<p>I'm currently a freshman at UCLA from Seattle, Washington. I went to UCLA because I really wanted to experience the So Cal lifestyle, and I've realized its just not for me. I love Seattle and I miss it. I'm a premed and I'm really considering transferring to UW.</p>
<p>The problem is my parents are not very supportive of me transferring to UW. They were a little upset when I chose UCLA over Vanderbilt last year and now they don't like that I want to go to UW because they think its less prestigious.</p>
<p>How do you think UW and UCLA compare in terms of reputation, academics, etc, especially with regards to the premed opportunities? My dream would be to go to UW for med school as well, is there any advantage for getting into UW med school if I go to UW for undergrad?</p>
<p>Any thoughts would be greatly appreciate.</p>
<p>UCLA may rank higher on UW on us news and world report thing but thats not really an accurate representation of how good a school is. Both are public ivies and both are one of the best univeristies in the world. UW has one of the best if not THE best medical program in the US. </p>
<p>According to times, UW is ranked higher than ucla <a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/north-america.html[/url]”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/north-america.html</a></p>
<p>both are great colleges. i applied to UW i really hope i get in.</p>
<p>UW and UCLA are one in the same to me prestige-wise, both great schools. Since you came from Seattle, you’ll be paying instate tuition and since you don’t like LA i would definitely transfer and come back - you’re not downgrading leaving UCLA for UW imo. Also UW med school is pretty much the best there is.</p>
<p>Some say it might look better to go to Med School at UW if you weren’t also an undergrad there. My sister (born a CA resident) went to UCLA for undergrad, then UC Davis for med school, then did her internships at UCSD and UW. Then she became a surgeon at Swedish and now she has her own private cosmetic surgery practice in Seattle. Lots of variety.</p>
<p>But if you’re unhappy, maybe you should come back. UW is a great med school, but it’s also a great undergrad university. And if your parents are looking at paying for med school, in-state tuition would be nice.</p>
<p>From what I’ve read, UW really doesn’t like submatriculation (undergrad–>med school) so you may want to ask an adcom about that. I don’t remember where I got that info, so I could be mistaken. OOS tuition at UCLA is killer, and definitely not worth it for undergrad if you could be at UW. If you want to go to a med school other than UW, you may want to transfer and save your parents some cash.</p>
<p>At our tour of Western (Washington University), they mentioned that a higher percentage of WWU pre-med students are accepted in to the medical program at UW than UW pre-med students.</p>