<p>Like the title says, I'm a transfer student and currently have the option of attending either UMich or UCSD for my Neuroscience major (with a secondary interest in biophysics and a minor in business or computer science). Cost isn't a factor, as both schools will cost me the same amount, and I've lived in both the Midwest and SoCal as well, so weather is no surprise.</p>
<p>I know UCSD has great programs in pretty much everything neuro-related, but UMich has some hefty prestige, has a more versatile offering of classes (including the ones in its neurosci department) and might allow me to explore some of my other talents, such as writing and filmmaking (I dabble in podcasts and documentaries, and might consider a career in multimedia medical journalism if the hard sciences don't pan out).</p>
<p>While it's only for two years, I want to pick whichever school is most likely to help me find good research and job opportunities, provide a solid educational foundation in my chosen field, and position me favorably when it comes time to apply to Berkeley and Stanford for grad school. </p>
<p>Any constructive thoughts or ideas pertinent to the topic would be helpful in breaking this tie for me. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>EDIT–I should also mention that I’m 28, so most of the “campus life” related criteria won’t factor in. That being said, it does seem like Ann Arbor has a bit more in the way of social and architectural pleasantries than La Jolla does, since I’m not big into malls or surfing ;-)</p>
<p>Either school will serve you well in terms of an education. UM has a broader and higher general reputation than UCSD. Grad schools won’t care which you attend. UCSD might have a slight advantage in research opps for undergrads, but other posters will have a better idea about that than I do. My knowledge of UMich u/g science research opps is weak. I have no reason to think they aren’t there, but no reason to think they are other than the rep of the uni.</p>
<p>I know UM has a fairly strong, broad research program aimed at getting undergrads involved. However, what I can’t seem to ascertain is whether or not they are strong in neuro research or lean more towards pure medical research and engineering.</p>
<p>Are you interested in Computational Neuroscience research? If yes, UCSD is stronger than Michigan.
For Cognitive Science, Michigan is slightly higher than UCSD.</p>
<p>Both, actually. I’m interested in developing refined neural interface technology (not prosthetics, however) and also in memory transcription/manipulation. Studying behavior, especially aggression and motivation, also interests me, but I can’t see much of a practical career in that outside of academia.</p>
<p>(Also, UCSD is quarter system based while UMich is semester system based. Having done the semester system already, I’m curious if anyone has experience with the wuarter system and any inherent advantages/disadvantages therein.)</p>
<p>The quarter system puts you on a very different pace than the semester system. Typically an undergrad might take 3 classes per quarter, as opposed to 4 classes per semester. The quarter-system classes are shorter but generally try to cover as much material as a semester-long class, making the pace more intense in the quarter system–but your attention is divided by fewer classes at a time. Some people thrive on the faster pace–in, out, done, and on to something else. Others find the pace too intense–you’re always taking midterms or finals, less time to write that term paper, etc. And the typical student also takes one more class per year on the quarter system (9 v. 8), which some people view as a bonus and some find unnecessarily demanding. Breaks also come at different times. Most quarter-system schools start later in the fall, go into December, have a short winter break and then start back again in early January so as to squeeze two quarters into the winter/spring before a later-starting summer break. Many semester-system schools start earlier in the fall, have a long winter break, and still get out earlier in the spring than quarter-system schools. Michigan’s unusual in that it has a relatively short winter break (this year, fall exams will end Dec. 19 and the second semester will begin Jan. 7) but gets out exceptionally early in the spring (last exams are April 30). </p>
<p>Ann Arbor’s just a great town with a huge population of graduate and professional students who are your contemporaries (about 15,000 grad students at Michigan v. about 5,000 at UCSD), and tons of bars, restaurants and shops that cater to people in your age bracket. For the town I’d choose Michigan any day, but you need to be able to tolerate the weather.</p>