Best universities in California for a B.S. in Biology undergrad?

<p>What is your (parents’) state of residency?</p>

<p>I don’t think I ever asked for financial advice, in order for me to fully explain myself I’d have to give my whole life story to strangers and I don’t feel comfortable with doing that. But I’m figuring it out with my fam. and of course if I get accepted to a school that offers zero financial aid to me I won’t go. I don’t even rly know how the topic came up. </p>

<p>On a diff note I rly do appreciate the advice on schools which was the sole purpose of my post. I think I have my list now. My top schools being U.C. Davis and U.C. Santa Cruz. Other schools that made it high on my list are: U.C. San Diego, and U.C. Santa Barbara, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Then for fall backs: Sand Diego State, and Cal State Monterey Bay. UCLA’s marine and bio. program’s rly not much to talk about I’m only applying there cuz my big sis went there and I wanted to try.</p>

<p>As a non-resident, the minimum net price for UCs will be around $32,000 if you qualify for maximum financial aid. The minimum net price for CSUs will be around $25,000 in the same situation, although if you and your parents are residents of a WUE state and choose a CSU with WUE discount, you might be able to get a net price of around $17,000.</p>

<p>All of these prices are higher than what a student can reasonably expect to come up with from federal direct loans and a reasonable amount of part time and summer work (typically about $10,000 total is the highest reasonable expectation).</p>

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<p>I think we are just saying that you are unlikely to get financial aid at a California public school as a nonresident.</p>

<p>USC is a private school and may offer financial aid.</p>

<p>Okay thanks, and all I’m saying is I didn’t ask.</p>

<p>Lots of students don’t ask in the fall, then get financially shut out in April, with all of their effort in searching for and applying to colleges going to waste because they did not consider cost when making the application list.</p>

<p>Well I didn’t consider any private schools because what I’ve heard is that they are very strict on making payment on time in full or something. I thought it was more affordable going to the state or the U.C.'s. I am also trying Stanford but that’s such a HUGE stretch for my academic record. When I go to the U.C.'s application website the scholarships and aid they offer don’t seem biased to only Cali residents.</p>

<p>Really? Because you opened with this:

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<p>This is a great time to do lots of research into merit and financial aid.</p>

<p>Go to each college’s web site and search for the net price calculator. Use it to get a financial aid estimate for that college instead of making guesses and assumptions like you apparently have been.</p>

<p>DeniseC I don’t know exactly what your referring to when u say “really?” but I took off Berkeley which btw is not a private university. And I’m undecided on whether I should still bother with USC cuz it’s not a big deal for what I’m looking for. If you read my other comments in the forum you’ll see my updated list.</p>

<p>Look ucbalumnus if you have anything pertaining to my original question on colleges great but if your still going on about the financial portion which I’ve repeatedly said I don’t want to discuss to strangers on the web then refrain from posting anything else. Thanks.</p>

<p>In that case, why not add Univ of San Diego, Pepperdine, Santa Clara and St Mary’s to the list. I’m not sure about Marine Bio but, unlike the UCs and CSUs - they may throw some money at you. </p>

<p>We all respect your privacy but, I think what UCB and others are doing is encouraging you not to be delusional. Your list of schools is really selective and really expensive for non-CA residents. UCs and CSUs are generally more selective for out of state applicants and few if any out of state applicants get much aid from the state of CA. (as a CA taxpayer, i like that) Nobody wants to see you locked out come April. Would you be OK if the only place you got in was CSU Monterey and it cost $27k plus per year?</p>

<p>If you have the stats and a motorhome full of greenbacks, then congrats, never mind and welcome to California.</p>