Hi! I am currently a student at UCR and I am a first year pre-business major. I am also in the trojan transfer plan at USC, which means I can attend USC next year as a sophomore. I am planning to do pre-med but I am a little concerned that med schools will overlook my GPA since it’s at UCR instead of a top school like USC. But if I transfer to USC, I will have to redo some business classes that I already took at UCR. And USC is expensive (72k) and I’m only paying 18K at UCR. What should I do?
So, are you pre-business just because it interests you, with the intent of still taking the required pre-med classes? I’d stay at UCR. You need to save that $ for med school. Med schools care most about a high GPA and MCAT score. The name of your undergrad won’t matter except to the likes of Harvard. Even then, if you shine with your grades, MCATs, ECs (shadowing, research), you’d still have a shot at those. Visit the premed advising office at UCR and follow advice.
The $166k that you will save (and/or avoid having as debt) by staying at UCR will be very helpful in reducing net debt for medical school if you do get in. Medical school is very expensive, and of those pre-meds who do get in, most get in to only one medical school (so have no option to choose a less expensive one). Starting a medical career with lower debt will mean more options in your career and life choices (instead of being forced to chase money at each option).
Also, note that applying to medical school costs money. The UCB career center estimated that it cost about $7,520 to apply to medical school in 2014: https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/AppCost
Sounds like a no-brainer. Medical school is expensive, and you really want to keep your undergraduate debt at a minimum.