UCLA or UC Riverside?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

Hi all!

Here’s a bit of a spin on the age-old question of college prestige v. cost-efficiency:

I have recently applied for UC Riverside for their winter quarter (which begins January 2018). I’m rather excited about the opportunities at UCR as a pre-med Public Policy major. UCR appears to be very geared towards shepherding undergrads into their (new) medical school by means of numerous supportive organizations and financial incentives. Specifically, they have a program that allows their high-performing undergrads acceptance into their med school without having to take the MCAT as well as another program that covers med school tuition in exchange for serving as a primary care physician in the Inland Empire for 5 years.

My personal goals include becoming MD/DO to serve underserved populations while accruing the least amount of debt possible-- two goals that UCR (should I be accepted into these programs) can help me achieve. Of course, this route is not guaranteed as UCR’s med school can still deny me even after completion of my undergrad there. Furthermore, applying through this program binds me to not apply to medical schools elsewhere, meaning if UCR med school denied me, I would be forced to take a gap year before applying to other med schools with my UCR undergrad degree.

Personally, I believe UCR is a great school that has amazing plans with strong outcomes for giving back to the community, but this no less dampens the fact that many people, including employers and med school admission committee members, may view UCR as less prestigious than, say, UCLA, my other option.

I am currently a community college student entering my soph year and have nearly completed the honor’s program that increases my chances for transferring to UCLA (for Fall 18 ONLY). I also really enjoy UCLA’s campus, atmosphere, diversity, and number of programs preparing pre-med students. UCLA does not offer a undergrad-to-med school program like UCR does, nor a med school tuition-waiver for serving physicians.

In short, UCLA provides prestige and (perhaps) more students who demonstrate drive to succeed, while UCR provides fiscally-smart opportunities and a shot at a track to set me up in a good position to begin my career as a Dr.

Keeping in mind my goals are 1. earn an MD/DO to serve underserved populations and 2. Accrue the least amount of debt possible, do you, CC community, have any advice and/or guidance on selecting a college to best fit these goals?

Thank you in advance for your time and thoughts! It’s much appreciated!

2

If I were you I would go to some of the info sessions they hold on campus at the HPAC to find out more about this program and how they select applicants. See http://hpac.ucr.edu/ and https://medschool.ucr.edu/admissions/eap.html Thy also have saved podcasts.

If you don’t already have significant exposure to medicine thru volunteer or paid work I suggest you start on that immediately. An unwritten rule of med school admissions is that you have done so. I don’t if it applies to UCR but I suspect it does and they will bring this up in the interviews for the program.

The academic requirement is just a 3.40 and if you can’t get that you are not going to be a strong candidate anywhere else. The chance I see you take is that you’re rolling the dice on their interviews. Impress them and you’re on your way, if not you’ve lost a year since you can’t apply elsewhere.

Employers, sure, but med schools? I don’t know who told you that. A strong GPA and a MCAT score to show it is no fluke and you are at no disadvantage. In fact I know someone who turned down Cal to go to Riverside, got good grades, and is an M.D. now. Would he have got the same grades at UCLA? He didn’t want to find out.

3

addendum – I strongly suggest calling the advisor and talking over your situation. As a Public Policy major I think you won’t be taking too many math/chem/bio/physics classes. If you’ve satisfied the premed requirements thru AP or CC classes then most med schools expect to see you take further classes at a 4-year college. And in general it may be that as a xfer student you will be treated differently than someone who has spent 3 years at UCR.

4

The UCR deal sounds too good to pass up - especially in light of UCLAs low transfer acceptance rate. You could have straight As and still be rejected - which would put you right back at UCR, just a couple of quarters behind…

I also think you are over-estimating the prestige gap between UCR and UCLA, especially if you plan to attend med school in CA.

Have you been accepted?

5

Thank you for the advice and perspective @NCalRent!
I’ve been accepted to UCR for winter 18. Ad for UCLA, my CC has an angreement that high-achieving honor program students are given higher priority for admissions. About 94% of honors program applicants get accepted.

6

Wow! congrats on UCR, I hope you have a difficult decision to make in the coming months.