Hey Guys,
I am currently waiting to hear back from UCSD and UCLA about the waitlist but I need to SIR to a school. I am torn between UC Irvine and UCSB. I am currently admitted as a Biochem major at UCSB and a Chemistry major at UC Irvine. My overall goal is to attend Medical School and I was wondering if there was any added benefit of going to UCI because of their medical school. Although it is not possible to do anything about it, I was hoping that because I went to UCI and have the opportunity to network that it would give me a leg up on the application process for med school. Also I intend to be a biochem major so that does make UCSB much more appealing.
Here is the catch though: I am not a huge partier and I am much more of a home body so I hope to disregard that opinion when it comes to choosing a school.
They seem equally weighted, although from what you are saying about your personality, you might enjoy UCI more.
@lindyk8 thats what people are saying but I am in my intended major at UCSB. I made the mistake of not visiting UCI but I am not sure. What is UCI like, do you know? Thanks for the input
Well, I cant say what UCI is like. Some like it, some don’t. From what i hear it can be a bit of a commuter school. Everyone seems to love UCSB. Yes, it is a party school, but supposedly you can avoid some of it by not living in Isla Vista.
UCI is a commuter school, has a beautiful/safe campus, nice surrounding suburban area, and is close to attractions like Disneyland.
From friends at UCSB, it is my understanding that you don’t have to party to enjoy it. There are plenty of students there who are more academic than socially oriented.
I’m not familiar with med school stuff, but I think UCSB is close by to some local hospitals, so there might me volunteer/networking opportunities as well.
^luckie and lindy nailed the social aspect of UCI in a nutshell. In regards to med school opportunities, you can work/volunteer at the UCI Medical Center (which is great, my best friend works there and she loves it), and there’s opportunities at the medical school, and we’re also really close to some great hospitals like Hoag in Newport Beach which can provide some great opportunities. Just something to consider! I don’t know enough about the chem/biochem programs at UCI and UCSB to offer you any insight. But I do know people who go to UCSB who are not partiers whatsoever and love it there!
Completely unrelated, but wow, Hoag is a really nice hospital.