Last year I went to UCSD and absolutely fell in love with it(or at least the campus). When I went there I felt at home and I could ser myself there… I liked how laid back it was and how unique it was. When I went to UCLA I had that feeling on a more minute scale. Since then I’ve been accepted to both schools as a biochemistry major. I’m starting lean towards UCLA but I’m curious as to how hard it is to get classes and is the classroom environment a dog-eat-dog world. It’s not that I’m opposed to competition but I don’t want to tear at the throats of others to pass a class. Also, with UCSD I’m curious as to how “socially dead” the school is. I know that my experience will be what I make of it, but I don’t want to have to search high and low for any signs of a social life. For both schools, how easy is it for undergrads to get involved in research.
Honestly, the differences in “competition” are negligible… it’s weird how certain gross stereotypes continue to get propagated. Biochemistry will be equally intense at both schools.
Also, UCSD is not “socially dead”… you will have just as many parties to go to, just as many new friends to make, just as many student activities for you to join.
You will be able to get involved with research at both… however, these are major research institutions… so you will have to take the initiative… professors are not going to come to you.
Visit both, compare finances… and then go with whichever you like better… you can’t go wrong either way.