I am currently split between UCSB and Berkeley right now. I have been accepted into both schools with honors @ SB but I honestly don’t know where to go. Currently, my parents are pushing me to go to Berkeley and it seems like they’ve chosen for me already (I can’t complain, they’re paying) but I’m worried that I won’t be able to handle the rigorous academics and the cut-throat competition, ESPECIALLY because I’m planning to do pre-med.
I’ve heard polarizing views on the MCB pre-med track at Berkeley: a general consensus believe it’s living hell and it’ll wreck your mental health if you can’t handle it and some other god-like students (from what i read online vs. success stories of asian family friends).
So those with opinions, experiences, and thoughts, please share them with a very lost student.
Thanks in advance!
I would go to Berkeley as there are more options for job opportunities and internship also Berkeley is a better school than SB. SF is a great city and there is many things to go so I would go to Berkeley. Also remember Pre- med is very difficult anywhere my friends brother went to LMU in hopes of doing premed (he was top 20 percent in his high school class) and ended switching to business so personally I would go to Berkeley
Go where you will be happy. That is where you will rise to your potential. A strong student from UCSB will be more successful than an overwhelmed student from UCB. Me: UCSD Bio, UCSF MD, UCLA MBA. You: great choices! Go with your gut feeling. Don’t fall for the “name school” thing. UCB has a political overlay that could be a big distraction for a serious student. Then again, UCSB could have its own distractions! Best of luck.
You and your parents might find this interesting. http://projects.dailycal.org/grades/
I went to UCSB (Bio) undergrad and UCB for grad school. The communities couldn’t be more different.
UCSB admin and advisors are very undergrad focused. UCB advisors are like the DMV sloth in Zootopia - you feel like you are just another number. It is also more difficult to get classes, labs, etc. at Cal. With Honors at UCSB, you’ll be guaranteed to get your classes.
UCSB is quarter system. UCB is semester
UCSB has great weather and a very active social life which can be a distraction or may make you more disciplined in getting your work done in a timely fashion so you can have fun in the evenings. UCB is colder and more overcast. More rainy days and less of a social life. It may give you time to study or, with 16 week semesters, may lead to procrastination.
If your parents want prestige, go for Cal. If you are sure you want to go into medical school, go to the undergraduate school where you can be most successful.
Thank you all for helping me out!
I spent ten year teaching at UC Berkeley (in Integrative Biology and ESPM) and have now been at UCSB for ten years (in EEMB and CCS). You can get a great biology education at both places but, as stated above, the atmosphere is very, very different. Berkeley IS a competitive culture, especially in pre-med bio classes. Some students will thrive in this culture, others won’t. UCSB is more laid back and even cooperative.
You should visit both places and talk to student, walk around and get a sense of the place. Ultimately go with your gut feeling of where you will be happiest because you can get into med school from both places. Don’t go to a place you don’t think you will be happy because you feel you ought to.