<p>In your experience, how easy is it to get research opportunities at Berkeley? Is it true that the California budget crisis is causing professors to take on fewer undergrads? Also, is the process of getting a research position very competitive among the students? I am particularly interested in bioscience research (ie. biophysics, biomed, etc.).</p>
<p>hard but not impossible if you have a decent gpa. i’d say 3.2+ in MCB would get you at least some type of basic position (although you might be just running gels or pipetting). i think science research in general is harder to get on average for URAP, so for your other 2 choices pick something less competitive. (i think physics would work out ok for you too)</p>
<p>Sorry to jump in, but would having past research experience as an intern in a lab certainly help? I’ve worked in a biomedical research lab two summers in a row (one summer in which I helped to design, conduct, and present my own project) so I was wondering whether that would raise my chances considerably.</p>
<p>forblueskies: is bioengineering a good major ?? Will it help me to make huge money?</p>
<p>stevenluo: Sorry, I don’t really know. I intend to be a MCB major, but it seems that bioengineering is a very broad field with high-salary potential. There are a lot of diverse opportunities available in bioengineering since it is so cutting-edge so I am sure you will find something that will suit your interests. Are you interested in doing research as an undergrad?</p>
<p>forblueskies: definitely, I love doing research! I’m taking biotech in high school senior year right now, I hope I can participate some research program in Berkeley, do u know anything about that? in your own opinion, bioengineerin or EECS is better? I’m in the dilemma between those two</p>
<p>If you’re talking about better career prospects/making more money then its EECS for sure.</p>
<p>stevenluo: I don’t know anything (really) about EECS in comparison to bio-E. As for research, I imagine that there are research programs available at Berkeley though I don’t know of any. Most students will try to seek out professors themselves, though I am under the impression that it is very difficult to do so, just because of the competitive nature among undergrad and grad students, which is why I asked whether you have a significant advantage if you have already had research experience in high school</p>
<p>So does anyone know is it hard to switch a major from BioE to EECS at Cal ??</p>
<p>Kind of off topic, but does anyone have any similar insights on social science research?</p>