I’m a prospective pre-bio student who will probably pursue a career in the medical field (specifically bariatrics or neuroscience) and I was wondering what alumni and/or current students at each of these 3 universities have to say about their research programs? Is it easy to find labs, internships (paid positions), etc? Do you feel that you are/were prepared for graduate school? I’d love any advice IN GENERAL about the pros and cons of each university because I’m really struggling and I have less than two weeks to decide!
If you’re a pre-med student, UCSD is the strongest choice here. Of the three, it’s the only one with a medical school and a hospital on campus (it has four). That matters because to build your medical school application, you need to get as much clinical, shadowing, volunteering and research experience as possible. Being able to walk to a hospital to volunteer (like I do every week) is a game-changer. Also, the UCSD medical school and medical center have exceptionally strong programs in neural circuits/neuroscience and public health/diabetes research.
Additionally, UCSD is a research leader–top five in research funding in the country–particularly in biology. Those research opportunities trickle down to undergraduates both on-campus and off. In addition to the tons of lab opportunities on campus, there are several famous research institutes surrounding the school which hire undergraduates for entry-level roles: Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology and the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. In addition, the areas north and east of campus form the second-largest biotech hub in the country. Companies like Takeda and Ambrx are across the street, and both biotech startups and big pharma corporations dot the Sorrento Valley and Torrey Pines areas. That translates into internship opportunities for students like you and me.
I don’t know how well UCSD’s preparing me for grad school, but I feel confident that it’s giving me the tools to succeed. The professors are inspiring and dedicated, and there are tons of networking opportunities with doctors and researchers. I’m sure you’d be able to make similar connections at UCSC and UCSB, and I’d advise you to tour those two schools too (not everyone loves UCSD’s environment, though I don’t understand why). In particular, if you weren’t admitted directly into biology at SD I’d give them serious thought. But based on the strength of its biology department and the local bio industry, I’d tell you to come to La Jolla.
Thank you so much! I actually was accepted as a pre-bio major to Warren. I visited on Sunday and, to be completely honest, I really didn’t like feel of the campus or the surrounding neighborhood. There’s no school spirit and all of the students I saw seemed pretty down? I was only there for one day, so I’m not sure if that’s always the case. I feel like I should commit and give it a chance? I’m just worried that I’ll make the wrong decision and end up in a place that makes me miserable for four years. (I know I can transfer, but the idea of redoing the application process is not appealing whatsoever.) Then again I feel incredibly stupid for picking a college based on its environment and not its prestige. I mean I’m paying $10k per year to get a degree, not to find personal happiness or have fun. I only have about 11 days left to decide and this whole thing is seriously driving me insane. I think this is easily the most terrifying situation I’ve ever been in. Do you have any advice for me?
@kimgayvis keep in mind that this week is midterms… so I am sure everyone was dead on the weekend studying!!
Didn’t realize that! Thank you!