UCI (CHP) -or- UCSD (regents)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
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<p>Accepted to UCI campus honors program under biomedical engineering
and
UCSD with regents scholarship under biochemistry/cell biology (impacted major)</p>

<p>I've visited both schools and am having a reallyy hard time deciding!! :(
they're relatively close anyway, and I've got friends at both schools. </p>

<p>the CHP at uci gives me priority enrollment plus 4 years housing guarantee, but ucsd regents scholar program also gives me those. also, uci honors program says that i have to take honors classes (clarification please?), which I have been told from those already in college are not worth taking because its very difficult and you have a hard time getting adjusted to college life.
both also give me library privileges... and other stuff I can't remember. ;) </p>

<p>I'm asking on the UCI board because I want to know some of the perks of UCI over UCSD :D I'm visiting both schools again this april, but last time i remember i liked both equally (didnt like berkeley or ucla that much) </p>

<p>What is the biomedical engineering program like? Ive heard that engineering programs are really difficult with a lot of required classes...
(when i first applied to uci, i didnt even really consider it as a school i might go to, so i just chose some random major... it wasnt until i visited the school when i started to consider it)</p>

<p>anyway, to sum up my questions XD: </p>

<p>1) what is the biomedical engineering program like at UCI?
2) what is the biological sciences program like? (i'm thinking of changing majors)
3) CHP- are the honor courses required? difficult? what is the CHP like?
4) when does the regents scholarship notice come out? lol i'm kind of sad i havent gotten anything from the...
5) what are the perks of being in uci? :D is it really different from ucsd socially?
6) what are the classes like? competitive? are the professors actually teaching, or are a lot of the classes taught by TAs? large class sizes?
7) are there a lot of internship opportunities at uci? research opportunities? clubs? </p>

<p>thanks for input. :)</p>

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<p>Don’t know much about the chp program myself but a lot of my friends tell me they have heard good things about chp from current uci students. Also, I have one friend who got into UCLA, but without regents, and is considering UCI with CHP. Unfortunately, my only option is UCI without regents or CHP. My major is biological sciences. I heard that uci’s biology program is “pretty good” whereas UCSD’s program is top notch. Next, I heard that UCI is a little better socially. UCSD is known as university of the socially depressed? whether you believe that is your own decision. I have a couple of friends at UCSD and they said the nickname has some truth to it, but also that your social life is what you make of it. So you just got to look for it, a social life i mean.
BEnefits of UCSD
the beach is like right next to all 6 colleges, I believe Muir is the closest.
Best biology program(which also means that its gonna be pretty competitive)
Benefits of UCI
Safe
your CHP
and I heard the campus looks beautiful or as my friends describe it “modern”</p>

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<p>my friend got regents at ucsd and ucla, you’d be crazy not to take ucsd</p>

<p>from what i believe (please correct me if im wrong, anyone!) its like regents = chp + money</p>

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<p>Regents is just money/scholarship and 4 years gauranteed housing (?) </p>

<p>CHP has its perks, too, I’m sure you are aware. </p>

<p>There are TWO BME majors, the engr’ing one and the pre-med track. Both have the same basic science requirements (4 quarters physics, 6 quarters math, 3 quarters chem w/ lab, this assumes you don’t have AP credits at all). The pre-med will have you doing O-chem in your second year. It will focus more on the Bio side, whereas BME will focus more on the engineering side. I’m an Mech E., but this is what I know. </p>

<p>The social scene: this kid went to UCI first year and transfered for his second year (he had LOTS of AP credits coming in, and wanted to be with his GF, so he was able to transfer, somehow…) Anyway, he said that SD was MORE socially dead than Irvine, which I though was saying a LOT. Considering that MANY people go home on weekends at UCI b/c many are close to home, I was surpsised. But at UCI, if you know people who like to party, then you’ll have plenty of fun! =D </p>

<p>Bio at SD vs. Irvine: I’m not so sure about this one, I’ve heard good things about both. Regardless of which school you choose, there are MANY MANY kids going pre-med at both schools, so the curves will be harsh. People will drop out like and switch majors, if you fall behind or can’t handle the work. </p>

<p>Classses: All GE’s will take place in large lecture halls from anywhere b/t 200-350+ students. You will have dicussions in which the TA’s will lead a group of 30-50 students, these take place along with your lectures. As you go up to the higher division classes, the classes get smaller as you progress with the other people in your major. </p>

<p>I Really love the surrounding city of Irvine, Newport Beach is only 10-15 min car ride away. The city and school are clean, safe, and RICH! I’ve never seen so many nice cars driving around! LOL </p>

<p>I hope that helps! =D</p>

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<p>@ BrandoIsCool
Thanks for so much advice! :smiley: I did not know about the premed track… :open_mouth:
Yeah…I’ve heard about how UCSD is less social… XP</p>

<p>Does anyone know how the biomed engineer: pre med major is going to be listed on my diploma? will it actually say pre-med next to it?
i think i will change to biological sciences though…</p>

<p>Also, what are the CHP honor courses like? tough?</p>

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<p>Hmmm, I’m not sure about the graduation for BME. But I do warn you that, if you graduate with the BME-Premed and never make it to med school, you may have shot your self in the foot! Pre-Med BME does NOT prep you for an actual engineering job, I suggest you switch over to the normal BME track if you are not sure/wanna keep your options open. </p>

<p>(NOT a CHP kid) From what I’m told there are 3 years of “Core” classes. YOu start with the Humanitites, Social Science and Science core (in that order). Each one lasts a year ( 3 quarters )and all CHP kids take it (unless you are an engr–not sure about the details). By your senior year, you must do a senior research project and write a senior thesis. This is what I’ve been told, but perhaps someone else can enlighten you on this. </p>

<p>=D</p>

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<p>bme pre med will be listed as as such on the degree because the major name is bme premed (i tihnk…)</p>

<p>as a CHPer, you take hum core first year, social sci core 2nd year, idiom of science 3rd, and honors thesis 4th. all science majors dont have to do idiom of science, and engr majors dont need to do hum core (i believe…)
every chp has to do some kind of thesis their senior year. if you decide not to do chp or get kicked out, you can still do a senior thesis and take the classes. although it doesnt go on the transcript. and i guess you arent really in the program so email and fun stuff and such.</p>

<p>to a degree, i wouldnt worry about internships and opportunity available in irvine. its a large research university in the middle of a VERY rich area (many companies have offices in the city) and houses a lot of white collar works (with their respective jobs).</p>