<p>I still can't decide between the two.
I think MCB is more of the micro stuff and MEB is the macro stuff, but I also read on the introduction of the MEB major that it also suits premed and prevet students. My question is that if I choose MEB as my major and I later on decide to do immunology or neurobiology for my grad study, can I just take classes in the immunology/neurobiology discipline on my own (instead of going through the whole process of applying for change of college)? Will it be a busy schedule if I choose to do so? And how many classes does the MCB and MEB have in common? Please help me:) Thanks!</p>
<p>Are you in incoming freshman? If so, don’t worry about this yet. Just take the normal sequence of courses for all bio majors (Chem 1A, Chem 3A/3B, Bio 1A/1B, Physics 8A/8B) and see how you do in those. MCB is harder than MCB but is a better degree, so you should be MCB and only consider going to MEB if you cannot do well in those classes.</p>
<p>Thanks flutterfly! I am actually a CC student thinking about transferring to Cal next year :-)</p>
<p>Have you even looked at the classes for MEB? MCB 150 (immuno) and MCB 165 (mol. neuro) actually count as elective MEB credit if you do the Human Health concentration. Also you can tailor MEB to be as micro as MCB if you want.</p>
<p>Immunology and neurobiology are 2 of the 5 emphases in MCB: [Descriptions</a> of our Major Emphases](<a href=“http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/major/major/descriptions/]Descriptions”>Descriptions of Major Emphases | Molecular and Cell Biology)</p>
<p>Leftist, I know you are always the first to put down MCB, but you really cannot say that MCB is not the best choice for the OP here (MEB is ok as a backup major).</p>
<p>I don’t know if MEB is a good back up if a transfer. You have to realize that MEB upper division ranges from 30-38 science upper div units so your gonna have to decide pretty soon.</p>
<p>Because MCB is in Letters & Sciences, you don’t have as many requires as MEB does - in fact, you only have 6 upper division courses (roughly correlates to 24 units, less than MEB’s requirements) you need to take over your 4 semesters at Cal. So you’ll have plenty of time to take other classes that interest you. If you’re interested in grad school (immunology/neurobiology), MCB is a much better way to go because MCB is seen more favorably by these grad programs and will give you a stronger foundation in the research aspect (since lab courses are required), which you will need if you go to grad school in these fields. If you’re thinking about premed or prevet, MCB is still a good choice - it may be slightly more difficult, but you can take classes that are relevant to these areas as well (e.g., in the NST department or elsewhere). Overall, MCB is much more flexible. The downside is classes may be more difficult. I also do not know if MCB is more popular among transfers and if it’s harder to get into MCB than MEB or vice versa.</p>
<p>Immunology: Both MCB and Microbial Biology are strong programs
Neuro: MCB is much stronger.</p>
<p>When exactly did Calbear point that out? I don’t see how that first post was directed at me and the second was just a warning that the OP might not have much time to decide the majors (which I agree with). And it is not just one immunology course, 150 and 150L are separate courses that are 4 units each. </p>
<p>The OP specifically asked about graduate school for immunology and neurobiology - MCB is just better for that.</p>
<p>My comment was directed to the OP’s comment:“My question is that if I choose MEB as my major and I later on decide to do immunology or neurobiology for my grad study, can I just take classes in the immunology/neurobiology discipline on my own.” Apparently the OP doesn’t know that MCB 150 and 165 can count for MEB.</p>
<p>Wow you are really claiming that MCB majors do not get good enough scientific backgrounds? And you really think Molecular Environmental Biology from the College of Natural Resources (which is significantly easier to get into than any other Berkeley college), sounds better on paper than Berkeley MCB?</p>
<p>I accept that MEB is an easier option which can be helpful if your only goal is to get into Med School. However claiming that MEB is a better biology major than MCB in general is just ridiculous. I really hope no new admits actually buy into your false arguments and start switching into CNR before they even get to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Leftist really has it out for MCB.</p>
<p>Seriously. What’s your story Leftist? How did you come to be this way? Take an MCB upper div class? What year/major are you anyway?</p>
<p>Why is everybody arguing over which is better? =/ Just pick the major that has the classes that interest you. I choose MEB because I like how I can take classes on animals and insects and also some MCB classes. I don’t think which bio major matter especially when coming from Berkeley. I think what matters most is classes. I don’t think a PhD program in MCB is gonna pick an MCB-CDB major if all they took is MCB 130 over say MEB who took MCB 130 along with other 3 cell related classes (MCB 141, 150, C103) and vice versa.</p>
<p>What does the number of required courses have to do with anything? It’s not like MCB majors can’t take more than 6 courses and those include all of the courses that MEB/IB majors can take. Stop with the unnecessary MCB bashing - I have never actually met anyone who would argue that MEB is a better biology major than MCB. I have met MEB majors who openly admit that they are in it because MCB is too hard for them.</p>
<p>If you like molecular bio/biochem go with MCB. If you like the environmental/insects stuff, go with IB/CNR. But if you’re not sure and are considering grad school for Immuno/Neuro, MCB has a stronger program. No one besides Leftist will really argue the opposite.</p>
<p>MEB is better than MCB for me and MCB is better than MEB for you. It’s an answer all based on the person’s preference. Just because one major is harder does not make it “better” than easier majors. If this is true than all PhDs going into Molecular Bio should major in Chemical Bio since it is harder than MCB thus making it “better.”</p>
<p>The OP asked us if MCB or MEB would be better and stated that he/she was interested in graduate school for Neuro or Immuno. Based on just these factors, I believe that MCB is a much better choice. The only reason that the OP should also consider MEB is if he/she believes he would not be able to get good enough grades in MCB.</p>
<p>Now let’s look at the program descriptions for each major.</p>
<p>MCB: 5 emphases - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell/Developmental Biology, Neurobiology, Immunology and Pathogenesis, Genetics
MEB: 6 emphases - Animal Health and Behavior, Biodiversity, Ecology, Environment and Human Health, Organisms and Environment, Microbiology.</p>
<p>Read the descriptions on [Molecular</a> Environmental Biology](<a href=“http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/site/majors/meb.php]Molecular”>Molecular Environmental Biology | UC Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources) for MEB and [Descriptions</a> of our Major Emphases](<a href=“http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/major/major/descriptions/]Descriptions”>Descriptions of Major Emphases | Molecular and Cell Biology) for MCB and tell me which you think fits the OP’s request better. Grad schools will know the difference between the majors and they will look at what classes you have taken. A core of ecology/organismal diversity/physiology courses is NOT going to help OP with grad school as much as 6 intense molecular/cell biology courses will.</p>
<p>And your argument about how many classes are required does not help you at all. MCB majors can take whatever MEB classes they want and MEB majors can take whatever MCB classes they want in addition to the requirements. MCB has fewer requirements? Hey that’s MORE room to take additional classes relating to pathogens/infectious disease (if the OP does end up picking Immuno).</p>
<p>Did you look at the classes for the MEB breadth? For ecology you can take microbial ecology, for organismal diversity you can take PMB C114 (cross listed with MCB C114) which is comparative virology and for physiology you can take MCB 136 (human physio). IDK about you guys but those classes classes seem pretty relevant to pathology. </p>
<p>*Biggest downfall of MEB = lack of information/generalizations</p>
<p>^Yes but the OP isn’t sure about Immuno.</p>
<p>Yeah if the OP is gonna go into Neuro than MCB is best, but for Immuno (patho) MB and MEB are no push overs to MCB.</p>