UC Riverside or UC Merced?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

I’m stuck between these two schools for premed- some background I have been accepted to both UCs, I currently live in Merced so I would save lots of money by living with my parents if I went there, and I can no way get financial aid from either school. I received the Chancellor scholarship from Riverside which is about 5000$ per year.

My mother has been pushing me to go to Riverside because my older brother has been doing poorly in Merced. He claims (and other students) that some professors there want to fail half their class and only give a few students an A. Most classes are not curved. My mother claims that in Riverside, the professors and atmosphere is more friendly and that they actually want to help their students and curve their classes, unlike Merced.

I don’t have any evidence showing that Riverside pre med students have better GPAs or that it’s easier than Merced, my mother’s sources are some counselors and other offices at Riverside she has contacted (perhaps they are a little biased?) Does anyone know how easy is UCR and how the professor are as well?

2

No one can tell you about how profs grade their students at each school. The only suggestion I can offer is to stay on each campus and speak to as many premed students as possible. But it won’t proof any thing.
Best of luck

3

Is your mom going to pay for Riverside? If so, then go. If not, then go to Merced.

Your mom is wrong about which is better for premed and GPAs. They’re both going to heavily weed…that’s what all UCs do…that is what all schools do.

4

Riverside -

I know have your heart set on medical school. But the hard truth is it is very difficult to be accepted to any professional school and you should always have a back up plan. Riverside has many different areas to major in while Merced does not and for that reason attend Riverside…plus you already have concerns about Merced

5

But Merced is more affordable. The quality of education is the same in both schools, it’s a personal preference choice. Don’t be influenced by anecdotal stories.