YES it is THAT much superior in terms of being premed.
It’s hard to explain how much better it’ll be in terms of resources, access to professors, support, advising, and high grade range - all things that matter to med schools. You’re compaing apples and oranges. Or, actually, apples and nails.
UCLA is pretty much a bloodbath for premeds. You have to fend for yourself against, litterally, THOUSANDS of students, without an adviser, without resources you’d have at Brown. In the end, most never make it. Among those who make it to the end, many don’t make it into a CA med school. At Brown, where the average GPA is 3.6, your odds of making it to a med school are much, much higher than at UCLA. AND you can apply to the same CA med schools as kids from UCLA, except you bring in some geographical diversity and, being a CA resident, you have priority over anyone who’s not for all CA med schools even if you attended a school outside CA. Pretty much the best of both worlds.
Also, no one gets into an Ivy League university who’s not able to handle it. They know what they’re doing. They reject 90% qualified applicants. So, you’re qualified. More than qualified. If you have a bridge program to learn the ropes over the summer, take it (it’s often for first gen students, so hit the ground running when classes start, because their parents can’t “prepare them” for college).
You will ALWAYS have to contribute something - do you realize how lucky you are that the student contribution is only 3-4K? (At UC’s, the normal student contribution is about 10K). I mean, come on. They’re paying for your flights home, your food, your coat and boots in the winter in that package. Do you really begrudge working for them 10 hours a week in a position that will enhance your resume?
CONGRATULATIONS on being flown in to ADOCH!
You’ll see what we mean with your own eyes.
I understant that you’re getting cold feet, like many lower income kids who leave their neighborhood and family for the first time, it’s normal because what you’re doing takes a lot of courage and fortitude. But you’ve come this far. You can do it. Reap what is rightfully yours - an Ivy League education.