UMich v/s UW v/s UCLA

College Search & Selection
1

Hi my D17 would like to major in biopsychology or neuroscience for her undergrad. She would like to pursue research, not pre-med. She is a US citizen but the tuition fees will be OOS as she resides outside the country. Need help in deciding between the following three colleges.

UCLA - has been accepted into College of Letters and Science with Pre-Psychobiology. The cost per year is ~63K. No scholarship offered so far.

UW (Seattle) - has been accepted into per-science major. I understand neurobiology is a competitive major. Is there a risk that she will not get neurobiology? Cost per year 52.6k. Scholarship offered 3k.

UMich - has been accepted into College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), undeclared major. Cost per year is 62.5k. The majors there of interest will be Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) and Neuroscience. Have been offered a 9.5k scholarship.

I needed help deciding between the three.

  • She will need to supplement the tution fees by working as an RA. Which college will be able to provide greater research opportunities to undergrad students?
  • Which school offers a greater opportunity for summer internship / co-op?
  • I understand Michigan has a higher endowment amongst the schools - what does that mean; more scholarships or grants?
  • She is looking to pursue her masters after a break of a year or two. Which degree provides her a greater chance of employment, post undergrad.
  • Weather is also a concern as she has not been exposed to severe cold. Would students manage without cars during winters at UMich & Seattle?

Sorry about the long note, but am confused with all the information online and would like some perspective on this.

Thank you!

2

They’re all good schools and about equal.

UC just raised their OOS tuition.

I can’t answer your questions but I have to say $62k/year for an undergraduate college experience is insane - especially when in-state students get the same experience for half price.

3

Michigan is more flexible with major selection. Since cost is not a variable, I would go for fit.

4

It may be easier to transfer between schools at Michigan, but UCLA students in the arts & sciences are free to select any major in the college, as they do not have to declare a major until sophomore year. You are expected to fulfill pre-reqs with passing grades (generally C- or above) for some majors, but that’s generally the case everywhere.

Admission to popular majors is much trickier for transfer applicants, though.

Agreed…and UCLA is struggling with the problems associated with being the biggest UC by population (and growing!) with by far the smallest campus. More than a few lecture halls on campus have had to be retrofitted to accommodate swelling class sizes.