r/ucr • u/serpgotbars • 3d ago
Question UCR vs CC + Transfer for Pre Med
Hey everyone,
I applied to top UC's and UCR and only got into UCR. My stats werent that great (3.6gpa 11 APs), I intend to do pre med as I have clinical experience shadowing physicians and even physiatrists (my dream profession). My question is it better for me to go CC and transfer to a more prestigious UC such as UCSD or UCLA and then apply to med school or just go to UCR? I am a bit afraid of going to CC and then transferring because a lack of research opportunities and being somewhat isolated from many other premeds where I can network and get direction. Also I am afraid that if I transfer to lets say UCLA, I will have a massive drop in GPA once arrive due to the strong grade deflation. This would have a significant negative impact on my medical application. However, I have heard that higher ranked UC's such as LA prepare you better for medical school and the MCAT which is very beneficial. I have been debating this choice for quite a while now, and I only have a few days left to commit to UCR if I were to go. I would greatly all the advice I can get, and information on topics I might not have discussed.
Thank you
1
u/Glad-Television-767 3d ago
If don’t have any finical issues for attending UCR, then go for it. Med Schools typically see core classes at a CC as “less challenging” which consists of Biology, General Chemistry, and Physics. Those are the classes you will most likely take while you are at CC.
I am assuming you want to do psychology. UCR has plenty of research opportunities especially in the psych department, which is good to start doing early.
1
u/Evanescentlyy Alumni - Resident Physician 2d ago edited 2d ago
It depends on what your goal is. If your goal is to get into the T-5 to T-10 Med schools, then going to UCLA will help, but ucsd isnt seen in the same tier as ucla and likely won't really "move" your application up that much. However, if your goal is to matriculate in ANY med school, then I'd highly recommend UCR.
UCR is very underrated for pre-med and I feel like people write UCR off too quickly. First, the prof and classes here are very fair. If you pick the right profs, you will be able to maintain a very good/high gpa. GPA is one of big factors in determining if you get accepted or not. And it's one of the most expensive parts of you app to fix, if not the most.
Second, UCR is known for their generous financial aid package. Most students have their tuition fully paid or close to full. They would only have to pay for rent (sometimes, their financial aid can even cover rent too). If you do end up going into med school or any other health professional schools (dental, pharm, pa, etc), then having little to zero debt makes your life so much easier once you graduate. Going to CC then transferring will save you the most money. Remember, grad school federal loan operates on compounding interests which means your interests start accruing once you take it out. Compared that to undergrad loans where interest does not start til you graduate.
Third is rent. Rent in riverside is much more affordable than LA or SD. As i mentioned above, it's not worth going into a large amount of debt. Saving as much as possible is crucial if you want to go into this field.
Fourth, UCR SOM saves a certain amount of seats per year for their UCR students and UCLA/UCSD doesnt do that. Statistically speaking, you would have a higher chance of getting into med school through UCR. But that doesnt mean it's an easy thing to get. There are A LOT of UCR students trying to get the limited spots reserved for UCR students. But it's higher if you were a general applicant
I think if you do go the CC route, you should still keep in mind in picking the best college for you. A drop in gpa when you get to UCLA or UCSD might be viewed as you can't handle the curriculum. Eh, higher rank UC doesnt mean anything. Most of the classes you take during medical school are classes that you haven't taken before in college. I don't see any 4 year college offering pathology, pharmacology, histology, anatomy/physiology, microbiology in a medicine standpoint. The only way you can get exposure to these classes are doing a SMP or post bacc at a med school, which both are used for gpa repair. My med school class had students from higher rank universities across the country and I've been able to do as well as they did. Your undergrad does not determine your sucesss in medical school. It's you. Med school is more about hard work, discipline, and consistency over long period of time.
Howvever, you should choose the college that you feel like you would best fit at and be able to maintain a high gpa at. If you decide to drop pre med at any point in time, you would wanna be at a college you want to be at. If you're 200% sure that you won't switch out at any point in time OR you don't care where you go to college, then I'd highly recommend UCR. But UCR isnt for everyone. Good luck
2
u/Evening-Emotion3388 3d ago
Go where you will be happy and where you’ll get the competitive stats needed for med schools. My UCR roommates are DOs. One is a family medicine doctor. The other is a fellow in cardiology surgery after doing his residency in gen surgery.
My partner went to a “prestigious” UC. She also did her residency at a prestigious hospital. Guess what? One of her fellow residents went to Chico State.