<p>It is always better to be a top student at your undergrad. Much easier to get outstanding LORs. </p>
<p>I imagine that the folks you talked to faced issues when getting LORs. At a school like UCLA, when you have hundreds of kids asking the same profs for LORs, then who do you think are going to get the best recs? Certainly not the ones who weren’t stars in their classes.</p>
<p>In another thread, there was a discussion about attending a school with 120 med school applicants per year vs another school (similar size school) that has 400 med school applicants per year (and that school had FEWER premed advisers!). I can’t imagine how those 400 applicants can get decent LORs when so many are hounding the same profs for recs. </p>
<p>my son was a top student at a mid-tier flagship. It was easy for him to get great LORs, since he was always a top student in his classes. And when it came time for his Committee Interview and resulting letter, the Committee easily was able to give a strong rec letter.</p>
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<p>If I had a premed child applying to a UC, I would have him go to Merced or Riverside or similar where he could stand out. Merced is like a private it is so small. </p>
<p>As a CC transfer, you are already going to have LOR problems, so attending a school like Merced would give you a fast opportunity to shine and gather LORs.</p>