<p>So, it looks like I'll most likely be attending Berkeley in the fall. Now, my previous thoughts as to what I would major in for undergrad have, for the most part, included a major in "Biochemistry", but, upon viewing Berkeley's website, I have discovered that it is not that simple. Does anyone understand the differences between College of Chemistry's Chemical Biology degree and the College of Letters and Science's Molecular & Cell Biology program? I'm having trouble making up my mind, and I realize that, for the most part, the differences between the two will be tough to assess without actually having attended Berkeley, so does anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Well for starters, you will get a BS for Chem Bio but only a BA for MCB…</p>
<p>Compared to MCB, CB requires or recommends the more rigorous general chemistry (4A-4B instead of 1A or 1A-1B), physics (7A-7B recommended instead of 8A-8B), and math (1A-1B-53-54 instead of 1A-1B) courses. CB also requires the more rigorous organic chemistry (112A-112B), while MCB accepts the less rigorous version (3A-3B) for most concentrations (although the biological chemistry concentration requires 112A-112B). Upper division course requirements are also different.</p>
<p>[General</a> Catalog - Chemistry (Department of)](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM)
[General</a> Catalog - Molecular and Cell Biology](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=MCELLBI]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=MCELLBI)</p>
<p>MCB is the largest undergraduate major on the Berkeley campus. But note that job and career prospects are not that great at the bachelor’s degree level: <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/MCB.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/MCB.stm</a> . CB is too small to for the career survey at <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/ChemBio.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/ChemBio.stm</a> to have much data, but in general, chemistry and biology do not have particularly great job and career prospects at the bachelor’s degree level.</p>
<p>If you are admitted to the College of Letters and Science, you have to apply to transfer to the College of Chemistry to major in CB.</p>
<p>If you’re good at math and physics, I would highly recommend chemical biology. Otherwise go with MCB.</p>
<p>So I only know this now after applying to biosciences grad schools, but there are actually very significant differences between ‘Biochemistry’ and ‘Chemical Biology’. Biochemistry focuses on understanding biological processes by studying proteins, lipids, and small molecules in the body. It’s studying enzymatic reactions and biochemical pathways such as metabolism and signal transduction, or DNA replication and gene expression, and studying how they relate to disease. I majored in MCB in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Track (Track 2), so this is mostly what I focused on. I’m going to graduate school next year focusing on Cancer Biology/Translational Medicine, and I’m going to be working to understand cancer-causing pathways and develop targeted drugs based on them.</p>
<p>Chemical biology focuses less on studying real biological processes, and more on using chemistry tools like organic synthesis to develop small molecule probes or inhibitors of individual proteins, and trying to synthesize artificial proteins and biomolecules de novo. More of a focus on physical chemistry and studying biomolecules in isolation than on studying processes and pathways as a whole in a molecular/cellular context.</p>
<p>So you might not know which is better for you right now. Don’t worry about the BA v. BS thing, you’ll get into great grad schools from either program. ChemBio does require to take many more math and physics classes (which are going to be MUCH harder than anything you’ve taken in high school). If that sounds good to you, go for ChemBio. MCB is also very rigorous, but just has more of a focus on molecular biology and biochemistry. MCB has fewer requirements so you can double major pretty easily or take a lot of elective courses like Cancer Bio/Immunology/Neuro, etc.</p>
<p>I know there are some College of Chemistry students on here that love it, but I absolutely hated everything to do with Chem Bio. As a 2nd semester Junior, I finally switched to MCB. Aside from the technical differences, (remember this is just my personal opinion) but here are some of my top annoyances: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Depending on where you live, every class is uphill! T_T and all of the chemistry buildings (incl. library, labs) are incredibly outdated and old. </p></li>
<li><p>The classes are awful. I loved Chemistry until I started taking the Chem Bio upper division courses last semester. Literally an entire required class about d-orbital metal bonding taught by an elderly man that refuses to make eye contact… endless lab reports… 30% averages on exams… PCHEM!! It’s like choosing to torture yourself every semester.</p></li>
<li><p>Chemistry GSIs have over-inflated egos (since our graduate Chem dept is so awesome) but most have zero desire to actually help undergrads. Low GPA.</p></li>
<li><p>After taking MCB 102 Biochemistry, I realized that my interest in it was actually more biologically based which you will NOT find within much of the Chem Bio major. Although I really liked gen chem & ochem, I found that the rest of the Chem classes were just way too boring for me.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re pre-med, I’d advise staying away from Chem Bio because the classes don’t tend to focus on things that will be on the MCAT like MCB/IB/CNR can. Sure you’ll be taking similar courses, but I feel like the repetitive nature of MCB Upper Divs was more beneficial than those in Chem Bio. Additionally, IMO, Chemistry research is ridiculously boring → which also fueled my switch to MCB.</p></li>
<li><p>Most students don’t seem to have much of a typical “college social life”. A good % are Intl and stick to themselves or in small groups. Depsite being an extroverted person, even I couldn’t find very many people that I felt like I wanted to be friends with beyond classes. Generally, everyone’s a nerd 
which is okay… but still.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Overall, I am personally THRILLED that I decided to switch out of Chem Bio and the CoC altogether. I’m sure there are a lot of great professors and motivated students that enjoy it, but it just wasn’t my thing.</p>