<p>Hi there!</p>
<p>So I was (unexpectedly) accepted by UCSD as a Biochemistry and Cell Biology Major at Sixth College. However, I was rejected by Cal, UCLA, and UC Davis because I know I don’t have the prerequisites required yet when I applied. I applied because I was in a year-long internship program at UC Berkeley and they gave me a full-ride application fee to four UCs and I can only use it for the Fall '11 transfer period. I was really set for staying another year before I heard the news from UCSD.</p>
<p>Here’s my stat:</p>
<p>Major: Biochem/Molecular Bio/Genetics</p>
<p>G.P.A: 4.0</p>
<p>Prereqs: Missing O-chem (and planning to take it this fall and spring), Missing CalcII (planning to take it this fall).</p>
<p>EC:
*Conducted a research under the Berkeley-USDA lab studying maize genetics
*President’s Leadership Award (High School)
*Best Campus Journalist for two years (HS)
*Economics Quiz Bee Champion (HS)
*8th Place National Photojournalism Contest (HS)
*HS Newspaper editor
*Won various essay writing contest
*Started a year of college in the Philippines before moving here in the US.
*Taught 2nd grader science under the UC Berkeley Calteach program.</p>
<p>Things that makes me consider staying for another year.
*I was recently hired as a naturalist’s assistant at a local regional park (there is a one year commitment)
*Recently hired as a Bio Desk Tutor
*Was asked by my past bio prof to be her TA
*Elected as Chem club president
*Honors club
*Alpha Gamma Sigma honors society
*MESA desk tutor
*Finishing my prereqs
*Too FAR! (I’m from the Bay Area)</p>
<p>Things that makes me want to go now.
*I went down to UCSD last week and the campus was just beautiful
*I love my major
*Medical school
*Nice community</p>
<p>I asked my professors and counselors and they all have different views. Some said I should stay because I have a chance for Cal if I maintained my grades (coming from someone who reads the application herself). Some of my prof said just go because UCSD is as awesome as Cal in biology field. However, I am loving UCSD (I dont like the environment outside of Cal).</p>
<p>The major thing I guess that makes me think twice are the tons of opportunities that awaits me if I stay in the comm college (ie employment, experience, and prereqs), but I know that there are more opportunities at UCSD. but my counselors really want me to go to CAL. geez. lol</p>
<p>My bias is showing - I was so into UCLA until last weekend when I saw UCSD (just like you lol), I love it love it love it love it there. It’s so cool, it’s so great. You’d probably be very very happy there.</p>
<p>It really depends on how much you want to go to Cal. UCSD is an extremely good bio school and very well regarded (a friend of mine graduated back in '03 and got accepted to Harvard and UPenn med school. His sister went the same route and is now at UT pharmacy school, which is #3 in the nation I think) Your stats are outstanding and I have no doubt you’d get into Berkeley next year, but you don’t really seem 100% sold on it. </p>
<p>Berkeley is a great school, but in terms of rankings and stature probably no better than UCSD for your major (only because UCSD is so well regarded, that’s not a knock on Cal.) </p>
<p>If you’re happy with UCSD, go to UCSD. But I would first check out UCLA and UCB thoroughly. Maybe spent a couple days at each if you haven’t already to soak it in. I’ll be at UCSD in the fall as well, and as a San Diego native I can vouch for the area.</p>
<p>@Itachirumon: You went to the transfer admit day? Isn’t the campus just amazing? Also, taking into consideration that UCSD is a VERY VERY young school and they somewhat managed to build a reputation. Where are you from? One thing that I’m not so fond of is driving to SD every school break though, I live in East Bay.</p>
<p>@Grimes99: Thanks for your response! Thanks for helping out a lost soul right now. haha I’ve never been to UCLA and I don’t even want to consider it because LA does not fit me. Also, I’ve been to Cal for a year taking classes for 2 semester and a summer research for the year-long internship…*okay I just realized that UCSD is (maybe) right for me because I’m trying to defend it. lol.</p>
<p>I am 85% sure of going but I hate how I might miss the opportunity to work in the regional park and the TA position, but anywho, congrats for UCSD too! Where are you transferring from? Do you know any FB group for transfer so that we have more support system?</p>
<p>@dyepribudoy: Thanks! Haha yeah there’s no way I could live in LA. I’m with ya on that. You’ve definitely spent your share of time at UCB, and you really seem to like UCSD. Seems pretty perfect to me. </p>
<p>I’m transferring from Palomar CC (it’s about 25 minutes north of UCSD). There’s a Facebook group floating around here, I’ll see if I can find it. I’m actually moving to The Village (UCSD on campus transfer housing) on June 10th. Stoked about that! Can’t wait for this to get started.</p>
<p>UCSD is a great school but considering that you were missing some pre-reqs, I would make sure that you will be able to graduate within 2 years if you transfer now. I’m not sure if money is a factor, but if it’s going to take you three years, I would personally wait and finish more classes at my CC (where you already have some registration priority) if you have more classes to take towards your major. You already mentioned ochem (which is time consuming). Have you taken physics? I’m assuming you were accepted into the Bio version of Biochem and not the Chem version at UCSD. Have you fulfilled BILD 3 or the 3rd math requirement (Probability or Calc 3)? Honestly, at this point it’s all up to you. If you’re only going to wait a year because you want to try to get into Cal, I would go to UCSD, but if you want to wait so you can finish more classes, then I think that would definitely be an option that would set you up to be a better candidate for some other potential schools.</p>
<p>I agree that having the oppurtunity to complete your pre-reqs at your community college might pose as an appealing pro for CC regarding your situation. Those kind of classes can be much harder at the UC level, which if you are considering med school, you might want to take into consideration.</p>
<p>This isn’t meant to scare you off. I’ve heard back and forth stories about the level of rigor at a UC as compared to a CC. It just seems like you have a good year set up and without a doubt, I don’t see you not getting accepted to UCSD next year. </p>
<p>So I think you should add these things to the community college aspect:
You can complete pre-reqs in a less stressful environment, potentially preserving your GPA for med school.
You would save money.
You could have more options about where you would like to transfer next year.</p>
<p>Good luck, it really does sound like you made up your mind about USCD which i’m sure is a nice surprise! Just wanted to point out those few things :)</p>