<p>I got into both UCLA and UC Berkeley for a major in biology. I currently live in northern California, the bay area, a little less than an hour away from Berkeley. I am so confused on where to go. I don't mind moving away from home to go to UCLA, I've always wanted to go there for a long time. On the other hand, in risking maybe not liking UCLA, and wishing I was closer to home. Plus, i do have a couple friends going to Berkeley, but I just don't know which I should choose. I am 50/50 right now. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Personally, I liked UCLA better than Berkeley. I have visited both campuses, and UCLA’s campus was beautiful. It is in the nice area of LA, near Bel Aire, Beverly Hills, and the rich areas like Hollywood. I got into UCLA but rejected from UC Berkeley, but even if I got into Berkeley I would have gone to UCLA anyway. I didn’t like Berkeley’s campus or the surrounding area around it.</p>
<p>Academically they are both great schools. But I guess it depends on the person and which campus they like. But UCLA is so beautiful and I can’t imagine anyone not liking it! And living away from home would be an adventure in and of itself.</p>
<p>In general, Berkeley is considered to be better academically. Just thought i’d put that out there.</p>
<p>Being close to home is underrated. Sure it’s cool and stuff to be far from home, but the lure wears off after several months. It’s really nice when your parents could stop by your dorm during finals week to drop off some delicious food and gifts and whatnot.</p>
<p>But both campuses are wonderful. Both are terrific schools and each school has great sports programs. Choose the one where you feel most comfortable. Take a campus tour and decide.</p>
<p>Also, don’t worry about which school is “better” ranked. The rankings are so close that the difference is negligible for undergraduate education. If we were talking about grad school, like law school, I’d say otherwise. But for undergrad, it really doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Said this too much on the forum lately but…</p>
<p>I’m graduating from Berkeley (Molecular & Cell Biology) this year and going to Harvard for grad school! I give Berkeley a lot of the credit for that. I didn’t really know what research was when I started, but I got a great research position very easily. There are so many fantastic well known professors at Berkeley and scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Lab to work with. Berkeley’s MCB department is consistently ranked top 3 and it really makes a difference if you’re at all interested in grad school. </p>
<p>Berkeley was about an hour away from home for me too. It was a really good distance I think - I wasn’t running into my family anywhere I went, but I could easily drive home for breaks and my family could come up to visit and get dinner with me or whatever. </p>
<p>Berkeley has a much better academic reputation than UCLA. It’s probably easier to get a perfect GPA at UCLA, but Berkeley will give you much better opportunities in general. Oh and I have friends at UCLA who complain about the social scene there - there’s no frat row and you have to drive or bus to get anywhere.</p>
<p>Flutterfly28: My d just accepted to Berkeley, the same major as yours. She is choosing between Harvey mudd ucla and Berkeley. We are planning to visit the campus April 22. Any other suggestions or the pro and comes that you can provide? Is it very hard for your major? And what you are going to study in harvard? Congrates!</p>
<p>Visit both campuses. You’ll have a gut feeling about the decision then.</p>
<p>I went to UC Berkeley because I didn’t like the environment around UCLA. Berkeley tends to be more unique/edgy while UCLA tends to well-balanced and have a bit of everything.</p>
<p>Thanks schinagus! I’m joining the Harvard Biological and Biomedical Studies PhD program. I will probably join a lab that is studying the molecular mechanisms of cancer and working to develop targeted therapeutics. </p>
<p>I actually really liked all the MCB classes I took at Berkeley. It was hard and I did put a lot of effort into studying, but I definitely feel like it paid off. There isn’t really competition between students, everyone’s just working hard to try and master the material. And I at least had plenty of time left to party, go out to eat, watch plenty of TV, etc. </p>
<p>Berkeley’s MCB Department is consistently ranked top 3, so many of the professors are well-known, and you instantly get respect from employers and grad schools when you say you’re from Berkeley MCB. I interviewed at a lot of the top biosciences grad schools and there were many more Berkeley students there than from UCLA or any less well-known school like Harvey Mudd. And there are SO many research opportunities for MCB majors at Berkeley. I got one really easily, before I even knew for sure I wanted to major in MCB. And I’m subscribed to the MCB Research mailing list right now and I get emails at least once a week about professors at Berkeley/LBNL/UCSF looking for students or local biotech companies looking to hire summer students or recent grads. Southern California doesn’t have nearly as good an environment for bio research as the Bay Area. </p>
<p>Harvey Mudd is really small and will be completely different from Berkeley/UCLA. I personally would hate to be in a small school like that. Berkeley provides you with all the possible opportunities and freedom you could want, but it can also give you all the personal attention you need. Just go to a professor’s office hours or to the advising office for your major - not that many people actually do!</p>
<p>Flutterfly28: thank you so much for all great info. More and more I like MCB. Is there anything or classes that you don’t like about in berkeley? I heard the school is very “liberty” which I’m concern. how about your other classmates? Most going to grad school? What you can do if not going to grad?</p>