Bioengineering: UCSD, UCLA, or Berkeley??? I can't decide!!!

Applying to College
1

Hi! Im choosing between SD, LA, and Berk. But, I am having such a hard time… I want to go to medical school after i get my degree in bioengineering. and every school has lots of pros and cons…

like for SD i hav a regents scholarship, it has a hosiptal on campus (volutneer clinical work), and its #2 for bioengineering but i visited there and the campus is DEAD… therefore i dont like it

for LA i LUV it but itz bioengineering program only started LAST year, it duz hav a hosiptal on campus, but the newness of the program is the biggest con…

for berkeley… well for med school gpa is such an important factor and at berk i know itz going to be hard to get a high gpa… especially for a bioengineering major, also safety seems to be an issue, and there is no hospital rite on campus

pleez help me im stressing a lot :O( and i havto turn my SIR in like a week :O(

2

<p>I would choose UCSD. It seems that the only thing holding you back from it is the lack of social scene there... but as an engineer at UCLA, let me just say that you won't be able to take advantage of the social scene as much as you'd like to, unfortunately. That's the cardinal sacrifice of being an engineering major (especially bioengineering, arguably the hardest major right now).</p>

3

<p>UCSD because according to 2005 US NEWS RANKINGS, they are #2 following John Hopkins in BIOENGINEERING. That's pretty impressive.</p>

4

<p>UCSD is the top public university in bioengineering!</p>

5

<p>With a Regent's Scholarship and the best Bioengineering program among the UCs, UCSD seems like the best choice.</p>

6

<p>This is a no brainer, UCSD! You have all of the biotech firms in SD for internships, research and all sorts of opportunities. UCSD is attracting some of the greatest talents, especially after CA became stem cell central.</p>

7

<p>I think it would be worth it for her to do bioengineering at a place she liked if she really doesn't like SD that much. After all, a place like Cal isn't too shabby in bioengineering (number 10 i believe). Couldn't she be able to get a comparable education at Cal and not really suffer much at all? I think it is a small price to pay for the fact that she would enjoy her college experience more. </p>

<p>Also- Would it really be that much harder to have a good GPA at Cal's bioengineering as opposed to SD's? It seems that SD's might even be harder due to the fact that it has the high prestige.</p>

<p>Also, would it even be worth considering LA if she really loved it there?</p>

<p>thanks for helping my gf :)</p>

8

<p>Well, bioengineering is third in the nation for San DIego. It is really good. I know UCLA"s is pretty new, and it is not that popular. So, I would chose SD.</p>

9

<p>Berkeley is the best of all of these!!</p>

10

<p>Variance2004: While UC Berkeley may be the best school overall, UCSD is the best choice for Bioengineering.</p>

11

<p>unless you are sure you are going into bioengineering, i would say uc berkeley because you would still have many other good options.</p>

12

<p>Word to the wise:
Best != Best in Bioengineering</p>

<p>The people have spoken. Let's put this thread out to pasture, shall we?</p>

13

<p>not yet</p>

<p>"I would choose UCSD. It seems that the only thing holding you back from it is the lack of social scene there... but as an engineer at UCLA, let me just say that you won't be able to take advantage of the social scene as much as you'd like to, unfortunately. That's the cardinal sacrifice of being an engineering major (especially bioengineering, arguably the hardest major right now)."</p>

<p>so how much free time do you actually have? the way you say it makes it seem as if there is no free time for you at all.</p>

14

<p>Three hours on weekdays. My free time on weekends can vary greatly, depending on how far behind I am on the class material.</p>

15

<p>3 hours per day? how many hours do you sleep per day?</p>

16

<p>I know of a friend who's son is studying bioengineering at UCB and he graduate in the top 1-2% of the highest API school in Cal and he said his high school did not prepare him enough. He did not have time to eat, his mom said he's very thin. If you want to study like crazy then pick UCB otherwise go somewhere else. You won't have time to even socialize, forget about the environment.
Berkeley is not that bad, I used to go to Chez Panisse(Telegraph Ave) a lot. I think housing at Berkeley is tight, what about UCSD?</p>

17

<p>ucsd- depends on your college. some are old with a/c, some are new with a/c.</p>

<p>does your friend's son work now?</p>

18

<p>no, he is the only son of a mom and dad who hit the lottery during the tech boom, actually they are still working as director/tech writer of 2 companies that successfully have gone IPO'd. So they are technically well off, working for fun and not money like some of us(lol).</p>

19

<p>so he just plays around, helping out the parents without a job?</p>

20

<p>I think he is still in school. I used to volunteer with his mom but not lately so i do not know the specific. I know he started in 2002, so he is still just may be a sophomore or junior.</p>