<p>My goal is to attend UCSF, and I would like to know which school would better prepare me for the MCAT and medical school.</p>
<p>University of Washington:
-I have been accepted into the Honors Program.
-I have not visited the campus, but I've been drooling at pictures.
-I like Seattle.
-The University of Washington Graduate School is highly regarded. Would this mean that the undergraduate program would be good as well?
-Expensive.</p>
<p>UC Santa Barbara:
-I have not yet received financial aid from either, and money is an issue. I am a resident of California.
-Closer to home. Not a big factor.
-I've visited the campus, and it is beautiful.
-I don't care much for its party school reputation.</p>
<p>I feel I'm being unfairly biased toward UoW since I don't know very much about UCSB. From the research I've done so far, UCSB also sends a fair amount of students to medical school. Would it be easier to transfer into another UC from UCSB? So please tell me:</p>
<p>Which has a better pre-med program?
What is your experience from one of these schools?
How easy/difficult would it be to change my major in either school? I applied to all my schools as an Art History major thinking I wanted to be a curator. I've realized that's not for me.</p>
<p>So I guess that's two issues here. I realize it is a long post and thank you for reading all the way. I would appreciate any help you can provide.</p>
<p>While U-Dub is a wonderful school, the cheaper, and money is an âissueâ, instate deal is a no-brainer for premed. While everyone is out partying you can be in the library setting the curve. Win-win.</p>
<p>If your goal is UCSF, however, the answer is none-of-the above. The top feeder schools to SF are Cal and Stanford, which comprise 30% of the class.</p>
<p>btw: UDub doesnât come close to meeting full financial need of its own residents, so unless Coach Sark is calling, donât expect much finaid.</p>
No, its not. You might think it is right now, but when you are a senior and applying to med school you are going to be fervently wishing for an acceptance to a US medical school. Any one of them.</p>
<p>Second, since you say money is an issue, this is a no-brainer. Go to the less expensive one. And as far as that party rep at UCSB, any college where all the students live on/near campus is going to have parties. Thatâs what kids 18-22 like to do! But it doesnât mean theyâll force you to take part, or that you canât make good friends and get a great education if you donât take part. I suggest talking to some students from your school you may know who graduated ahead of you and are now UCSB students.</p>
<p>Likely not much difference here. Two large public universities with reputable undergraduate programs operating under the typical large bureaucratic university administration. Save some bucks and choose UCSB. If the $$ situation doesnât intimidate you, then follow your dreams and head to Montlake (the UW Seattle campus).</p>
<p>No, its not. You might think it is right now, but when you are a senior and applying to med school you are going to be fervently wishing for an acceptance to a US medical school. Any one of them.</p>
<p>AmenâŠitâs a blessing to get accepted to any one US MD School of Medicine. never focus on any ONE particular SOM. </p>
<p>All US MD SOMs are excellent. This isnât like undergradâŠall are very goodâŠnot a âso soâ one in the bunch.</p>
<p>Since you note that attending UWash will be expensive, then why is this a question. You donât waste money on undergrad when the choices are rather similarâŠat least similar enough for your goals.</p>
<p>Excuse me for my ignorance, but what do you mean that UCSF is not a US school of medicine? And itâs not that I wouldnât consider going to any other school. I just know I want to get into a good medical school and I happen to like San Francisco.</p>
<p>in talking to several people who have received doctorates, it would seem the academic community âprefersâ someone to get their education from different places. Two of those I talked to specifically mentioned that they would be better off making a career away from the school they got the PHD at.</p>
<p>if you intend to end up at UCSF, perhaps it would be best to get you pre-med elsewhereâŠUW is certainly known to offer a quality pre-med educationâŠ</p>
<p>Since UCSF offers only graduate level education in health professions (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing), a student aiming for UCSF would be doing the pre-med (or pre-whatever) elsewhere.</p>
<p>All US MD schools are considered good, but all are considered highly competitive for admissions. None can be considered safeties for anyone.</p>
<p>in talking to several people who have received doctorates, it would seem the academic community âprefersâ someone to get their education from different places.</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>the student PLANS on getting his education at two different places. UCSF doesnât even have undergrad.</p>
<p>His choices are UCSB or UWashâŠneither of those schools are UCSF. </p>
<p>AnywayâŠ</p>
<p>Yct⊠You can want to go to med school in San Francisco, but in reality, your chances are like 1% that you would end up there. Students are now applying to 15 -20 US MD SOMS with the HOPE of getting accepted to ONE. Heck, even getting an interview can be impossible. </p>
<p>At this point, you have no idea if your MCAT, your cum GPA, or your science GPA (BCMP) will be high enough for you to be truly competitive for admission to UCSF SOM.</p>
<p>To give you an example. My pre-med son will be applying to SOMs this summer. We would LOVE for him to be accepted to our best state SOM because it is very strong. He has staight As, but he wonât take the MCAT til the end of this month, so we donât know how that will go. However, we have to be realistic. Heâll probably apply to about 18 SOMsâŠand weâll just keep our fingers crossed. :)</p>
<p>Perhaps true, but not relevant. Admission to grad programs (PhDs) is much different than professional schools (law, med, biz). Grad schools generally do prefer that you go somewhere else. Med/law schools donât care.</p>
<p>Some publicly supported medical schools do bestow priority to applicants whom are state residents. This is true of UWashington. Also, the UW medical school reserve some seats for students as per a compact with a few other western states, particularly Alaska, Idaho and Montana.</p>
<p>I would go with the best FA package - they are so equal - that said the intangibles seem to push you toward UW. If UW was within 3K or less I would opt for UW.</p>
<p>gosh mom - i am at a lossâŠit was only my assumption that a UC accounted for UCâs statewide when that suggestion was posed to our sonâŠclarification would be best for himâŠbut actually this is YTBâs thread so I will not hijackâŠ</p>
<p>* i am at a lossâŠit was only my assumption that a UC accounted for UCâs statewide when that suggestion was posed to our sonâŠclarification would be best for himâŠbut actually this is YTBâs thread so I will not hijack*</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you saying that youâre treating all the UCs as one big school? Theyâre individual schools. Besides med schools donât care where you went.</p>
<p>And the âruleâ that you should go to a different grad school than your undergrad is so that youâll be exposed to more profs in the subject matterâŠbecause each prof can only share so much of his/her expertise (often furthered by his research)⊠Obviously, if you were to go to UCSD for undergrad and then Cal for a PhD, your profs wonât be the same people.</p>