UCB Bioengineering vs. UCSD Nanoengineering Transfer student

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

I was just notified I was admitted to Cal as a transfer into their Bioengineering program At first glance, the major track seems to have you pick from a lot of courses from different disciplines, and in that right it doesn’t seem very rigid. I was also admitted to UCSD, and if I go there, I plan on majoring in Nanoengineering. This is a very tough decision for me, since I like the reputation that comes with Cal, but I’m not sure if I am ready to move out of San Diego, where I would just commute to UCSD. I am also interested in medical or graduate school, and I am not sure which would be a better fit. I’m worried about my GPA, and I wouldn’t want to lose the 4.0, and I’ve heard about the grade deflation at Cal. I’m not too sure if UCSD experiences the same. UCSD med school or UCSF med school for an MSTP in BioE would be a dream!

Any advice is much appreciated.

2

A 4.0 at either engineering program sounds like a pipe dream, so good luck. It’s pretty common to offer multiple tracks under a major; IIRC, UCSD nanoengineering does something similar where you can focus your study on bioengineering or four of the other engineering fields.

3

I’m well aware it’s a pipe dream, but that doesn’t mean a good GPA isn’t possible

4

Which would you recommend for premed?

5

For premed, I’d give UCSD the edge. The number of hospitals, medical scientists, research institutes and biotech companies on campus and in the area is pretty much unparalleled. The average engineering GPA is also marginally higher, although most likely you’d pull the same GPA at either school.