<p>I've basically narrowed down my choices between Occidental College, and UCLA.
Both are in Los Angeles, I love them both, I could see myself living at either one, thought both very different.... I want to go pre med. At Oxy I'd go Kinesiology, UCLA I'd go Physiological science...</p>
<p>as far as pros/cons</p>
<p>UCLA will transfer my 40 CC units take my AP scores, Oxy will not. UCLA is $11,000/year cheaper. Oxy is def less competative, and I will play football there, and I think potentially have a higher GPA.</p>
<p>If i had a 3.4 at UCLA and a 3.6 at Oxy, which would look better applying for med school?</p>
<p>I know I need to decide on where I'll be happy, but at this point, its what is going to be better for my future.. I DO plan on going to Grad school, so I need to take finances into consideration..</p>
<p>thanks..</p>
<p>If you’re not getting any additional financial help from Oxy that brings down the cost to that of UCLA, I would go for UCLA.
The fact that UCLA will take your CC units, means that you could technically take an easier load per quarter(you might end up graduating in 4 years instead of 3) and end up having a higher gpa than planned.</p>
<p>UCLA has a better academic reputation and I believe you would have an increased chance at getting into a good medical school with a degree from UCLA.</p>
<p>Just got my aide package from Oxy today, the official number I’d pay is 46,500/year and I’d pay 29,500 a year at UCLA</p>
<p>that $17,000 per year differential is looking like a strong factor to go to UCLA, isn’t it?</p>
<p>Yeah, a little, I just hope I won’t die at UCLA! haha</p>
<p>If UCLA does take your community college and ap credits, then just make sure to take an easier course load each quarter. Instead of 15-18 units, take 12-14. This will allow you to have more time for studying and will hopefully help you in getting a higher gpa.</p>
<p>If the money makes a difference, I understand that. But if not…</p>
<p>Personally, I would prefer the LAC social and academic experience to the large research univ. for an undergraduate degree.</p>
<p>Also, based on my general experience, I would probably flip the GPA expectations: I would treat the 3.4 at Oxy as closer to the 3.6 at UCLA.</p>
<p>Medical school is very expensive. If you can save $68,000 ($17,000x4) by going to UCLA, you might be very glad when you need to pay for medical school.</p>
<p>you’d really treat the 3.6 at ucla as a 3.4 at oxy?
isn’t there much more grade inflation at smaller LA schools?</p>
<p>I don’t think so. But, it’s not just about grade inflation, it’s also about how competive the student body is, how rigorous the institution is… </p>
<p>They are both great places. </p>
<p>It’s certainly not clear to me that that a GPA at UCLA is worth more; I was just making the point that I could just as easily flip those two, but I don’t REALLY know enough about those two in particular.</p>
<p>But, as I said earlier, I highly value the LAC product.</p>
<p>I think you are wrong about the academic reputation.
Yes UCLA has more name recognition but I would bet Occidental’s reputation with med schools is excellent. One of my high school buddies went to Occidental and then onto Harvard medical school and he is convinced he does not get into Harvard if he had gone to a UC or USC.He said he was able to do research with the faculty as an undergrad, you will not get that opportunity at UCLA. All research opportunities are only open to grad students.</p>
<p>Also playing college football will mean a great deal to med school admissions staff, they like to see well rounded students who take on the extra challenge of playing a sport will going to college.</p>
<p>Do they have TAs at Occidental? I know UCLA uses them for EVERYTHING!</p>
<p>I assume you will only have two more years of school since you have all those CC credits?</p>