<p>hey guys..I'm pretty new to college confidential but its an awesome site with tons of info...I'm so glad i found it.. Haha, but anywayz..ive been looking into these combined med programs, and both USC and UCLA sound like possiblities for me next year... So i was just wondering.. Does anyone know which school is better known for its combined med programs..? Are they both very difficult to get into or is one relatively easier than the other? And also.. is it true that if u are an out of state student applying to a state school.. u only have to pay out of state fees for one year if you establish a residence there the next year? How does this work... Thanks in advance to anyone that answers these questions.. :)</p>
<p>i dont think ucla does has a combined med program</p>
<p>i think he may of meant, UCSD, adn that's only for instate applicants</p>
<p>UCLA Riverside has a program, but USC's is better</p>
<p>UCLA Riverside program does not guarantee you a seat in Med School. UCSD program is for state residents only</p>
<p>regarding ucla/ucr program</p>
<p>Is USC very difficult to get into..? where would you rank its difficulty along with top schools like Upitt, northwestern, brown.. etc..</p>
<p>USC's Bac/MD is not as selective as Northwestern's HPME, Brown's PLME, or Case's PPSP, to my knowledge. I applied to both HPME and the Bac/MD and made it to both (chose HPME). With USC, if you have a connection then it is easier to make it in -- there were people at the interviews with SATs in the 1300-1450 range but with alum/prof/etc connects.
To answer your question then: USC does not interview people based solely off their academic credentials but has other criteria, whereas Northwestern seems to grant interviews to most applicants who have the academic credentials.
In response to the initial post: UCLA vs USC. You shouldn't even consider going to the UCR/UCLA program. It is HORRIBLE. They take hella kids to start out (I've heard approx 100) and by the end of 4 yrs only 5-10 keep their spot at the med school. The competition is fierce and sabotage is common. It makes NO SENSE to go to this program because, presumably, you are qualified to go to a better undergraduate school as a pre-med. Think about it this way: At UCR, your chances of keeping your spot at UCLA are hella slim and so after 4 years you come out with just a degree from UCR. You might as well go to a Stanford or basically any school better than UCR and come out with a degree from there before going to med school.
USC's program does have an MCAT requirement which kind of sucks and you CANNOT finish your ugrad in 3 yrs. It is still clearly better than UCR/UCLA.</p>
<p>also for the UCR/UCLA program, your first two years of med school after undergrad at spent at UCR and the last two final years are spent at UCLA</p>