This article contains information about the best pre med schools in California, acceptance rates and more.
If your child has an ambition of going to medical school, choosing the best colleges to apply to first can be especially somewhat difficult.
In addition to finding a school that is great for academics and other activities, your prospective prep med students are already planning for their professional future and looking for schools that offer the best support and other needed academic resources along the way.
You might also be thinking about how much you can save or spend at an undergraduate college while leaving enough money for applying to medical school later on which is an expensive process, not to mention the expensive tuition by medical schools.
Also, as the competition for medical school admissions becomes more intense, your child may feel pressure to choose an undergraduate institution that offers them the best chance of getting into medical school.
If your child is bent on attending college in California, it can be challenging to determine which of the hundreds of four-year colleges in the state will provide your child with the best premed education.
Stay Informed Group has prepared this article in a bid to give you an idea of which schools your pre med child should consider attending and also provide some pieces of strategies for getting your child into their dream medical program—whether in California or elsewhere.
What is a premed school in California?
Pre-med schools in California are dedicated schools for prospective medical students in California – the school prepares them and equips them with the basic knowledge they need to build a career in the medical field.
Some people choose to call these kinds of schools preparatory schools for students to pursue an MD or doctor of medicine in a specific medical field. So, whether you want to be an obstetrician, family doctor, surgeon, neurologist, psychiatrist, etc., you have to pass pre-med.
pre med schools in California or anywhere in the world is committed to building students’ basic knowledge of the medical field and equipping them with the knowledge of the path of medicine they want to study.
Pre med schools can also be called undergraduate study, although you may get a bachelor’s degree, you can’t use it to practice until you go to medical school and get an MD degree.
Any student whose interest is to enter the medical field must first enrol in a medical school program.
How to join a pre med school in California
Typically, you’ll join premed school after graduating from high school, but you’ll have to decide to pursue a medical degree during high school to be better prepared. Once you’ve determined this, you’ll need to go for the right courses and attend the right classes – science courses and classes that include chemistry, physics, math, calculus, English and statistics.
Next is to choose any of the pre-
med schools in California of your choice, if you have no idea, this article will help you as we have listed and discussed in detail the best pre med schools in California. Prepare yourself for the MCAT, take the test, and submit transcripts and application materials to the pre-med school of your choice.
If my child is a California resident, should they apply to medical school in California?
With respect to the state’s advanced programs, in-state tuition which is reduced at public institutions, and a climate that is warm, California is one of the most attractive destinations for many applicants to medical schools.
However, due to the high number of applications and the large in-state population, competition to get into medical schools in California (MD and DO programs) is fierce. When your child is prepared to apply to medical school, it is important that they apply to both California and non-California schools to maximize their chances of admission.
Are some schools more likely than others to “knock out” pre med students?
Some pre med schools, like those in the UC system, grade their science courses. Others (like Pepperdine) don’t. Also, school class sizes vary, which can affect the level of support and attention that will be received by your child.
Though the highest academically achieving students at each school will enjoy the greatest chances of getting into medical school, it’s important to consider the competitiveness of each school. Also, keep in mind that the same GPA will look more impressive at a higher-ranked school than a lower-ranked school.
For example, Caltech is known to be one of the toughest schools in the nation in terms of grading. So getting a high GPA there is more difficult. For some pre med students, this can present a challenge when applying to medical school. On the other hand, Caltech’s excellent GPA is sure to be well-received.
Are the schools on this list of best pre med schools in California the only schools my child should apply to? What about schools in California that are not listed here?
Not at all. We have created this list only to provide our thoughts on which schools offer the strongest foundation courses based on a variety of criteria, not force your child to apply to any of them.
The latter should be determined by a number of factors which should include your child’s GPA, ACT or SAT scores, records of extracurricular activities, preferred school size, location and academic interests, not to mention the financial situation of your family.
In fact, California has many other excellent colleges and universities, including top-ranked universities such as UC Irvine and UC Davis, from which your child can gain medical school admission success.
When it comes to rankings, it should be said that the reputation of your child’s undergraduate institution is relatively minor among the many factors that influence medical school admissions. Crucially, however, are the scores of their GPA and MCAT. Also, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation is considered to be more important than college prestige.
So, while attending a school with a wealth of prep resources is certainly good for your child, the best prep schools for any student in California or anywhere in the world are the ones where they will thrive academically and excel in extracurricular activities.
List of Best Pre Med Schools in California
Also Read:15 Best Schools For Pre Med
Stanford University
- US News & World Report Rankings (National Universities): 6 (tie)
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 3.95%
- Medical school applicants: 228
- Medical school acceptance rate: Undisclosed, but rumored to be around 70%
Stanford University is one of the best pre med schools in California and ranks among the top universities in the world in many other study fields, especially in medicine and engineering.
