Hypothetical College Choice Situation

[mathlegend]

Okay well maybe this won't be quite so hypothetical in a 2 years, when I apply for colleges. But anyhow, so I'm planning to go into podiatry. I need to spend 2 years in undergrad taking the prereqs, but the question is, where? I'm thinking about going to a college that is on a semester calendar (less class=less midterms/finals). I'm thinking between UC Berkeley, UC Merced, University of the Pacific. I'm pretty sure I'll be accepted into those three colleges. UC Berkeley/Merced are quite cheap (I'll get instate tuition, perhaps some scholarships at Merced, no way at Berkeley...I'll be on the "dumber" side of the applicants who get in. I'm no 5.0 student, more like 4.2 or something). I'm pretty sure I'll get enough scholarships and stuff at University of the Pacific so the cost will be about the same as Berkeley/Merced. So the question is now, to go to a tougher school (Berkeley), get a lower GPA (crazy competitive) or a school like Merced/Pacific, where I should be able to excel, get a higher GPA. I know this has been asked before, but I'm not even planning to get a degree at either of these schools. Just planning to go there for two years to take prereqs, some recommended courses, yea. And I think it might be easier on me to go to the easier school (Merced/Pacific) so I wouldn't have to study that much to get As, so I'd have time to volunteer/shadow/etc. And I would probably go to Berkeley/Pacific over Merced since I live about 40min/70min from these two places. Merced is about 2.5 hours away and it seems like it's kind of in the middle of nowhere (no offense to anyone who lives there). Is it worth studying my ass off in Berkeley to mantain those grades or go to a lesser school like Pacific/Merced and excel there? I will ask other people (counselors, teachers, doctors, etc for their opinions on this too, but I just want to get some other opinions).

And just another option is SF State, which I live about 30 min away from. I'd basically be going there for free from a scholarship there, but SF State is kinda a big step down from the schools I listed up there, though I have heard some people say go to a CSU is better than Merced (since it's fairly new?)

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[135892]

Are you currently a sophmore? If so, absolutely do not worry about this now. I didn't even start to think about colleges until the beginning of my senior year, and although this may not be the best idea, thinking about colleges your sophmore year just gives you unnescessary stress. For right now, just worry about doing the things that will help you get into any college (gpa, extracurriculars, etc...)

 

[236116]

- why only 2 years
- what if you change your mind

 

[DLi]

Go to UC Berkeley

 

[mathlegend]

Are you currently a sophmore? If so, absolutely do not worry about this now. I didn't even start to think about colleges until the beginning of my senior year, and although this may not be the best idea, thinking about colleges your sophmore year just gives you unnescessary stress. For right now, just worry about doing the things that will help you get into any college (gpa, extracurriculars, etc...)

Yea I'm a sophomore. It's not really stressing me out, more like confusing me and giving me something to think about.

- why only 2 years
- what if you change your mind

If I want to, I can fit 90 hrs of undergrad work in 2 years. (Including AP credit/community college credit) I kinda can't wait.
If I change my mind, UC Berkeley/Pacific are still good schools.

 

[236116]

If I want to, I can fit 90 hrs of undergrad work in 2 years. (Including AP credit/community college credit) I kinda can't wait.
If I change my mind, UC Berkeley/Pacific are still good schools.

will your school accept all those ap? the pod school i mean.

i'd go with berkeley or sf state.

 

[mathlegend]

will your school accept all those ap? the pod school i mean.

i'd go with berkeley or sf state.

I'll have to check on that (thanks). I think they will, since I won't be using APs for the prereqs; just for filling up credit space.

Why would you choose UC Berkeley/SF State?

 

[mathlegend]

Go to UC Berkeley

Why?

 

[236116]

I'll have to check on that (thanks). I think they will, since I won't be using APs for the prereqs; just for filling up credit space.

Why would you choose UC Berkeley/SF State?

cheap and close

 

[mathlegend]

cheap and close

True, but Berkeley is crazy hard and SF is a big step down.I think Pacific just comes out to be a few thousand more expensive than Berkeley.

