Marine Biology -- UCSD vs.UCSC ??

State Forums
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<p>UCSC seems more friendly, but UCSD has a stronger academic reputation.</p>

<p>UCSD of course has Scripps Institute, but the classes are bigger, perhaps a bit more impersonal. How hard would it be as an undergrad to get research opportunities? </p>

<p>UCSC sits on the Monterey Bay, also fabulous for marine biology, but the program doesn't seem to be as big, not as well developed and not as famous. </p>

<p>Does anyone out there have any knowledge of how much this will matter when it comes time for grad school applications? Am I interpreting it wrong? Are there any marine bio professors in particular that are really great?</p>

2

<p>Which do you prefer? Both prepare students well for graduate school.</p>

<p>My personal preference would be UCSC. Scripps is not overly friendly toward undergraduates, and you won’t be (or shouldn’t be) taking many marine biology courses as an undergraduate anyway, since there are many basic courses in biology you need to get out of the way. I would choose UCSD in a heartbeat for graduate studies, but I favor UCSC and UCSB for undergraduate education in marine science.</p>