<p>I am a freshman admit to UCLA for bioengineering and I am debating between UCSD and UCLA. I've heard that the UCLA department for bioengineering is not good, while the UCSD department is one of the best. I am also premed so a high GPA is important, and so are research opportunities. What are bioengineering and the biological sciences in general like at UCLA?</p>
<p>I am also keen to know the answer to the above question. Also if someone could contrst UCLA’s program with GATech’s it would be great. GATech’s program is ranked among the top 3 while UCLA is not. Also Ive noticed that number of profs in bioeng at UCLA is very less compared to GAtech as well as profs doing research.</p>
<p>While my son, who has committed to UCLA and the Bioengineering Department, is not pre-med, I would wonder if the fact that the UCLA Reagan Medical Center is so highly rated (best in the West forever and #5 nationally) would be helpful for your career path in medicine? Again, just asking, as I have no idea if that is a selling point.</p>
<p>Keep in mind most specific department rankings are for the graduate departments. The rigor or competitiveness of the undergrad program has little effect on those rankings (but they obviously do trickle down a little bit like with quality of profs).</p>
<p>If you just plan to get a job after undergrad, go to whichever school as a whole is ranked better, that’s the only ranking future employers will know.</p>
<p>And truthfully, there’s a very good chance you will change majors at some point in your undergrad career, so pick the school that is overall most prestigious.</p>