As written on the title, I plan to pursue pre-med track at college. I’ve been admitted to some colleges, but UCSD and the University of Rochester are the two most appealing to me. Tuition doesn’t matter to me. And, FYI, here is the list of the universities to which I’ve been admitted :
UCSD
UC Davis
UCSC
Tulane
Case Western Reserve
the University of Rochester
As a pre-med, going to a cheaper undergraduate school can help you keep debt down at the end of medical school.
https://www.aamc.org/download/152968/data/debtfactcard.pdf
https://services.aamc.org/tsfreports/
Yeah, but I’m an international student, so tuitions are the same regardless of the type of schools.
You do know that fewer than 120 students are matriculated at med schools every year, right? The acceptance rate is beyond low, it’s super low.
As long as you’re going in with your eyes open, I would suggest UCSD.
Both are great for the pre med track. Rochester is absolutely freezing cold in the winter (most of your time there) while UCSD has gorgeous warm weather. Your decision based on what you are used to.
UCSD and UCD are both good for premed. You May have to work harder for grades at UCSD.
It’s going to be tougher at a UC for pre-med. You and a lot of other kids there will be competing to get that grade, that internship, that research position, or that job. But I still think a UC would be your best best.
I wouldn’t recommend the UCs, despite the fantastic weather, simply because OP would have access to very few med school in CA (I only know of Stanford admitting internationals). Competition is greater than in other states. Now, if OP is interested in science programs other than premed, the UCs may make sense.But since OP’s options for medicine would be severely limited in CA, I think his other options would be better.
Case Western and Tulane med schools admit internationals and anecdotal evidence seems to indicate attending the school for undergrad helps for admissions (all other things being equal, ie., high MCAT score, high GPA, high science GPA, etc.)
URochester Medical Center only admits internationals who attended URochester for undegrad.
I see. But as far as I know, even if I graduated from a Californian college, I can still apply to med schools in other states? My plan was not to be a doctor in California but in either New York, Illinois, or Massachusetts. If my citizenship is the problem, I can take a gap year after I graduate the undergrad to gain the permanent residency? Do you think my plans are viable?
Yes you can,but you make an already near impossible feat even harder.
It’s not impossible. My nephew and niece went to a UC and both are medical interns. One had 4 offers in California. Their MCAT scores were not impressive.
@jc15696 It’s not easy getting citizenship. Most people reside for over 10 years just to get their green card.
Rochester has an excellent medical school and doing well there as an undergrad is a leg up.
@GameDesign URoch is a very fine school with an excellent med school, but it would not be a “leg up” over UCSD or lots of other schools.
UCSD has an excellent med school, too.
Either way, neither school gives a nudge when applying to med schools.
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It’s not impossible. My nephew and niece went to a UC and both are medical interns. One had 4 offers in California. Their MCAT scores were not impressive.
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Your niece and nephew are international students (no green card) and one had four offers in Calif?? What were their MCAT scores?
No they are not international.
ok…just wanted to clarify for this thread. It would be nearly impossible for the OP to get into med school as an int’l. So very few int’ls are accepted.
@mom2collegekids Around 125 per year.