Hi, I’m currently a senior in HS and I really would like some advice on adjusting my college list. I’m planning to apply as a public health (BS) major to most schools, but maybe a biology major to some, on the pre-med track.
I don’t have any genuine “safeties” on my list because my thought process was that if I don’t get into a 4-year college I actually want to attend, I can go to CC and transfer after 2 years, because I live in California and the transfer rate to UCs is pretty favorable. I’m not going very far from Southern California because my parents want me to be able to visit on odd weekends, and in exchange they’ll let me go to med school wherever Here’s my current list:
UC Irvine
UC Los Angeles
UC San Diego
UC Berkeley
UC Santa Barbara
San Diego State University
Chapman (EA)
Loyola Marymount (EA)
Pepperdine (EA)
Pomona
Harvey Mudd (EA)
Stanford
USC (EA)
I realize that many of these schools are expensive and some very reach-y, so I would likely not attend an expensive school unless I receive merit aid (probably won’t qualify for financial aid ). My parents and I have discussed financials, and we agreed I’ll just put those applications out there, but I won’t go to a place like USC without something covered.
Are there any schools I should maybe remove from this list if I’m pre-med, or that I should add? Only within California. I’m not applying to any Cal States because I’ve heard the transfer rate to UCs from there is pretty atrocious.
The budget is critical. If you are serious about premed then you need to budget for a full 8 years in university, where the last 4 years are likely to be expensive.
As a California resident, you should not attend a university that is significantly more expensive than a University of California unless you can afford it plus 4 years of medical school without taking on any debt.
Another issue is that there are a LOT of universities that are very good for premed (if you ignore the cost). The various Universities of California are all very good for a premed student.
Also, the large majority of students who start university thinking “premed” end up doing something else. You should be thinking about what forms of something else might make sense to you.
I did not see your stats. If you are competitive at all for Stanford, and a California resident, then you should have a very good chance at some of your in-state public universities.
Also Stanford does not offer merit aid. It has need based aid. It has some sports scholarships. No merit aid.
I think that I would at least add UC Riverside.
What about attending a CSU for a full four years and graduating from there?
Looking at your list, you could study public health or biology at all of these schools.
In terms of adding some, what are you looking for in a university? LMU is very different from UCLA and Pomona - you’ve got big and smaller, public and private, seems like you’ve hit all the big SoCal names. It’s great that you know some are likely not affordable, and I think you have a solid plan to pursue the CCC route if the price is not right.
One worry - part of the problem with ‘putting your application out there’ is falling in love with a school that is not really affordable. Would you be able to attend Stanford at $90k/year and no aid? If not, how would it feel to turn down the offer because it’s too $$?
FWIW San Diego State IS a CSU, and there are lots of great CSU’s out there that would be good and affordable 4 year options for you. You don’t need to graduate from a UC to get into medical school.
Did you want to start a “chance me” thread so you can get a better idea of which of the schools on your list are more likely than others?
