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  • April 29, 2004 at 3:38 pm #21752
    Altema
    Participant

    Someone stated that going to a JC then transfering to another college would be worse than just going to a college (a college of lower status than the “another college”). That is because JC colleges have less arduous classes and admissions will know that.

    Someone told me that the college you goto also has an effect on your chances of getting into med school. I plan to goto a college that isnt really popular and from public view its not up to the level of schools such as Berkley or UCLA. (Mainly because it isnt. The school i plan to goto is California STate University Northridge)

    Keeping all that in mind which of the following options would be best?

    1. Going to a JC and transfering to UCLA
    2. Going to a college straight and then when graduation comes then apply for graduate school.
    3. Going to a college straight and try to transfer to UCLA after 2 years

    Thank you for your help !

    May 3, 2004 at 6:03 pm #26936
    Altema
    Participant

    Apparently my friend says our college adviser said that going to JC then xfering to UCLA is better than just attending a cal state university northridge for 4 years. Im so confused on what to believe. Ive heard here that going to JC is worse b/c classes are easier, but our adviser and my friend say its better. In addition to my first post, could someone address this concern as well?

    May 9, 2004 at 7:54 pm #26962
    bruinman
    Participant

    I am a faculty member at UCLA and I have also guest lectured at CSUN. While you likely will achieve a higher GPA at CSUN, your preparation for the rigors of the MCAT will greatly be lacking, and even a perfect GPA from CSUN, with a modest MCAT, will result in rejection. I encourage you to graduate from the best school you can and have the most rigorous training possible, so you’ll be adequately prepped for the MCAT.

    Gordon Klein

    May 9, 2004 at 11:39 pm #26963
    Altema
    Participant

    i see, but wouldnt going to JC be less intense or would the 2 years of UCLA be much harder that i would be more prepared more rigorously for the MCATS? I would think that JC < CSUN in terms of difficulty and if that would hinder myself despite being able to goto UCLA and graduating.

    May 27, 2004 at 3:35 pm #27049
    y82benji
    Participant

    The premed classes include bio, chem, and physics. The MCATs are about 60-67% bio, chem, and physics. Think mainly about where you will be taking those courses. If you take those at UCLA then you are fine going to a JC first, but if you would take those at a JC you may want to reconsider. If you take them at the JC, not only might you have to work harder to do well on the MCAT, but even an “A” in those classes at the JC will need to be backed up by a very strong score on the MCATs in the same sections to prove that JC “A” means the same as an “A” at UCLA.

    June 5, 2004 at 4:26 pm #27141
    Altema
    Participant

    Thank you for your response. Although it would also be bad if i get C’s in the science classes at UCLA, but would a A in a JC still be better than a C in the UCLA?

    Oh well, i think i will attend JC and i guess not take those science classes so it shows i have a bigger challenge and so that it shows.

    June 5, 2004 at 4:53 pm #27145
    y82benji
    Participant

    You don’t want C’s in premed courses at all, so I’d guess that an A at a JC would be better than a C at UCLA. C’s in premed courses will definitely require explanation.

    June 6, 2004 at 10:30 pm #27148
    Altema
    Participant

    Thank you again. I am just trying to figure out which is the best option. Iam confident enough that i can get an A in science classes in JC, but i have no idea what to expect at UCLA since i have never attended it. Ive heard that its very competitive which makes me think that i could get a C, but there really is no basis to say what i would get. I might just go with the known and take the classes at JC and make sure i learn it so that i can do well on my MCATS.

    June 7, 2004 at 12:17 am #27150
    y82benji
    Participant

    At the very least, if you transfer to UCLA take some upper level sciences there to supplement a good MCAT score with proof that you can handle science at the 4yr college/univ. level. Mostly A’s in upper level science courses trumps whatever in the lower level courses, again especially if you do well on the MCATs.

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