<p>So basically I'm deciding between Berkeley, UCLA, and the UCI CHP. I plan on majoring in the biological sciences (possibly neuroscience or physiological sciences), and following a pre-med track. I was wondering what would be the best school for what I plan to do in life! Through research and visiting UCLA and UCI (I'm visiting Berkeley this week), I have found out a couple things about each of the schools, but more opinions will be greatly appreciated! </p>
<p>UCLA: Academically, I think that UCLA provides me with the most convenient (and probably best) research, internship, and volunteer opportunities with the hospital being right on campus. The biological sciences are strong at UCLA from what I have heard. The campus was beautiful, and I can see myself going there, but the only problem I had was that it was so BIG. And because it is so big, the dorms are so incredibly small and I wouldn' be able to drive home on the weekends because of the lack of freshmen parking. I guess I could get used to that, but lifestyle is definitely a factor for me. </p>
<p>UCI CHP: I got into the Honors program, and I think this is a major plus for me! Since I'm only considering large schools, the fact that I have an opportunity to experience the smaller side of it is remarkable. Probably the best part of it is the priority enrollment. Also, the campus is beautiful and in a safe area, the dorms are nice and spacious (best ones I've seen so far), and the school itself is strong in the sciences. All in all, I've liked this campus the best. Question: is the program I'm interested in academically stronger (and more rewarding, i guess) than UCLA or Berkeley? </p>
<p>Berkeley: I have yet to visit and look at the school again, but when I got accepted, I screamed. Before I really considered each school seriously, I had decided that Berkeley was my top UC choice. It's the perfect distance from home (but at this point, distance is not really a priority, as long as I'm dorming, which I will be at each of these schools). The atmosphere was buzzing with activity when I first saw it in September, and I loved that aspect of the school. One problem I had was that Berkeley isn't known as the "science" school. I know that many people do go there for science, and that they do excel there, but does the lack of a med school or hospital on campus (I know UCSF is nearby) affect some of extracurricular opportunities? Just food for thought. </p>
<p>I've talked to a few people, and someone who I trust said that a complaint that she hears from those who go to UCLA that she doesn't hear as much from those who go to Berkeley is that UCLA is so big. Is that true?</p>
<p>Also, I know how highly ranked each of the schools are for the biological sciences, but does it matter significantly how much I take the school's academic strengths into consideration? </p>
<p>Sorry for the long post!</p>