UCSD Psychology & Pre-med at ERC

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

I got into UCSD, and I want to study psychology while completing the pre-med path, but I got into ERC, and this college requires 5 quarters of MMW (a history class from what I can tell) and 4 quarters of a foreign language. Luckily, my art history score can get me out of the fine art requirement, but I then also have to take a diversity equality and inclusion course. I have no problem taking the courses themselves, I’m just worried they’ll take up too many courses and I won’t be able to do pre-med with psychology. I also got a 4 on the English Lang and Comp exam, so that helps. I’m just wondering if I should start considering other schools for pre-med instead. I’d love to go to UCSD, but the ERC requirements stack up fast.

Also, ERC requires 3 upper level writing courses, and I’m wondering if these courses could count towards the one year of English composition/writing medical schools require. Thank you to anybody who can help!

I tried to come up with a possible schedule for four years that meets ERC, DEI, Psychology, and Pre-med requirements, so here’s what I got (please tell me what classes I do/don’t really need, or if this is unrealistic):

Freshman:
Fall- MMW11, LISP 1A, MATH 20A, BILD 1
Winter- MMW12, LISP 1B, MATH 20B, BILD 2
Spring- MMW13, LISP 1C, COGS 18, BILD 3

Sophomore:
Fall- MMW14, LISP 1D, CHEM 6A, PSYC 60
Winter- CHEM 6B, PSYC 70, PHYS 1AL, HILA 131
Spring- MMW15, CHEM 6C, PHYS 1BL, HILA 132

Junior:
Fall- PSYC 100, PHYS 1CL, CHEM 7L, PSYC 104
Winter- PSYC 105, PSYC 106, CHEM 40A, BIBC 102
Spring- PSYC 124, PSYC 116, PSYC 199, CHEM 40B

Senior:
Fall- PSYC 125, CHEM 40C, HIUS 146, PSYC 151
Winter- CHEM 43A, PSYC 154, PSYC 155, PSYC 162
Spring- PSYC 164, SOCI 117

I also need to fit in a year of English, genetics, physiology, and cell biology according to UCSD’s prep for med school webpage.

Idk if more classes should be added or taken from certain semesters, any advice helps!

2

Although it’s been over a decade, S was premed at UCSD (I feel your pain)

Random thoughts:

The Physics courses in your schedule (PHYS 1AL, 1BL, 1CL) are the 2 unit lab courses that go along with 3 unit lecture courses (PHYS 1A, 1B, 1C). I think you need to pencil in the lecture courses somewhere. Premed requires one year of Physics (eg lectures including labs), not just one year of Physics labs.

Although the UCSD premed website lists Psych 60 as a Stats course that can be used to meet a med school Stats req, I seem to remember back when S was in school, some med schools might prefer a Stats course offered by Math dept (ie Math 11) as opposed to a Stats course offered by Psych dept (ie Psych 60). This Stats req by Math v Psych dept thing could be a non issue now, but I would ask premed advisors about this before you take Psych 60.

I think the one year English composition/writing req by med schools will be by completed via MMW sequence, but verify with premed advisor.

Besides fulfilling major/GE reqs, you should consider completing premed reqs before taking MCAT. You’ll need to spend perhaps two months prepping for and then do well on MCAT. Keep in mind that the med school application process is a year long process meaning if one is thinking about graduating in 4 years and starting med school after graduating, one would need to submit a competitive application with MCAT score in summer after junior year. From above it appears that you will not complete Ochem until winter quarter senior year. Even if you take MCAT in spring/early summer after finishing Ochem, you will be facing a gap year.

Good luck.