Is UCLA or UC Berkeley better for pre-med?
I'm a junior in high school right now and I'm super interested in pursuing medicine after college, so I've been researching a lot about both UCLA and UC Berkeley. I know both are really prestigious UCs, but I keep getting mixed messages online about which one is better for pre-med students specifically. Some people say UCLA has better hospital connections and research opportunities, but others argue that Berkeley's science departments are top-tier and that its students get accepted to med school at really high rates.
If anyone here is doing pre-med at either school, or has friends who are, I'd love to hear about your experiences. How tough are the classes? Is it hard to get good grades with all the competition? Do you feel supported by professors and advisors? I guess I'm just worried about being able to stand out and get into medical school from either of these really competitive places. Any insight would help a lot!
If anyone here is doing pre-med at either school, or has friends who are, I'd love to hear about your experiences. How tough are the classes? Is it hard to get good grades with all the competition? Do you feel supported by professors and advisors? I guess I'm just worried about being able to stand out and get into medical school from either of these really competitive places. Any insight would help a lot!
3 weeks ago
•
47 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 3 weeks ago
Advisor
Both UCLA and UC Berkeley are fantastic choices for pre-med students, and you'll find that each offers strong academics, resources, and post-graduate outcomes. At a high level, there’s no clear "winner"—students from both schools go on to medical school all over the country. That said, there are some differences that are helpful to know, especially when it comes to your experience as an undergrad.
UCLA definitely benefits from its direct connection to the David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA Medical Center. This means there are more built-in clinical and hospital volunteer opportunities right on or near campus, and it can be easier to shadow doctors, land internships, or get involved with medically relevant research. For example, many pre-meds at UCLA volunteer at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which provides hands-on exposure.
At UC Berkeley, you won't find a medical school attached, but the undergrad science programs—especially in biology and chemistry—are consistently ranked among the best in the country. You might end up with more theoretical or lab-based research at Berkeley, and you’ll likely need to look outside of campus for hospital volunteering. Students often commute to UCSF, Children’s Hospital Oakland, or local clinics for clinical experiences. One of my friends who did pre-med at Berkeley got really involved in basic neuroscience research and worked part-time as a scribe off-campus for patient interaction.
As for academics, both schools are known for having challenging courses and a competitive environment. To be honest, it's tough to "stand out" at either—most pre-meds are very high-achieving. Grade deflation can be a worry, especially for large introductory science classes. Still, it’s more about how you strategize: go to office hours, form or join study groups, use campus tutoring resources, and seek research or volunteering early. At UCLA, students mention supportive pre-health advising and plenty of student-run organizations for aspiring future doctors. At Berkeley, students sometimes describe advising as more impersonal, but peer networks and pre-health organizations fill that gap.
In general, if regular shadowing and campus hospital access are very important to you, UCLA has a slight edge. If you’re particularly interested in cutting-edge biological research or want to work with top-tier science faculty, Berkeley might appeal more to you. Either way, med schools care more about your academic performance, test scores, and commitment to the field than the name of your undergrad school.
Try to visit both campuses if you can, and reach out to current pre-med students or clubs like AMSA (American Medical Student Association) chapters at each school. They’ll offer even more specific insight into the day-to-day life of a pre-med at each university.
Whichever you choose, what will matter most is how you take advantage of the opportunities each place offers and how intentionally you approach your academics and experiences.
UCLA definitely benefits from its direct connection to the David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA Medical Center. This means there are more built-in clinical and hospital volunteer opportunities right on or near campus, and it can be easier to shadow doctors, land internships, or get involved with medically relevant research. For example, many pre-meds at UCLA volunteer at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which provides hands-on exposure.
At UC Berkeley, you won't find a medical school attached, but the undergrad science programs—especially in biology and chemistry—are consistently ranked among the best in the country. You might end up with more theoretical or lab-based research at Berkeley, and you’ll likely need to look outside of campus for hospital volunteering. Students often commute to UCSF, Children’s Hospital Oakland, or local clinics for clinical experiences. One of my friends who did pre-med at Berkeley got really involved in basic neuroscience research and worked part-time as a scribe off-campus for patient interaction.
As for academics, both schools are known for having challenging courses and a competitive environment. To be honest, it's tough to "stand out" at either—most pre-meds are very high-achieving. Grade deflation can be a worry, especially for large introductory science classes. Still, it’s more about how you strategize: go to office hours, form or join study groups, use campus tutoring resources, and seek research or volunteering early. At UCLA, students mention supportive pre-health advising and plenty of student-run organizations for aspiring future doctors. At Berkeley, students sometimes describe advising as more impersonal, but peer networks and pre-health organizations fill that gap.
In general, if regular shadowing and campus hospital access are very important to you, UCLA has a slight edge. If you’re particularly interested in cutting-edge biological research or want to work with top-tier science faculty, Berkeley might appeal more to you. Either way, med schools care more about your academic performance, test scores, and commitment to the field than the name of your undergrad school.
Try to visit both campuses if you can, and reach out to current pre-med students or clubs like AMSA (American Medical Student Association) chapters at each school. They’ll offer even more specific insight into the day-to-day life of a pre-med at each university.
Whichever you choose, what will matter most is how you take advantage of the opportunities each place offers and how intentionally you approach your academics and experiences.
Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
Experience
5 years