In addition to being a top-notch university, it also has a top-notch medical school that prepares prospective students in the medical field of study for any medical speciality of their choice. It is one of the good and recommended pre med schools in California and goes on to award students an MD or master of doctor after the completion of the program
Students at the Pre-med level of study at Stanford have a pre-med association each academic year. Students meet individually with a pre-health advisor and mock interview specialist who will guide them through the process of admissions and interview process through the Stanford Academic Advisory Program,
UC Berkeley
- US News & World Report Ranking (National University): 22
- Location: Berkeley, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 14.5%
- Number of medical school applicants: 859
- Medical school acceptance rate: 52-65% between 2016 and 2020
As we all know, UC Berkeley is consistently ranked among the best colleges in the national and international categories and one of the best premed schools in California. Pre-Med at UC Berkeley is not a major nor is it a minor, but a pre-professional medical path aspiring medical students choose as they prepare for graduate-level careers in the health field.
Irrespective of the major, all students should complete the prerequisite courses required for their chosen health major. Berkeley’s pre-med programs provide excellent undergraduate preparation for schools of medicine and other related professions and send large numbers of students to these graduate programs each year.
Also Read: UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate By Major
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a reputable school and considered as one of the best pre med schools in California and is known for preparing students for majors in the medical field. More than 200 pre-health students from Santa Clara’s pre-health counselling program are currently graduates of more than 60 different medical schools.
Pre-med students participate in undergraduate research projects with faculty and serve as medical scribes to prepare students for the next stage of their profession in the medical field.
Pepperdine University
- US News & World Report Rankings (National University): 49 (tie)
- Location: Malibu, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 42%
- Number of medical school applicants: 50
- Medical school acceptance rate: 70–80%
Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is a private research university with religious beliefs that offers a variety of academic programs, including programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels of study.
Located in Malibu, California, this university offers one of the best preparatory programs in the state.
Seaver College is Pepperdine University’s undergraduate institution offering pre-health and pre-medical courses and instruction. Seaver College’s pre-med program has an 89% acceptance rate for medical programs after graduation, making it a very successful program.
University of Southern California
- US News & World Report Ranking (National University): 27
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 12.4%
- Number of medical school applicants: 370
- Medical School Acceptance Rate: Not given
USC is another good school on this list, and one of the best pre med schools in California. The school ranks among the best universities in the US and the world at large. USC is situated in Los Angeles because it is a private research academic institution with a focus on medicine, engineering, business and other popular programs with a strong focus on research.
Known as the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, USC’s Premed is designed to prepare intelligent, dedicated and compassionate students for the Doctor of Medicine degree.
Also Read: University of California, UC Berkeley Student Portal Login: calcentral.berkeley.edu
Pomona College
- U.S. News & World Report Rankings (Faculty of Arts and Sciences): 4
- Location: Claremont, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 6.5%
- Number of medical school applicants: 54
- Medical school acceptance rate: 85% in 2018
Founded in 1887 in Claremont, California, Pomona College is a premed school and a private liberal arts college with one of the best pre-med programs in the state, designed to prepare undergraduate students to become professionals in their fields of medicine.
The pre med school has a high medical school acceptance rate, with an average acceptance rate of 85% for its graduates of pre-health.
Students of pre med at the university have access to a number of guides, worksheets, and planning tools.
UC San Diego
- US News & World Report Rankings (National Universities): 34 (tie)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 34.3%
- Medical school applicants: 757
- Medical school acceptance rate: 42% in 2020
Commonly known as UC San Diego and or UC San Diego, founded in 1960, it is a public land-grant university with a concentration on research offering more than 200-degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate degree levels of study.
The institution is also one of the best premed schools in California, providing students with the skills, knowledge, and discipline needed to complete a medical degree.
UC San Diego is a very good university and has a wide range of medical programs, including veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, nursing, and more, but students must complete pre-med courses before they can earn a master’s degree in these fields.
The school has a network of tools, resources and advisors to help you achieve your goals.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- US News & World Report Rankings (National University): 20
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 10.8%
- Medical school applicants: 1,298
- Medical school acceptance rate: 53% in 2020
UCLA is one of the best pre med schools on this list also one of the top universities in the United States and the first choice for many students who want to pursue reputable undergraduate and graduate degree programs in MBA, law, engineering, medicine, and more.
The university also has one of the largest numbers of universities. America’s and world-renowned medical schools.
UCLA’s pre-health program is designed for students at their undergraduate level of studies to pursue careers in the health professions.
The school is committed to supporting students to become successful applicants who are committed to service and achieving academic success.
Also Read: 15 Free Tuition Medical Schools that Charges No Tuition!
UC Santa Barbara
- US News & World Report Rankings (National Universities): 28 (tie)
- Location: Santa Barbara, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 29.2%
- Number of medical school applicants: 215
- Medical school acceptance rate: Not given; in the past, UCSB has stated that their medical school acceptance rate is about 42%
UC Santa Barbara another school on this list committed to preparing medical students for success. The school is one of the best pre med schools in California.
Founded in 1891, it is a public land-grant research university located in Isla Vista, California. USCB or UC Santa Barbara, as it is commonly known, offers a number of academic programs that leads to the offering of undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The medical programs offered by this academic institution is top-notch and internationally renowned, some of which include pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, and more.
However, before the completion of any of the specialities, you must begin with pre med school which builds your foundation and equips you for a rigorous medical education.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- US News & World Report Rankings (National Universities): 9 (tie)
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- Undergraduate Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Number of medical school applicants: not given
- Medical School Acceptance Rate: Not given; however, most students have MCAT scores above 90%
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