MIMG at UCLA or Molec bio & Biochem at Cal?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>Hi;</p>

<p>I am a transfer student and I got accepted to UCLA and UC Berkeley.
As of UCLA, I got accepted for Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG). And as for Berkeley, I got accepted for Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
Now I am researching what would be my best option. </p>

<p>Ultimately, I'm aiming for carrying research/ hospital research and going graduate school. </p>

<p>Any suggestion?
Any input from a current MIMG student at UCLA?
Cal or LA? </p>

<p>Also how is on-campus housing at UCLA? Do you suggest on-campus residential plaza's or off-campus apartments?</p>

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<p>Well, about the housing at UCLA, I’d say on-campus housing, because it’s just a neat experience to have (when will the next time be when you get to live in the dorms, and when is the next time you’ll get to live in an apartment (pretty much after you graduate college)?), even though it’s pretty expensive. I’d suggest it for your first year as a transfer.</p>

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<p>Hi sahtas,
I don’t have knowledge about the molecular biology route at Berkeley, but I can discuss MIMG major at UCLA. I am a fourth year in MIMG, and I am finishing up my requirements.</p>

<p>First of all; if you are looking for a career in research, MIMG is seriously one of the best majors at UCLA for it. You will read primary literature, hear about the primary literature in lecture, write about primary literature, and research using primary literature. Pretty much, you’re not there to just read a bunch of facts. The exams are designed to test your ability to design experiments and interpret data. Immunology, for example, at UCLA was definitely the hardest class I took because it required a lot of data interpretation and creativity. </p>

<p>The classes are on average, not bad. Your selection in coursework is essential. Some classes are very easy while others are quite difficult. Equally important is how you utilize your T.A.s and professors. They are generally very good despite some of the professors’ disinterest for teaching.</p>

<p>Generally, for every class you take there will be a fair amount of memorization and experimental design. To that end, you will be memorizing lecture slides and asking questions about the experiments. </p>

<p>There really is no major like MIMG, and I don’t mean this in the quintessential, abstract sense. It’s not really a major; it’s just a smorgasboard of different scientific fields. </p>

<p>I would argue, however, that taking only MIMG classes is a terrible idea. You don’t learn some essential facts about cell biology, genetics, or biochemistry despite the name of the major. I have personal experience with this. The reason why this is true is because every professor you take either assumes you know certain information or talks about information in such a way that skims the basics and emphasizes the research. </p>

<p>I would also say that MIMG, in contrast to other majors, is heavily grounded in the belief that science is an experimental field. MCDB is like MIMG in this regard, but MCDB also contains the “developmental component”, which in my eyes is useless unless you’re doing research in that field. </p>

<p>MIMG would not provide the exact same type of information you would find in molecular biology or biochemistry major. But, it emphasizes experimental thinking. And this is what you will need to succeed in graduate school because the information can be readily ascertained through quick searches on the internet or books.</p>