<p>Im having trouble decide between BioE at UCLA and BME UCI. I got into the honors program at UCI, and when I went to the honors program reception it seemed really nice. For example, I get priority registration, which I would not be getting if I went to UCLA and something I heard is really important these days. Also, my parents want me to go to UCI since its closer to home, but distance isnt really important to me. Theres a chance that I might go pre-med, and it might be easier for me to get a higher GPA at UCI than LA. </p>
<p>But then UCLA = Better academics, more prestigious, and I'm assuming the social life is better there because of sports and the fact that its not as much of a commuter school than UCI. I haven't visited LA yet but I'm going to both Bruin day and the engineering open house. Both schools are going to cost about the same for me financially. Can I get opinions on where I should go?</p>
<p>I think if you are willing to face the hard core competition, go to UCLA…However, if you want to chill more and at the same time focus on academics, go to UCI.</p>
<p>I’m a current uci chp student, and if I were you, I would still choose UCLA in a heartbeat. I don’t see why you would choose uci unless you’re one of those people that will get murdered by their parents unless they get straight 4.0’s throughout college. Priority enrollment isn’t too important for engineering majors since I believe engineers usually have classes reserved just for them and classes usually aren’t that hard to get anyways. Most people usually get the classes they want, just not always the teachers or times they want.</p>
<p>I agree with MikeHawk. The benefits of the CHP program, although they are cool, are not something you should consider in high regards when deciding on a university. On a side note, I know I’ve heard a lot of bad things about the undergrad bioE program at UCLA. In general, though, BioE/BME programs are generally bad if you aren’t already set on getting a graduate degree. </p>
<p>In the end, you should choose the school you’ll be most happy at. Happiness = better grades, right?</p>
<p>lol higher GPA at UCI… there’s a reason why grad schools/med schools/professional schools view the top students at any UC as about the same</p>
<p>let’s see…</p>
<p>there’s nothing to do at UCI but study… UCLA is a party school</p>
<p>average GPA at UCLA is a 3.3, average at UCI is a 2.9. This makes sense to some degree due to the fact that the students at LA are “higher quality” they aren’t THAT much higher though.</p>
<p>I’m a UCI student and I’ve written essays for a UCLA Soc major who’s graduating with a 3.7 GPA, my GPA as a math/econ major is only a 3.5ish here… I’m smarter than she is, more knowledgeable about sociology and the social sciences in general but my GPA doesn’t reflect it.</p>
<p>anyway, got </p>
<p>anyway wrt ranking by rigor, Berkely>UCSD>Davis>UCI>LA>SB>… (Davis, UCI and LA are close though)</p>
<p>That’s a toughie. UCLA’s social scene is definitely more vibrant. The dorms there are just way more centralized (the dining halls are better, too) and so are more socially conducive (unless you get assigned to UCLA’s Sunset Village or god forbid Delta Terrace). Also, factor your psychological well being into your grades: if you are not happy with your social life, how resilient will you be in focusing on academics? This is not to say that UCI means instant death for your social prospects (far from it, if you mesh well with your dorm mates and find clubs/orgs you like), though UCLA is a more socially conducive environment with more things to do (after all it is Los Angeles, which is needless to say quite different from Irvine); rather, it takes more effort on one’s part to remain socially active at UCI, thanks to the more spread out spatial arrangements of the campus (namely, the living arrangements).</p>
<p>My brother attends UCLA, by the way, so I am familiar with both campuses. I might also add that at UCLA, there are actually students walking around at night, in droves, on the hill socializing. At UCI’s dorms (in contrast), past a certain time, things die down. The main thing is to find a place where you will be happy, for despite the increased level of rigor your happiness level will definitely have an effect on your grades. Personally, I would say go to UCLA, but then again this is just from my experience and views and experiences; yours may differ greatly.</p>
<p>Anyway, congratulations on getting admitted to UCI and UCLA! They are both, in the big picture, phenomenal schools.</p>
<p>LOL…UCI is so not more rigorous than UCLA. If you decide to go pre-med, UCI will net you the better GPA, but not by much. Seriously, being pre-med and making the grades is about your effort not the school. That said, BME won’t help your GPA for pre-med purposes. Go to UCLA for the better experience. Go to UCI if you visit UCLA and hate it (hard to imagine).</p>
<p>Definitely true. Some students overestimate the difference between UCLA’s and UCI’s biology (or BME) program rigor. In all honesty, UCI’s “pre-med” offerings are still pretty hard. OChem is difficult wherever you go. You won’t get that much higher a GPA at UCI than you will at UCLA. To dispel any misconceptions, I have to say that UCI Bio is no walk in the park.</p>
<p>I won’t claim that ALL majors will be easier at one place or another. I’m merely claiming that the differences between the UCs are not as extreme as many would think.</p>
<p>I would personally go to UCLA. I will still say UCLA is on average easier than UCI, but it does depend upon curriculum. I’d imagine that there’s more “variance” at UCLA so to speak. I’d expect STEM to be somewhat brutal there and the humanities and social sciences to be fairly relaxed. </p>
<p>Regardless, employers often throw opportunities at UCLA students for no real reason. Just work hard and polish that resume to no end. One internship/interesting experience per year is a good philosophy(preferably internships with FT hours and pay during the summer and club activities or foreign travel during the school year)</p>