Attending any of the best pre med schools in California will give upcoming medical students access to quality medical education and research and cutting-edge facilities to do practical work.
California is one of the top states in the USA with almost everything you could ask for. It is the home of Los Angeles which houses Hollywood, the state further houses Disneyland, Universal Studios, and many other exciting places. Aside from these fun places, California houses some of the best universities and colleges, not just in the United State alone, but in the world as well.
Top universities such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, etc. are located here. These institutions hold both national and international prestige due to the quality academic programs they offer covering a wide range of disciplines. The vibrancy of the state of California and its top postsecondary institutions makes it a top choice among international students even though it is really expensive to stay here.
Whether it is business, medicine, law, art, engineering, etc. that you want to study in California, you get to partake in the top quality degree programs that the institutions are known to provide. And one of the popular programs that students from home and abroad come to pursue in Californian universities is medical and business programs.
We recently published an article discussing the best colleges in California for business and in this blog post we are discussing the best pre med schools in California and just in case you don’t know what pre med schools in California mean nor how to join or apply for one, this article has got you covered and without further ado, let’s get into them.
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What is a Pre Med School in California
Pre med schools in California are medical schools California that prepare students who want to build a career in the medical field. Some refer to it as a preparatory school for students going on to pursue an MD or Doctor of Medicine degree in a particular medical field. So, whether you want to be a family doctor, obstetrician, surgeon, psychiatrist, neurologist, etc. you must go through pre-med school.
What premed school does is that it builds student’s foundational knowledge of the medical field and prepares them for the medical part they want to follow. A premed school may also be referred to as undergraduate study and although you may be given a bachelor’s degree you cannot practice with it until you go to med school and obtain an MD.
Every student who wants to enter the medical field must firstly attend a med school program.
How to Join A Pre Med School in California
Typically, you will be joining a pre-medical school after high school but you must decide on pursuing a medical degree while still in high school for better preparation. Once this has been decided, you need to take the right courses which are science courses that include physics, chemistry, math, calculus, statistics, and English.
The next is selecting any of the pre med schools in California of your choice and if you have none on your mind this post will help you as we have listed and discussed in detail the best pre med schools in California. Prepare for the MCAT exam, take the exam, and submit transcripts, and application materials to the school you have chosen.
Best Pre Med Schools in California
Here is where the best pre med schools in California have been outlined and discussed further below with application links for you to easily apply into any of the schools of your choice.
1. Stanford University
Stanford University ranks among the top universities in the world in many fields of study, especially in medicine and engineering. Aside from being a top-ranking university it also houses a top-ranked medical school that prepares aspiring medical students for any medical professional of their choice. It is one of the best pre med schools in California and goes on to award students an MD or Master of Doctor degree at the end of their program.
Premed students of Stanford University have a Pre-Med Association for each class year. Through the Stanford Academic Advisory Program students get to meet with pre-health advisors and a mock interview specialist individually who guide them through the admission and interview process.
2. The University of California –Berkeley
Popularly known as UC, Berkeley and consistently ranked among the best universities in national and international categories and also among the best pre med schools in California. The pre-med at UC, Berkeley is neither a major or minor but rather a pre-professional path that students choose when preparing for a career in graduate-level health professions.
Regardless of major, all students are expected to complete the prerequisite courses required by their preferred health profession. The pre-med program at Berkeley offers outstanding undergraduate preparation for medical and other-related professional schools and sends an impressive number of students on to these graduate programs annually.
3. Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is one of the best pre med schools in California with a reputation for preparing students for professions in the medical field. More than 200 premed students from Santa Clara’s Pre-Health Advising program have gone on to become graduates of over 60 different medical schools.
Pre-med students engage in undergraduate research projects with faculty members and work as medical scribes which prepares students for the next phase of their medical profession.
4. Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University was established in 1937 as a private research university with a religious affiliation and offers a wide range of academic programs with undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university is located in Malibu, California, and offers one of the best premed programs in the state.
Seaver College is the undergraduate institution at Pepperdine University that offers pre-health and pre-medicine coursework and guidance. The premed program at Seaver College has an 89% acceptance rate to medical programs after graduation making it a highly successful program.
5. The University of Southern California
USC is one of the best pre med schools in California and consistently ranked among the best universities in the United States and the world. USC is located in Los Angeles and because it is a private research university the institution has a strong focus on medicine, business, engineering, and other programs with a strong research focus.
Premed here at USC is known as Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program designed to prepare compassionate, intelligent, and dedicated students for the pursuit of an MD degree.
6. Pomona College
Established in1887 and located in Claremont, California, Pomona College is a private liberal arts college and has an outstanding premedical program that ranks among the best in the state which prepares undergraduates to become professionals in their respective medical fields. The institution also has a high medical school acceptance rate with an average of 85% among their pre-health graduates.
Premed students in Pomona have access to lots of guides, worksheets, and planning tools.
7. The University of California, San Diego
Popularly known as UC San Diego and or UCSD and established in 1960 as a public land-grant research university offering more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The institution is also one of the best pre med schools in California equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and discipline to complete their medical degrees.
UC San Diego has a wide range of medical programs which include dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, nursing, veterinary medicine, etc. but students have to go through the premed program before going to the master’s level to acquire a degree in any of these fields. The school has the tools, resources, and network of advisors to help you get there.
8. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA is one of the top universities in the united states and a top choice among many students who want to pursue world-renowned undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs such as MBA, medicine, law, engineering, etc. The university also houses one of the most prestigious medical schools in the United States and the world.
The Pre-Health program at UCLA is designed for undergraduate students pursuing a career in the health profession to support students on their journey to become successful applicants who are committed to service and academic success.
9. The University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara is one of the best pre med schools in California. It was established in1891 as a public land-granting research university in Isla Vista, California. USCB or UC Santa Barbara, as it is commonly referred to offers a wide range of academic programs leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The medical program here is top-notch and has international recognition of being among the best, some of the medical programs include pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, medicine, etc. However, before you complete any of these professions you must first start from premed school which builds your foundational knowledge and prepares you for a rigorous medical education.
These are the best pre medical schools in California that you may want to select from, the provided links will help you learn more about the premed programs of each of the schools. Choosing the right premedical school to attend is a hassle either to parent or child and with this blog post, you get to instantly know the one that is right for you.
FAQs
What California university has the best pre-med program?
Stanford University has the best pre-med program in California and surprisingly it isn’t difficult to enter but the medical school is highly competitive and has a low admission rate, about 6%.
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