<p>So I've recently been admitted to UCLA and Berkeley. My major will be molecular cell biology and I know both schools are great I just don't know what school to choose. My brother (UCLA Alumni) is pressuring me to go UCLA and his girlfriend (UCLA alumni and UCB law student) is telling me either one - making it that much more confusing. I live about two hours from UCLA and six hours from UCB, and I don't know if distance will be a factor yet. I've visited both campus' and they both seem very nice. However, I seem more attracted to the liberal scene around Berkeley. I just need help choosing.. Any advice and help is appreciated.</p>
<p>Why do you care about what his girlfriend says? All I can say is you won’t find any racist-Asian hating white girls ranting on Youtube at Berkeley…
;)</p>
<p>Huh? I don’t understand that last part Lol
Well its bc I value her opinion that’s all.</p>
<p>Think about how often you’ll want to come home. If only for major holidays, then the distance of Berkeley won’t betoo big of a problem if driving (if flying, no problem). If driving will be your mode of travel and you think there may be times when you’ll want to head home for a family birthday , special occasion weekend, or “just because,” then being only 2 hours away would be beneficial.</p>
<p>“Huh? I don’t understand that last part Lol”</p>
<p>Google “Alexandra Wallace”. Not that it should be the deciding factor, but I think UCB is more well known for its academic exellence, whereas UCLA is more for its sports. Also UCB has semester system where as UCLA has quarter.</p>
<p>Cal is slightly better than UCLA and since you have a slight preference for the Cal atmosphere, I would say it is pretty clear where you should go. Go Bears!</p>
<p>
This is one pretty big difference.</p>
<p>You can also get around Berkeley and the Bay Area without a car…BART can get you directly to both area airports, downtown San Fran, etc. cheaply and efficiently. Public transportation in LA is spottier.</p>
<p>Berkeley is also much more of a student-oriented college town than Westwood.</p>
<p>Although both are incredible schools, Department by Department, UC Berkeley is much better than UCLA and has a better worldwide reputation.</p>
<p>Cell and Developmental Biology Rankings (2010 NRC)
11. UC Berkeley
23. UCLA</p>
<p>You will also benefit by going to school a little further from home.</p>
<p>It seems that with your major, you will want accessible research opportunities. </p>
<p>UCLA has the medical complex on campus, whereas UCB has labs split between campus and UCSF. If I were you I would dig into which school would likely afford the better research opportunities. Do you have or can you get connections within the biology/chemistry faculty at either place?</p>
<p>^^^^good point</p>
<p>
As always, the devil is in the details.</p>
<p>Per the 2010 NRC release, within the general field of biological sciences, are found 12 subfields. The two subfields in which Berkeley is rated #1 are Public Health and Biochemistry. The subfield in which UCLA is ranked #1 is Physiology. The field in which they are closely ranked in the #2/#3 range is Microbiology.</p>
<p>Berkeley is further ranked significantly ahead of UCLA, in the #2/#3 range, in Genetics, and in Evolutionary Biology.</p>
<p>So, Berkeley is stronger in Biological Sciences Ph.D. research overall, but if your interest is Physiology, then UCLA is stronger, and if Microbiology, it’s a tossup.</p>
<p>However, “Better” has many faces. Sports? Weather? Desired first job location? Pre-existing relationships with any faculty or mentors in the area? Scholarship money?</p>
<p>Make up a list of things that are important to you:</p>
<ol>
<li>Department Ranking</li>
<li>Social Scene</li>
<li>Berkeley v Westwood </li>
<li>Med School/Med Center on campus v not</li>
<li>General Feel of campus</li>
</ol>
<p>All these will have subcomponents that will probably make your list well over 100 items. Weigh those things more heavily which you feel are more significant towards your choice.</p>
<p>If a clear winner isn’t quantifiable, then revert to general feelings. You’ll probably want to visit each again, and again, and maybe again after that, which you’ll probably want to do regardless. </p>
<p>Either way, you have a great set of choices, and you’ll be equally successful with either choice because you’re still you at whatever school you choose.</p>
<p>Either choice will enable you to pursue your goals–can’t go wrong picking one over the other. Given that they are totally opposite and similar in many respects, I think you should go to Cal. Cal still has the slight edge in reputation as a university and the Bay Area is a great place to go to school. You seem already inclined to hang around Telegraph…</p>