<p>Hi, I am interested in doing psychobiology at UCLA. I have heard that the competition at UCLA for premed is just ridiculous. I have done well on all my AP Exams and have taken a very rigorous schedule in high school. </p>
<p>**Do you think it is realistic to get above a 3.85+ while being premed (majoring is psychobio)?
If so, do you think the time committment will have to be huge and require me to spend very little, if any time, for the hobbies I like?</p>
<p>What do you think is the best way (i.e what should i major in, etc.) to be premed at UCLA?**</p>
<p>ANY CURRENT UCLA STUDENTS, YOUR HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!!!!!!!</p>
<ol>
<li>it is realistic to get a 4.0 for anyone if they study. feasible? no.</li>
<li>choosing the “easiest”/best major as a premed that will get you into med school is one of the worst questions you can ask.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>You can get close to a 3.0, but anything above a 3.85 only means that you don’t have to get such a high MCAT score to compensate to get through primary apps. Past primaries, you’re just the same as everyone academically; your ECs and experience and interview will get you through secondaries.</li>
<li>Please, please, please do not try to choose an “easy” major just so you can get through premed. If you have to do that, then what does that say about your future performance in med school, where you have to deal with an even higher courseload? Pick a major which has upper division classes that you think will interest you; all the bio/life science classes share similar lower-div classes which fulfill med school requirements.</li>
</ol>
<p>yes, its feasible to get a 3.85+ in psychobio. its the easiest life science major. you will be moderately busy but ive never known an LS major that has to study as much as an engineer.</p>
<p>and stop riding hiss a$$ for wanting to get a high gpa. a lot of people will have a difficult time getting into med school. some people just want to get in to med school and get their MD quick. once you get into med school, its unlikely that you wont get your degree.</p>
<p>think about it man…do you really think it’s going to be easy even in psychobio??</p>
<p>here’s how ucla’s life science majors work for the most part:</p>
<p>the weeders are MOSTLY lower div classes that all of us have to take anyways. upper divs are much easier when it comes to getting the grades. So basically that’s why you should major in something your interested in…because if you can make it past the lower divs, then you’re pretty much set unless you really slack off for upper div classes.</p>
<p>lastly, it is possible to get over a 3.8. and obviously it takes a lot of work</p>
<p>Major in what you like… What you like = interesting to you. The more interesting the more you will learn and the more easier it will be. I am a pre-med student myself but I actually like bio so I am usually on top in bio classes. But if you place me into a literature class I probably wouldn’t do so well.</p>
<p>And plus medical schools don’t care what you major in. You don’t HAVE to major in bio. A lot of students straight from high school have a misconception that you have to major in bio. Major in what you like, finish you pre-reqs, take the MCATS and your good.</p>
<p>If you like psychobiology, then do it. Don’t let the competition help make your decision because there is competition everywhere.</p>
<p>thanks everyone…I AM INTERESTED IN PSYCHOBIO…I want to know are the premed classes extremely competitive? How many people gets As? How much time to those people who have As ususally have to put in?</p>
<p>these arent unique questions, these are the same paranoid questions that are asked over and over again every single year by gunner pre-meds that are stupid to try to quantify/respond to. Why the latter? Let’s see:</p>
<p>I want to know are the premed classes extremely competitive?
classes are curved. yes its competitive because only a certain percentage will get an a in the course</p>
<p>How many people gets As?
depends on the class, professor, and strength of students taking the course</p>
<p>How much time to those people who have As ususally have to put in?
depends on the class, professor, strength of students taking the course, and your study methods/efficiency/ and possibly a little luck (some people just have “it”)</p>
<p>thats about as specific as you’re going to get because any more details that people will try to feed will begin borderlining on b<em>lls</em>it</p>
<p>You do realize that you don’t have to be a life science major or a Pre-med student to go to med school right? You could be an Art history major and go to med school as long as you complete the pre-reqs which are pretty standard.
1 year of bio
1 year of calculus
1 year of Organic chem w/lab
1 year of Gen chem w/lab
1 year of physics w/lab
These are the general pre-reqs, but some school might have different requirements (biochem, stats, spanish).
I personally think its ridiculous that you want to major in something that will give you an easy GPA for med school. Pick something you like and major in it (like psychobio) If you grades are a little below average than just study hard and kick ass on the MCATS.</p>
<p>ok, if you really want to go to med school, its actually pretty easy.</p>
<p>go to a less competitive school (uc riverside, cal poly…) and stay on top of the curve</p>
<p>or if you really want it that bad, go to a Junior College to finish the lower division weeder
premed classes (much, MUCH easier to get A’s in JCs).</p>
<p>i know people who turned down UCLA/ CAL for community college/ davis, and now, there are in a VERY good position</p>