<p>I got accepted at both UCR and UCSC and I am aiming to do pre-med. I know UCSC ranks higher than UCR but which is better for pre-med? </p>
<p>They’re practically identical. Go where you think you can get the higher GPA.</p>
<p>Spend an overnight ther - attend classes, eat in the cafeteria, stay in a dorm, read the campus newspaper. After this, you’ll “know” which one you like best.
You may also want to look at the “health advising” webpages for each.
There’s no objective difference between them so choose the best fit, where you’ll be most successful - med schools want strong science grades, excellent overall GPA, high MCAT scores, and research/internships.</p>
<p>I don’t know too much about it yet but with the new medical program and some opportunity for UCR students to have a pathway into the med school program (maybe just for URM, not sure?) and health field advising you might look harder at Riverside. Otherwise I think UCSC would be a better experience, at least for me as I prefer the campus size and location. What about you?
<a href=“Pathway Programs at the UCR School of Medicine | Pathway Programs at the UCR SOM”>http://medschool.ucr.edu/pipeline_programs.html</a></p>
<p>For premed, if you were my child, I’d say UCR…and somehow try to become known at the med school…in a good way. ;)</p>
<p>Yes, Santa Cruz may have the better location (when I was in college, all the beachie folks went to Santa Cruz…lol), but since med school acceptance is sooooo nutty in Calif, the chance to have LORs written by profs that maybe the UCR med school knows, may be helpful for admissions.</p>