Research availability at UCLA

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>Hi, I was wondering whether there is a lot of respected research oppurtunities available at UCLA. So basically is the research widely accessible? Is it respected? Particularly research programs dealing with molecular biology and/or neuroscience. Thanks!</p>

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<p>UCLA is a research institution... therefore, there is A LOT of research going on. And as far as I know its highly respected. As an undergrad, it might be difficult to get into though because a lot of people in the sciences try to get into labs and there's general only a limited number of spaces available. But, it is doable... just don't wait tooo long to start looking for a spot...</p>

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<p>bump.......</p>

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<p>Ckings86 has already answered your question. I've noticed you also posted the same in the UC Berkeley forum. The truth is that at the undergraduate level UCB and UCLA will give you comparable opportunities. Both schools are highly regarded as research institutions. Both will also be competitive in terms of getting a spot in a lab. Just ask this in the Pre-Med</a> thread.</p>

<p>Dude, you're still in HS. The first thing to do is get accepted. Then worry about choosing which school you will attend. Unless you're limited on funds and can only apply to a limited number of schools, assuming you're applying to privates too.</p>

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<p>1 or 3? Choose one, you can't have both. Top notch programs usually attract some of the smartest students, which means it's going to be competitive. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>You'll have to compete with your classmates and maybe even students from other departments. You'll probably find a spot, assuming you're smart enough.</p></li>
<li><p>You obviously need to do some research on medical school admissions.</p></li>
<li><p>The clean place part rules out Berkeley. Have you been to Berkeley? Bum city.</p></li>
<li><p>That will depend on you.</p></li>
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<p>On a side note about research and pre-med students... you gotta be careful when looking for labs because a lot of professors don't want a pre-med student floating around their lab just because they NEED research experience for a resume. You have to be REALLY serious and interested about doing research to make it worthwhile for a professor to let you in... </p>

<p>In any case, research opportunities are available at UCLA but, most of the time, they aren't going to fall right into your lap. You have to pursue them. Look up professor's research interests on their websites. E-mail those professors that have research interests similar to yours. If you have to, go to their office's to talk about their research a couple times before soliciting a spot. Talk to the professors that teach the classes you are taking. These are things you have to do in order to find a spot in a research lab no matter what college you end up going to.</p>

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<p>go on the URC/CARE website and look at the SRP99 openings for that quarter.....really easy to get research this way</p>

<p>*of course your job will be VERY limited at first, but you can show interest, go to lab meetings and give your $0.02 and make friends with a graduate/postdoc</p>

<p>edit: i just realized you are a HS student....in that case don't worry about this right now. it should NOT be a factor to consider when choosing a school. The top UC's (Cal, LA, SD, I, SB, D) all have A LOT of research available and are all VERY competitive in terms of getting the grades. I'd venture to say that anyone doing the premed coursework will find it difficult to get a really HIGH gpa unless they put in the work. choose a school that YOU like, and don't let medschool etc. shape this very important decision</p>