<p>I have to make a quick choice of UCSD (local college) vs Rice (great scholarship) vs Brown (good scholarship). I have visited all the schools and find all of them have their pluses and minuses. I am interested in biomedical engineering but also think that I may want pharmacy/ research. I am leaning toward Rice because of finances. Is there other considerations that would make either Brown or UCSD a better choice?</p>
<p>If the financial package frees you up from working and allows you to concentrate on your studies then go where the money is...Think of financial aids as getting pay to study. There is a huge advantage to graduate with no debt. You can save your money for Pharmacy school or graduate school. Is this a full ride at Rice?</p>
<p>What do you think of UCSD as compared?? Jacobs/ Muir? I would live on campus etc. Rice is not a full financial ride but 4 figures instead of 5. UCSD would be the least but I fear the huge classes. I already have some connections with La Jolla research opportunities for the summer. It is a great place for starting a career search. Should I stay here in San Diego or go to Rice for comparable cost or double my cost and go to Brown. How much would the prestige of Brown mean to me in the long run? Will I get the same education at Rice or UCSD? Today I am leaning toward Rice, yesterday UCSD, the day before Brown. What is most important?</p>
<p>As a Texan, I didn't know the difference between UCSD and SDSU until I found this site. That's not to say it's not a good school because from what I have read on this site, UCSD is a better for biomed eng than Brown. At Rice there are lots of opportunities for undergrad research. I think the small classes is a huge plus, but some people don't mind or even prefer large classes. If you want to go out of state, I would choose Rice over Brown.</p>
<p>For bio-engineering, I would pick UCSD over Rice or Brown. The first couples of years you will be taking fundamental classes anyway (i.e. physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, GE requirements, etc.). As you get into upper division classes you will find that class size becomes smaller and you will see the same faces -- doing the same major. It may be daunting the first year at UCSD but you'll get a small school feel after you get past all your lower division classes. This is not saying you won't be interacting with professors in your lower division classes. Opportunities for undergraduate research abound. You can start looking for them after your freshman year (or have at least 30 units under your belt) or sooner -- they want to see how well you have studied (GPA counts!). Regardless of what is being said here or elsewhere...make sure you keep the long view...Get out of school with no debt should be one of the goals...and since you already got connections in La Jolla/San Diego area why look elsewhere.</p>