USC v. UCI (premed)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>Hi guys, I'm new on here and hoping that I am posting in the right place. Anyways, I am in DIRE need of advice or input from any of you guys. I usually visit this site for information about UCLA, Cal, etc. And now, it's my turn to ask a question. And I am asking you guys to give me your honest advice. Well, here it goes..</p>

<p>So, I don't want to make this any longer than it has to be, but basically I go to UCLA right now. Transferred there and just finished my first year there. I got a 3.2 my first quarter with one science class, a 3.4 my second with only two classes (both being science), and my third quarter grades aren't up yet, except for chem14c (I got an A-). </p>

<p>I decided to become pre-med once I started school at UCLA and so I am kind of behind. It has come to the point where I've accepted the fact that I can no longer go to school at UCLA though because in the end it will not be in my benefit because I currently don't have a major. The classes I've been taking for the past year were mostly pre-med requirements. And there are no science departments that would allow me to pursue any of their majors (I've been asking since my first quarter there) because I basically won't finish in a reasonable amount of time. I currently have 134 units and no major. My only option left is to major in something like history AND not be able to finish taking pre-med courses because I won't be able to finish on time if I do. So, it would just be taking the courses of whichever major I could possibly get basically... and that would be kind of agonizing to me.. to pursue a major I have no interest in just to stay at ucla AND on top of that not be able to take pre-reqs.</p>

<p>So, I just had to make that clear, that UCLA is no longer a place for me. And I have actually gotten acceptance to USC as a Health and Humanities major and to UCI as a Public Health major. I can go to either of these schools and be able to take both major courses (a major that I can actually stand, haha) AND pre-med prereqs.</p>

<p>The only problem now, is that I am not sure where to go now... If I go to UCI then I will have to take summer school and in the end be able to finish MOST, not all of my prereqs, most likely within two years. So, in all, I will finish my undergrad in 5 years. </p>

<p>If I go to USC, I will take ochem at UCLA then go to USC in the Fall and in the end will finish in 3 years because not all of my courses (including GE) will transfer, and they also have a few GE requirements of their own that I will have to take at USC and can't take anywhere else. So, I will finish my undergrad in 6 years.</p>

<p>I feel like maybe UCI is the best way to go because of the reduced time in undergrad and the classes might actually be easier. </p>

<p>But, I guess what I am asking you guys is, if my ultimate goal is to enhance my chances of getting into a Physician Assistant Program, which mainly would require me to follow the same undergrad track as a Pre-med, which school should I go to? Money, location, etc. is not an issue. I just want to go to the place that will help me best in getting into grad school. At either school I plan on doing research, volunteering, etc. and maybe one school will be more academically rigorous than the other which might hinder my time for extracurriculars? </p>

<p>Sorry for making it long. Any input really would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

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<p>UCI, especially if you’re looking to go for a PA program. you’ll finish undergrad sooner and start studying what you really love in your grad program earlier.</p>

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<p>I’m confused…so did you go to a community college for two years, transferred to UCLA, then applied to UC Irvine and USC? Is that how you have the 134 units.</p>

<p>In my opinion, both are great schools. Financially think about which one you can afford and where you feel comfortable. Remember that medical schools don’t care where you did your undergrad. They want to see a high GPA, good MCAT Scores, involvement around the community, and amazing letters of Rec.</p>

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<p>Yep, you got it right CallofDuty. I went to CC, UCLA, and now need to move onto to either UCI or USC. </p>

<p>I think I may just go to 'sc… still unsure though. I know schools would not care about the school I go to for undergrad, which make me want to go to UCI because it would definitely be easier to get a higher gpa. But it also seems like USC would give me more opportunities and help me build good networks because of smaller classes and they actually have a PA program so I will be taking classes with some of the professors that might be professors in the PA program</p>

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<p>Oh nice, and how many out of the 112 units transferred over? Are those quarter or semester units? How did you apply to UCI and USC? Was it during your freshman year at UCLA?
I personally love USC, and I think their major, Health and Humanity, would be great to major in.</p>

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<p>134 are quarter units. They say that only about 75% will transfer over and I could appeal for more to transfer over. </p>

<p>“How did you apply to UCI and USC?”
-I was already a student at UCI for my freshmen year but withdrew because I wanted to go to CC and transfer to UCLA. Which I did, but then my plans and aspirations changed and UCLA was no longer the place for me… so yeah. And it was after my first quarter at UCLA that I applied to USC.</p>

<p>Do you really think it’s worth the extra year to attend USC as opposed to UCI?</p>

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<p>In my opinion, if you can afford to go to USC, then yes. USC really takes care of their students, you could possibly do research with a staff member, smaller classes, etc. UCI is just a UC, but don’t get me wrong, I go there now, and I like it. I am transferring to USC though, it’s just where I wanted to go since I got rejected when I applied as a senior. </p>

<p>And I’m guessing you would complete your undergrad in 5 years?</p>

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<p>No no… it would be 6 years. :X
UCI would be 5 years. </p>

<p>“I am transferring to USC though, it’s just where I wanted to go since I got rejected when I applied as a senior.”
-Maybe I will see you there! I’ve made my decision to go to USC, despite it taking me in total 6 years for my undergrad. From what I’ve been reading on here and StudentDoctor, undergrad does matter, the courses that you choose to take does matter. And in all, from the looks of it, I would think my education at USC would be better than being in the Public Health major at UCI. Thanks for your time, you helped me a lot CallofDuty :)</p>

<p>I’ll have to admit though… I’m still a little iffy about my decision. I would still be uneasy if I chose UCI though. I suppose it’s just the idea of an uncertain future.</p>

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<p>Why would UCI be 5 years and USC 6 years?</p>

<p>Yeah, even though it took you long to figure out where you wanted to go, USC was waiting for you! Why did you drop out of Irvine in the first place? Did you not like it? you went there right after high school right?</p>

<p>Well for pre-med, the only courses that really matter are the pre-reqs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, O-Chem, etc) Then they look at your upper divisions of course. </p>

<p>Don’t worry, USC is a great school and I’m sure you will love it there. </p>

<p>What was your GPA prior to applying to USC and UCI?</p>