<p>I am majoring in Biology. Which school should I choose?
Any input will be appreciated~!O___o</p>
<p>There are lots of similar threads to this one, try looking back a few pages :)</p>
<p>Both schools have awesome programs. I would just choose based on which school "fits" you better!</p>
<p>Berkeley is cold, damp and foggy...go to ucla.</p>
<p>if you're up for the challenge, go to berkeley. Just don't regret your decision.</p>
<p>LA is also a challenge though. so just go to both and see which you like better</p>
<p>yea i agree with gogogo. UCLA is also a HUGE challenge. don't pick UCLA because you think its easier because that isn't the case.</p>
<p>berkeley. you need the grade inflation. prestigious schools like UCLA may be too difficult.</p>
<p>you'll see what i mean. :)</p>
<p>I am in the same boat. I am a biology major. I visited UCLA this weekend and spend about 2 additional days there touring the city of LA and meeting w/ a student advisor of the life sciences department. I was hightlyl impressed by UCLA's prestigiousness and faculty. The bio classes offtered seemed like a genuine enough challenge for me. Basically, the entire school had this upbeat, positive vibe that resounded with me just right. I loved the city and what it has to offer (social life and the "urban scene") and felt that inside UCLA I could still be serious about academics. I felt like I would get a lot more access to the professors' knowledge and resources in UCLA b/c of their special SRP (student researhc program) and their intense emphasis on undergrad education, especially for MIMG (microbio, immunology, molecular genetics), which is my major. </p>
<p>So after my last berkeley visit on april-21st, I will make my decision. </p>
<p>My advice is to visit both schools and spend at least a full day or half day there. CEnter your decision more on the feel and student body/"vibe" of the campus, rather than hardcore acadmeics, US news rankings...ect. B/c in reality, CAL and UCLA are pretty much the same in biology and premed/life scicence. If you are reallyl dedicated and an ENGINNERING major, then go to CAL. Otherwise, i belive UCLA will offer you a more well-rounded, holistic education. </p>
<p>Good luck</p>
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B/c in reality, CAL and UCLA are pretty much the same in biology and premed/life scicence.
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<p>For what it's worth, UCSD is probably slightly better (undergrad anyway) in those regards.</p>
<p>Although you have be a lunatic to think weather is a strong reason for choosing one academic program over another.</p>
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Berkeley is cold, damp and foggy...
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<p>:rolleyes:</p>
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intense emphasis on undergrad education
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<p>Really?</p>
<p>"i belive UCLA will offer you a more well-rounded, holistic education."</p>
<p>I'm not sure how you came up with that idea. I don't know how you could say that either offers a more well rounded, holistic education than the other. THat said, I'd advice the OP to go with the school that you think you'll enjoy more and get more out of.</p>
<p>If you want to do paleontology or evo bio, it would be beyond foolish to go to la</p>
<p>It puzzles me how Berkeley's biology degree is a BA.</p>
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If you want to do paleontology or evo bio, it would be beyond foolish to go to la
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<p>You said this in another thread, but I just don't know how true it is. For one, most undergrads never really get to do any groundbreaking work that will need the better facilities at one or another school.</p>
<p>Undergrads need a good foundation in THE BASICS. The groundbreaking stuff will matter later. Take a look at how many people at top PhD programs come from LACs. Those programs obviously don't have the great labs or facilities that Berkeley has. But so what? They provide educations. Educational foundations that you need to do great graduate work.</p>
<p>So what if Berkeley has great labs if you never get to touch them? It's meaningless. Undergrads need basics. </p>
<p>Besides, look at the CVs of biology PhDs. They're all over the map. At Berkeley, people have BA/BSes from schools as far ranging as UCSB to Purdue. </p>
<p>Seriously guys, undergrad is about the basics, not about the frontiers. If you can't establish a decent foundation, it doesn't matter how good the research at school Y is.</p>