 

[135892]

Yea I'm a sophomore. It's not really stressing me out, more like confusing me and giving me something to think about

There are plenty of more worthwhile things you can think about

But nevertheless, its not necessarily a bad thing to think about colleges at this point, I mean with this sort of attitude, you'll inevitably become much more successful than me or any of my high school friends. And yeah, why podiatry (I didn't even know what podiatry was in high school )? You might as well aim for something greater...

 

[mathlegend]

There are plenty of more worthwhile things you can think about

But nevertheless, its not necessarily a bad thing to think about colleges at this point, I mean with this sort of attitude, you'll inevitably become much more successful than me or any of my high school friends. And yeah, why podiatry (I didn't even know what podiatry was in high school )? You might as well aim for something greater...

Aw, don't diss podiatry. It's a great profession. Pod school is as hard as med schooL! I'm thinking about podiatry since I've had my share of foot problems. I train in MMA, so my feet get tweaked around from all the kicking, falling, submissions, etc. I recently broke a toe and I somehow get these mysterious toe pains (which will no longer be mysterious, once I see my podiatrist tomorrow ) I looked deeper into the profession and found it quite interesting. It will allow me to do the normal doctor stuff (examining patients) and also surgery. The hours/pay also aren't bad.

 

[236116]

Aw, don't diss podiatry. It's a great profession. Pod school is as hard as med schooL! I'm thinking about podiatry since I've had my share of foot problems. I train in MMA, so my feet get tweaked around from all the kicking, falling, submissions, etc. I recently broke a toe and I somehow get these mysterious toe pains (which will no longer be mysterious, once I see my podiatrist tomorrow ) I looked deeper into the profession and found it quite interesting. It will allow me to do the normal doctor stuff (examining patients) and also surgery. The hours/pay also aren't bad.

so why not ortho? or sports med/ pmr?

 

[mathlegend]

so why not ortho? or sports med/ pmr?

What is pmr? Sports medicine seems kind of too general. I want a specialty. I think I'll go into a residency of either sports med or some sort of surgery. Ortho seems like there will be more blood in the surgeries...and it's also kind of broad.

 

[236116]

What is pmr? Sports medicine seems kind of too general. I want a specialty. I think I'll go into a residency of either sports med or some sort of surgery. Ortho seems like there will be more blood in the surgeries...and it's also kind of broad.

physical medicine/rehab.

you can specialise in ortho, though. some guys only do knee, or hand, or ankle, or spine, or sports-ortho.

 

[xnfs93hy]

What is pmr? Sports medicine seems kind of too general. I want a specialty. I think I'll go into a residency of either sports med or some sort of surgery. Ortho seems like there will be more blood in the surgeries...and it's also kind of broad.

Plenty of money and relexation.

 

[mathlegend]

physical medicine/rehab.

you can specialise in ortho, though. some guys only do knee, or hand, or ankle, or spine, or sports-ortho.

There's no surgery for pmr, is there? I'd rather do some surgery too. Hm...perhaps I will think about ortho...hm...

Plenty of money and relexation.

lol...is it really a that relaxing career?

 

[xnfs93hy]

There's no surgery for pmr, is there? I'd rather do some surgery too. Hm...perhaps I will think about ortho...hm...


lol...is it really a that relaxing career?

You know, I cannot believe I am saying this, but

you reeeeallly do not need to think about this now.

Ortho is pretty competitive, also.

 

[mathlegend]

xD I know I don't need to...but I'm the kind of person that likes to have everything (okay, just a lot of things) thought out. Thinking about the future keeps me awake in boring classes... *cough*Spanish*cough*English*cough*

 

[xnfs93hy]

xD I know I don't need to...but I'm the kind of person that likes to have everything (okay, just a lot of things) thought out. Thinking about the future keeps me awake in boring classes... *cough*Spanish*cough*English*cough*

I am too

 

[mathlegend]

xD So I haven't really gotten any replies for which school to go to...though 2 for Berkeley. Isn't Berkeley pretty bad for premeds? Hella competitive, with a lot of smart people? So maybe if I go to SF State, I would have an easier time getting a high GPA? But would pod school look down on me going to a state, versus a UC or Pacific?