<p>I'm also considering UCI and USC. Important factors are their variety of science courses (non-premed), research opportunities/ internships, study abroad programs, and amount of people who get into prestigious biology grad programs after they graduate. Thanks.</p>
<p>UCI has a more prestigious biology program. However, it all depends on the student. Biology is a VERY popular major at UCI and most of the students are probably pre-med. UCI will be very competitive, which is important because you have to remember how colleges grade on a curve. You want to be in the top portion of your class. My sister (who was pre-med, graduated at the top of her class at UCI and went on to a prestigious school) has basically made it very clear to me that it is much better to be a top-tier student at UCSB than an average student at UCI. UCSB is still a UC and is ranked the same as UCI, so it won’t look like a no-name, random school on your resume, however, the biology program is less competitive. I’m not sure about USC’s biology program (never even considered it, don’t have the money), however, USC is also known for it’s rigor. So basically, academically you should choose the school you will excel at, not the one with the most prestige. This is important, especially since all three are known as good schools anyway. If you are confident that you will do better than most of the students at UCI, go there. But if not, you should consider your other options.</p>
<p>UCI is also more competitive in other ways. Since there are so many pre-med students there, it will be harder to get research opportunities and internships. You will have to compete with not only your fellow pre-med students, but the students already IN med school at UCI. Research opportunities will be given to grad students before you, and the rest will be dispersed to the best students. As I have told you, my sister was in the very top of her class, but still had to fight for research opportunities and internships, and often the most interesting ones are taking by grad students. I’m sure that students can find research and internship opportunities, they will just not be your top choice, and it will be more stressful/competitive in that aspect.</p>
<p>UCSB does not have many grad students. Therefore, undergraduates are counted upon to do research. There will be AMPLE amounts of research and internships available to you compared the ones available to you at UCI. You will have a much easier time finding research, and are more likely to get research which interests you. You will not have to compete with graduate students for these spots, and there will also be easier to compete with UCSB students. However, UCI has a bigger pre-med program, so I’m sure there are things you will be missing out on. </p>
<p>Studying abroad at UCSB will be easier than at UCI. A LOT of students study abroad at UCSB, mostly in their junior year. They have a big program available to students if you would like to do this. A lot of the cost is covered by financial aid, it won’t cost you much more than your tuition at UCSB. They have a lot of support for students who wish to do this.</p>
<p>Going to USC also has it’s advantages. USC is a private school - which means you’ll be spending big bucks to go there. However, the alumni network is GREAT. You will meet a lot of contacts and have a lot of support once you graduate. USC alumnis really look out for each other. You also may be able to get internships from them.</p>
<p>Overall, it is all depends on the student. My sister has given me a lot of advice on this, and basically she has just told me to go where I will excel. Remember, getting into grad school will be VERY competitive. You want to have a high GPA, good research experience, and an internship. That is most important, since all three are good schools. The second most important thing is which school “fits” your personality. Visit the schools, see which one you will be happy at. No matter what the prestige is, you need to go to a school that won’t make you miserable for four years, because your path will already be stressful enough as it is!</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>That helps sooo much! Thanks!</p>
<p>No problem! 
I’m going through the same thing you are so I know how you feel. What type of biology are you focusing on?</p>
<p>Anything in environmental science, botany, marine bio, or just cell development. I don’t think I will be pre-med though, but I want to keep my options open. What about you?</p>
<p>I’m pre-med. Not sure what specific biology yet, probably like molecular… </p>
<p>I think marine biology at UCSB is supposed to be really good because they have their own lagoon and are right on the ocean. Lots of hands-on stuff. For environmental science, botany, etc. UCSB might even have an edge over UCI because they tend to focus on pre-med stuff. UCSB actually has a separate department (EEMB) with majors such as Aquatic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, and Zoology for that sort of stuff, while UCI only has a general “Ecology & Evolutionary Biology” major. USC also has a marine biology major, I believe. I think they’d have more research opportunities and such in that field because the ocean and wildlife is RIGHT there, whilst Irvine/LA doesn’t have much of that… more suburban.</p>
<p>Here’s the website if you’re interested:
<a href=“Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology | University of California, Santa Barbara”>Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology | University of California, Santa Barbara;
