Med schools are mostly looking at the student’s performance in biology-related coursework when dealing with CC-transfer students.
While there is sufficient rigor in math, chem or physics majors, I’m not sure those majors would have enough elective space to take 6+ semester-length UL bio electives.
Due to financial constraints taking CC biology pre-med track and have shortlisted some target transfer programs for our kid. May I know which of the following majors are not biological science majors? If they are not, what are biological science majors at their UCs?
Psychobiology(?) at UCLA
Human biology at UCSD
Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at UC Davis
Biological Sciences at UC Irvine.
Biology at UC Riverside
Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) at UC Berkeley
Biopsychology at UCSB
Thank you so much to all who replied.
Here are the general Medical school requirements and as stated above if the student is transferring from a CC to a UC, then they will need to take more upper division Biology-related courses.
Some medical schools also require the following prerequisites:
Biopsychology at UCSB has many of the general Medical school requirements such as Chemistry, Physics and Biology courses, but most of the upper division courses are Psychology courses so probably not a good major option.
The general Biological Sciences major at UCSB would be a better option and they offer several areas of emphasis such as Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacology https://undergrad.biology.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/2022-09/Biological%20Sciences%20BS%20Major-2022.pdf
You should look through the UC major course curriculum for each school, see what transfer requirements are needed for each major and then what the degree requirements cover for Medical school admission and how many upper division Biology related courses are in the degree requirements.
Here is UCLA’s Psychobiology major info as a transfer.
The rest of the UC’s listed majors should be fine but I would still look over the degree program.
If you mean that psychobiology at UCLA is not a biological sciences major, may I request what would be the easy to-study biological major as a transfer at UCLA
Some of the life sciences majors that are Biology related at UCLA are listed below. The student needs to look at the course curriculum to see how much overlap there is with the Medical school course requirements and how many upper division Biology courses are part of the degree program.
None of the majors are going to be easy but if you have an interest in the subject then it would be easier in that respect.
Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Human Biology and Society
Integrative Biology and Physiology
Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
Molecular Cell Developmental Biology
Neuroscience
Also when selecting any of these majors, consider plan B so they have a backup if Medical school does not happen.
UCLA’s Psychobiology major does have a better overlap of Med school course requirements than the UCSB major but there may still be a need to take additional courses depending upon which electives are selected for the degree.
The Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics or the Integrative Biology and Physiology have a better overlap of Med school requirements. The Pre-Health advising center can help determine the best program and pathway to her goal.