I’m currently a senior in high school and am looking at all my options. My main concern is saving money since I will be paying for college on my own. I can’t get into UC’s or CSU’s currently because I have two D’s on my transcript, however my GPA is a 4.0 and I got a 30 on my ACT. I could get into an out of state school or private university, but the issue is that it would cost too much money and I would have to live away from home.
I’ve been looking at going to San Diego Miramar College and then transferring to UCLA (they have a transfer admittance guarantee with UCLA if I keep above a 3.0). I can commute to either school from home and the tuition at UCLA is reasonable enough. If I go to Miramar, I plan to do their Honors program and then transfer to UCLA as a Biochemistry major.
I know community college is a viable option, but my only concern is how it will affect my chances at getting into a med school. My hope is to remain at UCLA for medical school. I know it depends on my stats as an undergrad and everything, but I’ve seen lots of statistics that say people who transferred from a CC to a four year had a smaller chance of getting accepted into med school. If anyone has any information/advice, it’d be greatly appreciated (:
Dead thread, but in case you’re still around, here’s my 2 cents.
Two D’s on your transcript does not automatically exclude you from UC or CSU, especially with a 4.0 GPA. A 4.0 and 30 on ACT will make you competitive at most UCs and will certainly guarantee your admission to most CSUs. You just have to make sure you have passing grades on the “a-g” requirements.
I got into med school after going to community colleges and transferring to a UC. Your chances really depend on YOU. There is a lot of bad advice on the web in regards to med school admission (I was on 2 UC med school adcoms). Most med schools will take into account your financial decision to go to a CC first.
Also, don’t focus on UCLA med school, or any particular med school for that matter. If you want to be a doctor, then do the hard work to do well in whatever college you attend, develop your interest in medicine with ECs outside of college, and apply broadly. Your success will come from you, not from any particular college or med school .
@UC911doc Thank you! Well, I’m now a few months from graduating high school and have decided on going to Palomar College, which is only a couple minutes from where I live. If I do well enough my first year at a CC, I’ll be able to transfer to USC as a sophomore. And if that doesn’t work, I can try again and apply as a junior to that school or any others I’m interested in.
My biggest concern is staying close to home, which is why I used to be so set on UCLA med school. But since then, I’ve done a lot more research and know (which is what you were saying) that it’s about my performance, not the school I am at.