<p>I was also deciding between UCI and UCSB and had the same question as to which school has a better bio program… I was back and forth because UCI is where I would be more comfortable with social scene wise (i’m a rather quiet Asian girl type) but UCSB has a reputation for party school and white dominated… but it would have zoology which is what I have always wanted to study and get into. </p>
<p>and like dissonance said, my friend’s sister told me I was crazy to even consider going to UCSB when UCI has a better and stronger bio program. But when I told her I wanted to study zoology, she said that then yes, UCSB might be better because of the resources right on campus is waaay better than UCI. My AP chemistry teacher confirmed this saying that when she went to UCSD and then tried to take a class about invertebrates or another, the class was just textbook based with no labs because ucsd didn’t really focus on the specifics (ucsd prolly focused on its pre-med students and such) and she said that UCSB is has it’s own beach and lagoon so labs and hands on stuff will be no problem. </p>
<p>and one thing that I think would work in our favor if choosing UCSB is that UCSB is 85% undergrad so the focus will be on us and therefore more opportunities will be available. </p>
<p>So yes, despite the party school rep which I am very wary about, I am going to ucsb for pre-biology and then after 2 years, zoology. =D besides, I am going there to study and prepare for grad school, not to party.</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>who cares if its white dominant. im asian coming from an asian dominant high school and i dont think it will be a problem at all.</p>
<p>and all schools party… its just that parties here are supposed to be more intense…
but its not a party school if ur going to avoid it… you cant say its a party school when you dont party at all</p>
<p>genuinescence, if you are concerned about the party-school rep, I recommend you put the “Women in Science” special interest building as your first choice on housing. I know someone who lives there (quiet Asian girl, pre-med type) and she absolutely LOVES it. It’s in Manazita Village, and she says it’s the quietest place on campus. She has found a lot of like-minded friends (quiet Asian girl types :)) who hang out and of course make time for fun but are also very studious. The rooms are actually much more spacious and roomy than I thought they’d be, are the biggest on campus, and have only 4 people (or rooms? not sure) to a private bathroom with one stall, one shower that can be locked. </p>
<p>However, even if you are more interested in the traditional pre-med biology majors, it is not unreasonable to choose UCSB over UCI because of the ample research/internship opportunities and the slightly less-competitive peers which will lead to a better GPA. Unless you are VERY talented/academic and know you will do better than the majority of the students at UCI, or that UCSB will be too easy for you and the classes will lose your interest, then both are very plausible. Or at least, this is information I’ve gathered from my sister and my cousin, who both were pre-med/dental students and are now successfully in their careers. :)</p>
<p>“who cares if its white dominant. im asian coming from an asian dominant high school and i dont think it will be a problem at all.”</p>
<p>I’m not saying it’s a problem, it’s just that it will take some getting used to. I have plenty of white friends out of state an in canada since i’ve lived there in my childhood days, but since I’ve been living in an Asian dominant community for so long (middle school through high school) that i’m just naturally inclined to be around asians, if you know what i mean. </p>
<p>and yes Lawcha, I agree with you on that philosophy on the whole party thing. I plan not to party or get into that kind of stuff so it doesn’t bother me as much as it did before. </p>
<p>i’m thinking that going to ucsb will be a great experience also-i’ve realized that it’s nice to stretch your comfort zone once in a while.</p>
<p>thanks for the tip dissonance! i will definitely put that on my list of dorms =D</p>
<p>I’m in the bio program too! So excited!</p>
<p>yay! thank you so much! i really want to go to ucsb and you really just affirmed my decision to apply there. I want to major in molecular biology and I love the fact that 85% of the student population are undergrads. However, I do need some back up schools and I was wondering do you know which CSU’s have good Biology programs?</p>
<p>It may be white dominated, but its not like they’re going to oppress you lol. I’m asian, though I came from a white high school so I’m already comfortable, but people here are by far the nicest I’ve ever met. As for the party scene, yes but that’s all in IV. I partied in high school and major partied in summer, but I’ve been here over a month and haven’t gone to a single party. It won’t affect you, and the parties are in IV since the RAs here are pretty strict about drugs/alcohol. Plus there are so many other things to do. Here over a month, living in dorms, was a partier and haven’t partied and still enjoying/having much fun here.</p>
<p>UCSB isnt exactly white dominated…i mean its barely a white majority anymore. its like 20% Asian, which is 1 in 5, and like 25% hispanic. its much more diverse than everyone thinks, and as for the party scene, its definitely there, and it is really great and all, but not everyone parties, and people wont hate on you because you dont. People are pretty laid back and chill over here. I think you may like it more than you think. I mean, i was iffy about it, but now that im here, i love it more and more every day.</p>
<p>I agree. UCSB is not white dominant. There are a lot of asians there like 20% and that’s a lot. (: UCSB is very diverse.</p>