UCLA vs UC Berkeley vs UC Merced

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everybody,
I’m a transfer student from a Community College, and I was accepted to all of the UCs (except for UCSD, which is still pending) I am having an incredibly hard time choosing between them, so I was hoping that I could get some advice. I’m not really considering private colleges because I can’t afford them.

My favorite campus was, by far Merced. I loved the isolated campus, and the small(ish) class sizes. I’ve spoken to professors who told me they would get me research if I were to attend. Merced is closer to home, which means I would be able to visit my parents more often. I also liked the collaborative environment at UCM.

However, my end goal is to get into Medical School, and I want to attend the undergrad institution that will best enable me to do so. Everybody I’ve spoken to said I would be an idiot not to choose either Cal or UCLA. I disliked Cal’s campus immensely, but could bear UCLA’s (I don’t like urban places, and Cal is right in the city; UCLA, however, is somewhat less crowded.) I also don’t want to deal with crazy curves and lots of stress, if I can avoid it. I know every UC is rigorous, but it seems like UCLA and Cal take it to a different level.

Grade-wise, I think I would do far better at Merced than Berkeley and UCLA. In no ways am I saying Merced is going to be easy (in fact, I’m sure it’ll still be very rigorous), but again, UCLA and Cal are on a different level, difficulty-wise.

Financially, I would be paying about the same for every school (~$10k a year.)

My question is, would attending Merced hurt my chances of getting into Med School? I’m honestly just trying to get into any MD (or DO) program (within the US) that accepts me. I don’t care where I end up, as long as I become a doctor.

People I’ve spoken to have varying opinions on this; some say I should go wherever I’m happiest, and others say I should just suck it up and go to Cal.

Should I look at a middle-of-the-pack UC? I quite liked Riverside, and it is better regarded than UCM.

Thanks in advance for any advice !

2

@BBoy99 , absolutely not. And you love UC Merced!! Go there, enjoy, because you don’t like urban surroundings…but don’t think it will be a walk in the park. It’ll be tough no matter where among the three. But it’s also on semester so you won’t be as hurried to keep up.

3

Go where you’ll be happy and thrive and where you think you’ll do really well-academically, mentally and location-wise. I think UC Merced sounds like a GREAT choice.

4

It looks like you will be happier at UCM than at UCB or UCLA.

UCR is worth considering as a pre-med, since it has this program which you can apply to after at least four quarters of attendance at UCR; if accepted, it cuts short the long and expensive medical school application process.
https://somsa.ucr.edu/thomas-haider-early-assurance-program

5

@firmament2x Thanks for the insight! I’m definitely not expecting Merced to be easy; I know every UC provides a rigorous, comprehensive education. I’m just hoping that UCM is somewhat less competitive than Cal and UCLA.

6

@ucbalumnus Wow, that looks like an awesome program. I’ll keep UCR in mind. Thanks for the link!

7

For the UCR medical program, UCR medical school allocates a certain number of spaces exclusively for applicants from UCR only. If you don’t get in from that pool, then they put you in the general pool of applicants from other colleges. It is competitive. As I recall, many admitted to the program were URM.

However, based on the quality of the students, consider that the competition at UCR and UCM are lower than the higher tier UC’s. This should help getting the grades you need to get into medical school. Also perform well on the MCAT.

8

I think for Med school it is better to be a big fish in a small pond…so UC Merced.