<p>i'm majoring in bioengineering and can't decide btwn ucla and ucsd. i know ucsd is better at it but i'm not even sure i'll go through with it since i'm concerned about the job prospects for this degree. i know i want to do bio-related stuff though which ucsd is better at.here's the breakdown</p>
<p>ucla:
- more scholarship $$
- better overall rep.
- more socially active
- new environment
i can't visit though so i don't know if i'll love it or hate it :/</p>
<p>ucsd:
- biotech hub
- one of best in bioengineering
-decent scholarship $$
- seems laid-back</p>
<p>will i be able to find a good job pretty easily at ucsd, since it's in a biotech hub? as opposed to ucla? also what biotech companies, if any, recruit undergrads at ucsd/ucla? or is having a MS a must? btw, ultimate goal, i guess, is to work at a company like genentech or amgen</p>
<p>thanks in advance! really must decide soon...literally!!</p>
<p>Not a clear answer on the total monetary difference and if it is significant to you.</p>
<p>Seems too close a call to make finances a consideration based on what you say so far. </p>
<p>I thought that degree had good job prospects in general, compared to others right now. Unless a grad degree is required to be viable. If so, that shouldn’t be an obstacle. You should do your homework on that before selecting a major. I’d pick UCSD, but if you have a strong preference for UCLA, that is a fine choice.</p>
<p>fyi, UCLA is a pretty jewel of a campus. You can walk and bus around the area, and take a short bus to Santa Monica and Venice beaches.</p>
<p>are grants usually renewed every year? UCSD just gave me a grant but it didn’t have a name or anything (like the blue and gold grant or the SMART grant, etc.) so now I’m not sure </p>
<p>I’m worried if I pass up UCSD I’ll miss out on the advantages it has to offer in that field, but my parent’s like UCLA’s overall reputation I think biotech companies recognize UCSD’s rep. in bio/engineering, right? Apparently, UCSD is more med school oriented, but med school does not appeal to me. </p>
<p>The LA area is more appealing to me though, since I come from a small town so LA would be refreshing</p>
<p>SD is decently more science oriented than UCLA, but not more pre-med oriented. UCLA produces a good more amount of doctors than SD, as well as dentists, and possibly pharmacists (I’d think they’d be pretty close in this prof).</p>
<p>In comparison of the schools, UCSD is STEm, UCLA is stEM, with the E for UCLA in more of the mainstream E’s, SD more of the offspring, sub speciality E’s, such as the sub specialty bio types of E and its various manifestations at SD, although (methinks) UCLA has a fairly nascent bioE offering that seems to be thriving (or is it biotech?).</p>
<p>(Although for pure numbers of undergrads to STEM according to that one post making its rounds, we know Cal leads in pure numbers, UCLA seemed to be represented – I don’t remember seeing SD, but it should be huge nonetheless.)</p>
<p>… though, I think of a typical CA pharmacist as being a UCI or UCR graduate. I don’t know if these thoughts are actually manifest in reality in comparison of real numbers, one UC v another. Maybe UCLA and UCSD grads go into more of the behind-the-scenes researchy academia types of pharm.</p>
<p>that’s another thing, I’m not sure if I will be going through with bioeng. I’m a little worried b/c I have a B in AP Calc BC so I don’t know how I will fare in college calc classes. :/</p>
<p>@ritzduck I am graduating from bioengineering at UCSD this quarter and so can only comment on my experiences and what I’ve seen at UCSD, but if you think you want to do bioE, UCSD is a great choice. The professors here are pioneers in their fields and its relatively easy to volunteer in a lab (i.e. systems bio, stem cell, biomaterials, etc. you can find all this on their website). As far as for internships and industry, there are many school clubs on campus that have great connections with the nearby biotech industry. Other bioE’s as well as myself were able to intern at companies such as genentech, amgen, pfizer etc. I can’t really comment on if you’ll be able to get a job easier or not if you go to UCSD or UCLA since getting a job is usually a case by case situation. But there definitely are opportunities available at UCSD to go into industry if that’s what you’re asking about. I hope this helps but would recommend that you look more in depth into both programs before you make your final decision as it will be where you’re at for the next 4 years.</p>
<p>thanks ucsdbe.if you don’t mind me asking, what are your future plans after you graduate? it seems a MS is required for a bioeng. at those companies you spoke of, is this true? or is it possible to work at those companies upon graduation? also, are the math/physics classes super hard compared to AP calc BC or AP Physics B? sorry for all the questions, but it would really help me decide.</p>
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