<p>Which would would you pick for a bioengineering major?</p>
<p>JHU - no financial aid, (ranked #1 for bioengineering), really far from home
UCLA - Dean's Scholarship ($8,300 a year)
UC Berkeley - well known for engineering school
UCSD - bioengineering (ranked #2 for bioengineering)</p>
<p>Since this is a Hopkins forum, I suspect most people would choose Hopkins (I would). But really, you don’t give nearly enough information to say anything meaningful–like how critical financial aid is to your decision. </p>
<p>Your choice is really between apples and oranges. Three large public universities on the west coast compared to a small to medium size private university on the east coast. These are very different undergraduate experiences. If possible, visit Hopkins and you’ll know if its right or not.</p>
<p>JHU - no financial aid , plus far away from home</p>
<p>Which would would you pick for a bioengineering major?</p>
<p>JHU - no financial aid, (ranked #1 for bioengineering), really far from home
UCLA - Dean’s Scholarship ($8,300 a year)
UC Berkeley - well known for engineering school
UCSD - bioengineering (ranked #2 for bioengineering)</p>
<p>Answer these questions:
How important is weather to you?<br>
UCSD has the best weather; followed by UCLA
How important is safety in local city?
UCSD is in La Jolla… Best<br>
UCLA in Bel Air is nice area
How important is BioEngineering?
JHU and UCSD are the best two
How important are research opportunities?
JHU, UCSD are best two
How important are grades for continuing on in Medical, Graduate or other schools?
JHU does not grade on curve. I have been told that at least some classes at UCs DO Grade on curve. So if you don’t mind getting a “D” for getting a 90 on a test, then take chances at the UCs which are all extremely competitive.
What if you change majors?
JHU, Berkeley, and UCLA offer top programs in other majors. It is a hit and miss with UCSD.<br>
How important is money?
UCLA’s scholarship covers most if not all tuition. But you have to maintain strong grades to keep it on an annual basis. What if you lose it and stay in bioE? You may not be able to transfer to UCSD. A lot of students got into UCSD but NOT UCLA this year. You did. Good for you.<br>
What about the California budget crisis?
That is a crapshoot. No one knows the effects this economy will take on the big UCs. The UCs have upped the requirements for getting into their already competitive schools for incoming Freshman. On the other hand, they are guaranteeing spots to those coming in from small community colleges who maintained at least a 3.4 gpa. I happen to know many of those JC students who were not stellar students in HS who went to the local JC and got into Berkeley, UCLA and UCSD. None were engineering students, so I do not believe they will bring down the overall competitiveness of those programs. However, you never know what will happen in the future.
How important are small classes?<br>
JHU is best choice here.
How important is having family and connections close by?
You know which one is better ranked in your situation.
How important is the overall campus experience?
UCLA is most “fun” school in that it has top ranked athletics teams and is more known for parties. JHU and UCSD are study schools.<br>
How important is small college experience?
JHU is first followed by UCSD (UCSD is broken up into five or six small colleges, each with its unique flavor) This is not to be confused with Jacobs School of Engineering which you attend for Engineering. </p>
<p>There you have it.<br>
Berkely is overrated. Last choice in my opinion.</p>
<p>Overall: I like JHU and UCSD for different reasons. If you can tolerate the weather and financial cost at JHU, then you should be in a better overall position there. But four years is a long time and nothing beats La Jolla (safety, beauty, sunshine) and the ten minute walk to the beach on weekends.</p>
<p>One more thing, the general atmosphere of the UCs is casual and laid back, especially in San Diego. </p>
<p>Half of JHU’s students attend with no financial aid. That means BEFORE taxes parents are shelling out upwards of $80K a year on their kids college education. You will definitely see more students from lower to middle income families at the UCs. If you find comfort in hanging with people who are similar in background, then that may help you in your decision as well.</p>
<p>Socially, all the schools are different. Academically, you can’t go wrong with any of them. If money is not an issue then Hopkins would be your best best since it is number 1 for biomedical engineering, UCB is a peer school with Hopkins. Trust me, you don’t want to graduate from college 200k in debt, especially when you have UCB as an option. UCLA is a little bit weaker than Hopkins but still a great school.</p>
<p>Take it from someone with experience, go to the best school that you can afford!</p>
<p>If you’re sure set on BME/BioE, I would narrow it down to UCSD and Hopkins and visit both of them. Assuming you’re instate, UCSD is a lot cheaper, but a lot larger so you have that trade-off to consider. The UCSD campus definitely has a Southern California feeling compared to a more traditional, Southern-esque Hopkins campus. See what you like better. I think the Hopkins BME program is fantastic, but UCSD isn’t too shabby either.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies! :] I’m not 100% sure about BioE so I want to pick a college that will offer other high ranking majors. Most likely, I will stay within biology related areas.</p>
<p>Although my family isn’t poor, shelling out $55,000+ a year for JHU is a bit much, but they’ll let me go if I REALLY LOVED JHU. I think my college decision will be a bit easier after I visit them. </p>
<p>Question: I’m planning on going to graduate school and I heard that you need a high GPA to go anywhere good. Which university would give me the best opportunity to go to a better grad than undergrad?</p>
<p>My daughter graduated Hopkins and has been accepted to Harvard (full ride) for graduate school. Most of her friends have done similarly well. Do well at Hopkins and you’re in very good shape for graduate school.</p>