Of note, many of the plum applicants in fact fall within this category and are very successful applicants. Since this puts assessment into at more subjective framework, the merit of a degree from Cal or UCLA would certainly trump a degree from UC Merced (sounds harsh for someone coming from UC Merced, but this does take into account the rigorous nature of study at Cal or UCLA).</p>
<p>As for all applicants, the well balanced applicants (consistent community service, quality exposure to the medical field, research, grades, mcats, personality) will be the most successful in gaining admittance to med school. You also have to consider that some med schools (like undergraduate) are more likely to go by the numbers whereas those known for their primary care programs really like applicants that are compassionate and have personalities suited for interacting with patients. One thing to remember (if you still want to be pre-med after getting to college) is that med school interviews are critically important.</p>
<p>this is all relative. i've heard they're both excruciatingly difficult.</p>
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UC Merced -- the number 1 criteria for med school is gpa....go where you can max it.
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<p>By that logic, forget about all of the UC's, you might as well go to the lowest-level CalState.</p>
<p>My sister went to Berkeley, somehow managed a 3.8, and is at UCI for med school along with students from Cal-State Northridge and Stanford w. similar GPA's and MCAT's. Its not where u go to school, its what you do there...</p>
<p>Its all about da grade inflation. Beautiful bs grade inflation.</p>
<p>usitthegap : with a 3.8 GPA from Cal, your sister should have been a great applicant for UCSF and UCLA david Geffen med school..did she apply to those schools?
I'm just curious because I'm beginning to think that the name of your school doesn't really matter to Med school adcoms.</p>