<p>I was recently admitted into UCSD and UCB, but i don't know which one to go to. I heard that it's hard to get a high GPA in UCB, is that true? Also, is UCSD's pre-med program better than that of UCB? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>It probably is harder to get a high GPA at UCB in pre-med classes. In fact, I'm almost sure that is true. My guess is that medical schools have a lot of experience evaluating students and take this into account in their evaluation during admissions.</p>
<p>UCB and UCSD are really quite different schools. You should go where you think you will be most comfortable. You can get an outstanding education at both; UCSD is especially strong in biological sciences of course.</p>
<p>Oooo it's hard to get a high GPA at UCB? I did not know that. [/sarcasm]</p>
<p>Honestly, if you got into Berkeley, you should know that harder schools = harder to get As...</p>
<p>Sorry guys, I don't think i said it in the right way. I know it's harder to get a higher GPA at UCB, but will med schools take into account the fact that UCB is grade deflated? would they rather take a 3.1 from cal or a 3.5 from UCSD?</p>
<p>OF COURSE. It's the same as high school -> college. Colleges will take into account if the HS is sucky or awesome, and it should work the same way... I think.</p>
<p>I'm sure the medical schools take this into account. They're not naive. Berkeley is not exactly an unknown institution of higher learning. </p>
<p>Berkeley weeds people out of pre-med like MAD. It is brutal watching all of these freshman show up with dreams of being doctors and getting their ... handed to them in Chem 1A.</p>
<p>as a whole, berkeley has a higher average gpa than sd does (something like 3.3 as compared to a 3.0). i don't know if this is true for the science majors, but overall, the avg gpa at berkeley is higher. keep in mind, however, that the avg berkeley student is smarter/more hard-working/somehow able to accomplish more than the avg sd student (hence why one got into berkeley and one was rejected). so you'll be competing against more "hard core" kids (for lack of a better term), but the curves are nicer.</p>
<p>also, a much higher percentage of berkeley pre-med students get accepted to med school than sd, which is only around 50%, the national average.</p>
<p>where did u end up going?</p>
<p>i hear that there's a grade curve at cal, but how does that work? can someone please explain to me?</p>
<p>You're major does not affect your ability to get into med school at all.
You do the med school prereqs, and then you do whatever major you want to.</p>
<p>You don't need to be a bio major</p>
<p>if im a neurobiology major, where would be a better choice? i heard great things about sd and neuroscience, but i havent heard much from cal.</p>
<p>can anyone help?</p>
<p>In 1995, the NRC ranked UCSD neuroscience at 1st and Berkeley neuroscience at 9th. With that said, those are graduate rankings--so if you were admitted to both for a Ph.D in neuroscience, you'd probably want to choose UCSD. For an undergrad pre-med, I don't think you'd really lose out on very much at all in terms of neuroscience research by choosing Berkeley over SD since they're both top 10 programs (in fact it may well be better since you'll be able to do research at UCSF).</p>
<p>I know loads of pre-meds who opted to go to "easier" schools than Berkeley...which may or may not be a good choice for you. Sociology dictates that if the people around you work harder, then you'll probably work harder as well. True, the competition in Berkeley's Chem 3A can get pretty insane, but the more intense academic atmosphere just might inspire you to work harder and get better grades than you would at UCSD. Although if you're the type who can breeze by classes without putting in a lot of effort, then you'd likely do better academically at UCSD. Of course, there's more to college than grades...I assume you've visited both schools?</p>
<p>"if im a neurobiology major, where would be a better choice? i heard great things about sd and neuroscience, but i havent heard much from cal."</p>
<p>Go to UCSD.</p>
<p>cenire - i agree with it, but there are some kids our there who pick ucsd over ucb =)</p>
<p>also, i think ucsd and ucb have weeder classes, its just that ucb is harder. i am afraid that ucsd doesnt carry the same name brand advantage all across the country. am i right? or will med schools realize that although ucsd is not as well-known it is still strong in bio?</p>
<p>thanks guys, for all of your help.
I chose ucsd.</p>
<p>What's your reasoning?</p>
<p>Why is this even a question? Cal is by far the superior institution. UCSD is third in the system and a distant 3rd at that. Whoever chooses UCSD over cal or ucla belongs at UCSD. Grad, medical, law, business schools all weigh the campus along with the GPA a 3.2 at CAL is probably equal to a 3.8 at UCSD.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Why is this even a question? Cal is by far the superior institution. UCSD is third in the system and a distant 3rd at that. Whoever chooses UCSD over cal or ucla belongs at UCSD. Grad, medical, law, business schools all weigh the campus along with the GPA a 3.2 at CAL is probably equal to a 3.8 at UCSD.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Another misguided post...</p>
<p>
[quote]
Another misguided post...
[/quote]
Ditto.</p>
<p>and lol @ MrOh</p>