<p>As a biology major hoping to get into medical school, would it be more advantageous for me to go to UCI or USC?
Specifically, would it be easier to get a higher GPA at UCI, and perhaps leave more time for me to do internships/volunteer work, to raise my chances of getting into medical school? I am not talking about UCI's CHP program, but just regular admission.
Is UCI's biology major stronger than USC's biology major? Please do not consider money and finances, I have already figured out how I would pay for both through financial aid grants and loans. Thanks you guys.</p>
<p>It is difficult to get a high gpa at UCI as a bio major. The kids who go there for that are EXTREMELY ambitious, and the competition is fierce. I don't really know about how it compares to USC, but I know people who have regretted doing science at UCI.</p>
<p>I've heard the exact same thing about UCI and Bio. Very competitive.</p>
<p>If you look at the class sizes at USC (I can't speak for Bio--research this), I see a tendency for sizes of 20-50, max of 200 for large lectures. You get more personal attention. What are the class sizes at UCI? Also, do you have better research/volunteer opportunities at USC because the USC medical school/center is in LA? Ask the schools what their placement record is for medical schools. Personally, I love USC.</p>
<p>i went to uci before transferring to usc. and i was bio major.</p>
<p>biology at uci is very very competitive. a pretty good number of kids who come in as a bio majors transfer to a another major. its competitive really b.c of all the asian kids who think there is no alternative in life other than practicing medicine. and, trust me, those kids are SMART. a lot of them will trun down better schools for uci-bio so they can stay at home, stay focused and save money.</p>
<p>i dont know how competitive biology at usc is, so i cant really speak on it. but atleast at usc, you will be going to a better and funner school. i really regretted my time at uci, it was a mistake on my part.</p>
<p>What was it at UCI that made you regret it? I turned it down too, just wondering what it was like from someone with experience.</p>
<p>(I also realize that your reply will probably be your 666th post! haha)</p>
<p>hey guys i'm uci bio major here and i'm dying with a 3.3 gpa. its so hard to get A's among all these smart asians. i really would like to transfer to usc but if i raise my gpa to 3.5 is that still too low?</p>
<p>I heard that the Bio majors are studying long hours at USC.</p>
<p>I also think you have to study hard at USC. Pre-meds are very competitive. My relatives at UCI did very well, got excellent grades in bio plus 2 other majors.</p>
<p>change your major! med sucks everywhere!</p>
<p>I recommend going to a small private, liberal arts college that has a great reputation for getting their grads into medical school. Do a search on it. Large undergrad schools are known to have ruthless competition amongst pre-meds. Then, make sure you volunteer some where each summer. Or get a job in the field. Good luck. If you love medicine, don't give up! We need dedicated students who want to serve others in the capacity as a physician. Even consider going abroad for medical school if you don't get into a US med school. Don't let the competition keep you from your dreams. We don't need only brilliant researchers who get straight A's. We also need doctors who have compassion for their patients.</p>
<p>The biggest problem with UCI is that it has a lot of commuters and it is easy to be socially detached there. The UC's are facing horrible budget cuts and no one knows what the future holds. USC has plenty in their endowment. They have a lot of personal interaction with professors. Pick the environment you will be happiest in overall- that will lead to success for you.</p>