<p>So I'm currently a first year with the option to transfer to USC (already accepted) as a Chemistry Major with Pre-meicine emphasis.</p>
<p>I'm preparing to go PhD and MD, so what I've heard from most people is that what's more important as an undergrad is how your GPA and MCAT is. From that I'm placing a greater focus on the undergraduate chemistry programs, but I've only been able to fine the graduate chemistry programs of both (USC and UCI 53rd and 23rd respectively).</p>
<p>I would not choose based on the rankings. The difference in rankings will make no difference in anything you plan to go after graduation. Go to whichever one you feel more comfortable at and where you think you would best enjoy the experience.</p>
<p>Is there a major difference in cost? Medical school can be expensive, so bringing a lot of undergraduate debt along with you to medical school would not be a good thing.</p>
<p>I’m actually a first year at UCI right now.</p>
<p>The undergraduate chemistry program is pretty strong, especially with how I already have around a year of lab courses under my belt. I’ll still have major-focused classes at UCI for ochem, but at USC the classes aren’t necessarily going to be focusing on chemistry majors.</p>
<p>However, I’m interested in USC because of its networking, internship and research opportunities, and because it’s a private college vs the public college (UCI). On the other hand, my parents really want me to transfer due to its “prestige” which is lame imo.</p>
<p>One reason I’m comfortable at UCI is because of the fact that I’ve been living in a single room and will be if I stay next year, whereas I’ll potentially be living in a double, triple, or even a quad at USC. Additionally, I’m an officer of a club, and I’ll most likely have a position in that club for the next few years. However, during my visit to USC, I absolutely fell in love with the campus, and figured that I could spend most of my time at one of the libraries studying. Friends aren’t as much of an issue because I have a lot of high school friends at USC, but a lot of my current and closer friends are at UCI, which is one of the things holding me back.</p>
<p>The difference in cost between USC and UCI is 40-50k from what I guesstimated because UCI’s tuition is increasing each year to the point that it should be relatively close to USC by my 4th year (without any financial aid).</p>
<p>I would say that what’s making my decision tough are the following (but in no particular order):
Friends.
the 40-50k difference- is the name even worth it?
Internships and research.
Living environment (Irvine is relatively quiet vs. USC and how two chinese students were murdered)
<p>Definitely not worth the 40-50k difference in price. If they were relatively the same (which they won’t be at all considering you don’t have a fat scholarship from SC) then it would be a tough decision. However, I think the choice is somewhat obvious. For undergraduate, there’s really no difference that warrants 50k difference between UCI and USC. The name is not worth that amount of money. You already seem like you are comfortable where you are, have close friends, and it is much cheaper. No real reason to leave. If it was Stanford vs. UCI or something comparable, ya the giant lump of cash you’d be giving to go there would be worth the brand and experience, but here, it’s not really even close. AT BEST, going to USC from UCI is like going from UCI to Cal (in terms of name) but paying an extra 40-50k to do so which isn’t even worth it for a BS degree. And that’s the BEST CASE scenario, I’d argue that very few (non USC alums) would even compare USC’s chemistry programs to Cal’s, but for the sake of being fair and possibly being branded as a bias bruin I’ll give them the comparison of equality to Cal. Even if their name was as famous as Cal’s, still don’t do it for 50k when you’re already comfortable and not in any hurry to leave. Just focus on getting a high GPA and you’ll be set as far as undergrad goes.</p>
<p>I’m just curious, but how good is the USC name as an undergraduate going into medical school? </p>
<p>I’m trying to prove to my parents (mother, particularly) the following:
Even if I take loans, staying at UCI lessens the financial burden on my parents.
What will be important is where I go for medical or graduate school and what work experience I have rather than where I went as an undergraduate.
Though USC has a strong networking system, that won’t guarantee that I get a job.</p>
<p>Right now, they’re pretty much 50-50, especially with the fact that I’ll be limited in units because USC supposedly charges students per unit for every unit past 18 units.</p>
<p>For applying to medical school, you may want to check the pre-med forum.</p>
<p>But remember that extra debt can limit your options in the future. For example, you may have to choose a medical specialty on the basis of high pay, even if you would prefer to go into a lesser paying specialty that you would like to do more. And if you do not get into medical school, $40,000+ in extra debt can be a significant burden at the typical pay levels of a chemistry major graduate.</p>
<p>For MD, that is correct. For MD/PhD, undergrad research is also critical. Thus, go where you have the best opportunity to maximize gpa AND become involved in undergrad research AND is affordable.</p>
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<p>It is probably a plus factor when applying to 'SC’s own med school, but their name is no advantage over UCI when applying anywhere else. (And don’t forget, 'SC has a gazilion merit scholars who are premed who will be applying to it’s med school, so local admission is highly competitive.)</p>
<p>Let me fix your post, gOld3n:
“AT BEST, going to USC from UCI is like going from UCI to UC Southern Branch (aka UCLA)…”</p>
<p>USC isn’t known particularly for producing MD’s from its undergraduate school. </p>
<p>Here are the numbers who applied to med school in 2011:</p>
<p>UCI 361
USC 278</p>
<p>UCI would be fifth in comparison of the UC campuses:</p>
<p>UCLA 820
Cal 754
UCSD 541
UC Davis 410</p>
<p>Prestige isn’t going to get you into a top-tier med school, but USC might indeed place nationally into a higher tier med school than UCI would. This added to the fact that UCI grads might want first and foremost to gain admission to one of the UC med schools. If your objective is the former, nationally, you might want to transfer to USC, provided your parents are willing to foot the entire bill. If your objective is the latter, one of the UC med schools, as a bunch the hardest in which to gain entry, you might as well stick. </p>
<p>Medical research or top-tier specialty? Meh. How well you do in med school will determine this.</p>
<p>Regrading research opportunities, you know better than most of the people here. You are already at UCI, you should be able to find out more about that at least at your school. If you are doing quite well there already, wouldn’t you have a pretty good shot at getting one soon? After all, the chemistry department at your school is ranked quite a bit higher than USC’s, so there should be more projects there. The only unknown is if and how much undergrads can get involved. </p>
<p>drax12,
I don’t see the numbers matter that much. UCLA/Cal are huge schools and of course they are going to have lots of <em>applicants</em>. USC’s is on the low side given its size but part of that is because so many of them are in their preprofessional schools.</p>