I’ve admitted into both schools and currently, reside in the Bay Area. I am having a super hard time choosing between the two schools. Here are the factors of both schools I am considering-
UC Berkeley:
-Closer to home
-Cellular and Microbiology major, w/ emphasis on Neurobiology
-Tuition/fees are higher for me here
-Emphasis on race + cross-cultural understanding (curriculum-wise)
UCLA:
-Farther from home, but still only short plane ride/ day car ride away
-Neuroscience major
-Tuition/fees are smaller
-Better medicine program
-More social campus (area is really nice as well)
I hope to pursue a career in medicine, and I’ve visited both campuses and liked them. Any thoughts are helpful!
I’m pretty much in the same shoes as you are – except with a sociology major so it’s not much of a difference between the two schools. There’s definitely a lot to consider and I had a hard time too because I really felt at home in the vibrant environment at UCLA but was also worried about just academic reputation in the long run and future opportunities, etc etc etc which had me going for Berkeley in the end!
Most people tell you that if you’re anywhere in STEM to choose Berkeley just because of their reputation and outstanding programs – don’t know much about how internships or alumni connections are for medicine but it being Berkeley, I would say that Berkeley is just as strong or even stronger than UCLA in terms of that. If you liked both campuses then I would say that you have an easier decision to make; I didn’t really like the Berkeley campus. As for tuition, do the fees include financial aid? I heard Berkeley offers a decent amount of financial aid at least to instate students. Hope to see you at Cal!
@cloudniine I am so happy for you; congrats on committing to Berkeley! For me, both schools have me THE EXACT same amount of financial aid–but UCLA’s cost of attendance is cheaper than Berkeley’s…plus, the neuroscience program at UCLA is wayyy better than Berkeley’s, ya feel?
I’ve thought a lot about the long run, too, and feel that UCLA will do more for me pre-med wise than Berkeley will. I think I also have to consider a lot my mental health—I stressed a lot and pressured myself so much during high school and I really don’t want to be in an environment that’ll push me to do that.
I think I just need to sit down with my parents and decide ultimately what is going to be the cheaper/better option.
If you like UCLA more than UCB (which looks like you do) then go for LA, but if you think you will have an easier life in LA as premed than in UCB (and if that is what you really want!), then go to neither!
Haha, let me clarify: I am coming from a small charter high school and am incredibly scared about the cut-throat-ness of competitive schools, of which I have heard is more prevalent at Berkeley than at UCLA (I could be wrong but idk).
I def do not want the “Easier” option; I want to be challenged and what not. But I’ve heard that Berkeley has been notorious for having a very poor outlook on mental health vs. UCLA…
I didn’t mean to be sarcastic. I meant want I wrote. My daughter is a premed in UCLA and I can assure you that she is no incompetent kid… if being a Regents scholar means anything! But she has to really work hard to keep her GPA up. Competition is fierce among kids for that precious A grade, who mostly were in the top 2% of their HS class (and 40% straight A students coming from HS) and now 80% of them have to settle with B’s (and often a grade worse than that) in each class.
I believe the situation in UCB isn’t any better.
The only solace in UCLA, in comparison to UCB, is a more relax environment in terms of the actual campus and fun events…
Plenty of research available and many clubs (some thousand?) in UCLA. And the fact that UCLA has its own hospital available for shadowing … on campus (contrary to UCB) may be useful. My daughter actually started doing research from her second quarter with a medical school faculty.