UCLA versus UCI Regents

[lethal rain]

Schools: UCLA and UCI
Intended Major: Biology, Pre-Med
Similarities: High ranked for Bio, both in the area for me, good for pre-med
Cost: UCI: 8k, UCLA 16k

UCLA
Pros:
-higher ranked
-better food/amenities
-namebrand
-higher ceiling for pre-med
-seems more fun and has better work-life balance
-is in LA and westwood is really nice
Cons:
-more rigorous
-can fail in GPA within bio at UCLA
-high competition in clubs/opportunities
-hard to schedule classes and maintain

UCI
Pros:
-cheaper, really good regents scholarship
-honors college preenrolled
-priority class scheduling
-still high-ranked
-easier for pre-med to maintain gpa
-can keep internships (i live in the area)
-still a great school

Cons:
-in Irvine (I live 15 mins away)
-not UCLA
-not higher ranked
-social life is iffy
-lower ceiling for med school apps

Tiebreakers:
-What will give me the best opportunity to succeed for med school applications?
-What school will give me a good work-life balance?
-Is the cost of UCLA + trouble of scheduling classes + gpa deflation worth it?
-Will going to UCI decrease my credibility academically when applying to med school?

[crystal linden]

I'd say most definitely UCLA. Of course it's gonna be rigorous, but that's a given at any college. In terms of education, opportunities in the long term, social life, location (and more) UCLA is better than UCI. Though UCI will not 'decrease' your credibility, I think UCLA will definitely be much more noticed/appreciated

I also feel like the prestige difference between UCI and UCLA is vast, though I may be wrong

It's also fantastic for biology

Personally I wouldn't give it up just because it has higher rigor, in fact that can be beneficial for networking (unless cost is a big factor for you)

good luck with your decision!

[teal gull]

I would choose UCI for premed because of the ease of maintaining a high GPA and the lower competitiveness of clinical opportunities. Also, networking is not crucial for premed.

[runic wasp]

uci bro u get priority enrollment

Literally a godsend at a uc

I have priority enrollment at ucsd and it’s a life saver i can’t tell you the number of kids who constantly can’t get classes cuz their enrollment time is dogshit

The education will be the same at any of these ucs and basically so are the students

not a single med school will gaf whether you went to uci or ucla

Both have great opportunities and i would lean uci just cause of that priority reg lmao

but visit both cause both are stellar schools

[rain smelt]

Go UCI they have hella grade inflation (as a premed at ucla I have gotten downcurved several times). Ucla also really lacks clinical opportunities, which is quite unfortunate and getting into the premed classes is so annoying here. I know people who paid 1k to take physics bc they didn’t have a good enough enrollment to get it on their own 💀. Going to UCI will not diminish your academic credibility as long as your mcat is strong

[rain smelt]

No one gaf if ur a premed

UCI is also cheaper save ur money

[versed plinth]

Go ucla !!! Pretty sure the rigor and prestige of ucla would balance out your gpa affected by the deflation

I think it’s worth it

[crystal linden]

oh then idk, I thought it would be considered

[knotty vector]

I’d say UCI. Bio is a pretty tough major at both schools, very competitive and hard to get research and also course registration. Regents will def give you a leg up with that, even though UCI is less prestigious.

Without regents I’d tell you UCLA

[distant pawn]

I say this with ucla being my dream school: go to uci

What matters most of all for premed is keeping costs low and gpa high