<p>I am very stuck on which school to go to. Here are my pros and cons for each school and a little background information. Please enlighten me.</p>
<p>I was accepted into UCSD as an undeclared major for Fall 11'. The reason for this is because of the impacted biology major at UCSD. The major I was pursuing was physiology and neuroscience because I was interested in the CNS, plus I would get a good dose of physiology that would be useful on the MCAT. UCSD has a "Exceptional Academic Performance" program where they let in 150 students into the biology major every quarter that previously did not get admitted based on GPA and the amount of prereqs completed. If I go to UCSD and stay as undeclared for a year, I can still take the same bio courses toward my bio major as if I was in the major already. Then, I could hopefully transfer in if my UC GPA was good enough. I know I can pull good grades. Plus, I volunteer in La Jolla at a surgery center and it would suck to lose this position. I also live in San Diego, so I can live at home and save money.</p>
<p>I was accepted into UCLA as a neuroscience major (no transferring in required). I have heard that there is a bunch of physiology on the MCAT, and I feel that neuroscience is very specific only to the brain and CNS, not really putting much emphasis on mammalian physiology. I feel that even though UCLA is a fantastic school overall, UCSD has a better science program that would look better to medical schools. Plus I feel like I would be lacking in the physiology portion of the MCAT because my major was so neuro specific. At UCLA it would cost me about $15,000 more for living expenses. At UCSD I would be living at home for free.</p>
<p>I am very confused. I have tried weighing the pros and cons, but can not come to a conclusion. If I would have gotten into my major at UCSD, I would be going there. However, since I didn't I am skeptical on doing the Excellent Academic transfer thing because it's NOT a guarantee. They rank students according to UC GPA and then take the top 150. What if I didn't get in? I would have wasted a year of taking bio classes and then have to change my major. </p>
<p>Please tell me your thoughts and feelings. Anything helps!</p>
<p>Well, someone mentioned in another thread that if your goal is med-school, then med-schools usually consider the candidate if there isn’t a local med-school where he/she lives. If there is one, then they don’t really consider him/her. This is because anywhere you go pre-med’rs will be super-competitive, so it won’t really matter if you go to UCLA or UCSD, though I’d say UCSD if it DOESN’T have a med-school. Otherwise UCLA would be worth the money since a lot of students at UCLA’s med-school are UCLA pre-med grads.</p>
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<li>is $15,000 significant to you? will you feel like lack of college life if you live at home?</li>
<li>as far as I know, you can take ana/phys at UCLA as well. </li>
<li>I will be losing my volunteer position in Northern California too. But there is volunteer opportunities at UCLA hospital as well. To lose is to gain.</li>
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<p>gtfotu, I don’t understand what you’re even talking about? Why would med-schools give a _____ if you have a med-school close to your undergrad university? The logic seems a little off… If anything it would help you to have a medical environment close by so you can have internships and clinical experience.</p>
<p>Look, you’re thinking too much about Medical School. No Medical School gives a flying crap if you went to UCLA or UCSD. The only thing that matters is 1) MCAT score, 2) GPA (overall and science), 3) related volunteer opportunities, 4) extracurriculars. In that order.</p>
<p>If you went to Crap Shack University and got a 4.0 (overall and science) with a 35 on your MCAT vs a 3.1 GPA at Harvard with a 28 on your MCAT, Med Schools are taking the dude at Crap Shack U.</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about what major will prepare you for what. As long as you take all the general science requirements, take an MCAT prep course, and study an MCAT book, you’ll do fine, whether you’re a Neuroscience or Biochemistry or Indian Dance major.</p>
<p>Most importantly, you have to ask yourself:</p>
<p>1) Do I want to live at home for the next 4 years of my life, the time when all my college friends are staying up til 4 AM partying and doing crazy crap during finals week and exploring Los Angeles and Hollywood and Santa Monica?</p>
<p>Yes or no? If money is not an issue, go to UCLA. If you want to save money and you truly, truly, absolutely hate LA and love San Diego, then stay home and go to UCSD.</p>
<p>Attend the school you personally like more. My wife, who posts under the name “EKC,” has made a few really good comments on what matters: namely GPA and MCAT. Don’t worry about the rest, as it’s easy to fulfill at either campus.</p>