UCSB or Fordham for Pre-med

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey, after an extremely disappointing March, I am left with only two options for college Fordham University in NYC or UCSB in Santa Barbara. The schools are roughly equally rated for overall academics, but I have not found a way to compare just their pre-med programs yet. I made a pros and cons list for each school, and wanted to know what your opinions are of each school for pre-med and which one you think I would be a better fit at.</p>

<p>Pros for UCSB:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Closer (I live in San Diego)</p></li>
<li><p>I'm in the honors college so I have priority class registration.</p></li>
<li><p>Cheaper as I get in state tuition</p></li>
<li><p>Will have more options for which professor's class to take</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Cons for UCSB:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Huge party environment, and I'm not a partier</p></li>
<li><p>I cannot run cross country there as it's a D1 school and I'm not fast enough</p></li>
<li><p>Recent riots</p></li>
<li><p>Run down campus</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Pros for Fordham:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Beautiful campus</p></li>
<li><p>Better chance of getting jobs or internships in NYC than SB</p></li>
<li><p>Can run cross country/track</p></li>
<li><p>I like the area more</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Cons for Fordham:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>After the scholarship they gave me, Fordham is ~9K more per year than SB</p></li>
<li><p>Farther away, meaning increased travel costs</p></li>
</ul>

2

<p>it sounds like cross country is a big part of your life. You’ll make a good set of friends on the team at Fordham, I’d bet. It also sounds like you like the campus, area, and job oppportunities better there. For 9K/year extra it just might be worth it. Make sure the FA is likely to be renewed, though, and isn’t just a 1st-year teaser.</p>

3

<p>If your parents are fine paying the extra $9k, then go to F.</p>

<p>HOWEVER…as a premed, I doubt you’re going to have time to compete and keep your grades HIGH. I wouldn’t let that be a factor. Seriously, when my son was a premed, the year he took Ochem, he only worked 2 hours a week…and that was on Friday afternoons. The other years, he only worked about 8 hours a week. You’re going to have to protect your GPA.</p>

<p>as for SB and partying. There’s going to be a lot of partying at F as well. That said, you’re going to be a serious student and there will be other similar students at both locations.</p>