<p>Recently, I was given an opportunity to go on an exchange year to either of these campuses. I've never been to America, and don't know anyone who could give me some advise on which one of these campuses I should chose. I read on the internet, that Berkeley is more academic, and that's pretty much all that matters to me right now. My programme is Genetics, which is a molecular sciences type course. Which one would you guys advise? Also, which one would look better in my CV?</p>
<p>Points to consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>I want a competitive, academic environment</li>
<li>I want good staff and laboratory equipment</li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you very much for your help!</p>
<p>P.S. Are there any trustworthy rankings you would suggest for me to check out?</p>
<p>I think being on exchange is very different from actually getting your degree there. In this sense, I think it would be really productive to consider something more than academics.</p>
<p>Since you’ve never been to the U.S., some other relevant points to consider might be location, environment, cultural diversity etc.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I don’t think the place you go an exchange is going to matter that much in a CV.</p>
<p>First thing I’d want to know is if your exchange program will provide housing. Both campuses are located in areas where the housing supply is tight, and rentals can be quite pricey. </p>
<p>You might also want to send emails to the appropriate academic departments at both schools, explaining your situation and asking if they can put you in touch with professors who have research opportunities for undergraduates (I am assuming you are an undergrad). Going to the school with the highest-ranked labs and reputation won’t do you any good if you are unable to actually work in the labs. If your program sets up this type of contact for you, then you should directly contact professors. You might also ask if you could email with some students currently enrolled at both schools, to find out what they might recommend.</p>
<p>limnieng, those are good points, but the most important for me would be the academic component of the campus. Locationwise, I don’t see either of them as being ‘bad’, although I do know that the weather in Los Angeles is much better, but that’s of little concern to me. What makes you consider that an exchange year is of little importance in the CV? Your statement is the exact opposite of what many of my current tutors and advisors told me.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove, no housing is provided. I do know that the cost will not be low, but coming from London, I am used to it. Yes, I am an undergraduate, and I will send some e-mails, thank you for the suggestion. :)</p>
<p>UCBChemEGrad, could you elaborate, please? Although, I have to say, that looking at some University rankings I came to the conclusion, that Berkeley is a bit above UCLA, especially in science and engineering courses.</p>
<p>I think if you’re solely doing it based on academics, and considering you’re an international, berkeley will have the better name and would be the better choice for your wants.</p>
<p>for someone who never has been to the united states, i feel los angeles would be a better experience in terms of environment and being exposed to the diversity that exists in the city. los angeles is so huge, you could never really explore enough of it.</p>
<p>Based on your criteria, you’re looking for a competitve, top-notch school in the biological sciences. Berkeley is fantastic. Top research, strong international presence, intellectual vibe, and located near one of the most picturesque, cosmopolitan cities in the world.</p>
<p>If you want to experience the more laid-back Socal culture, choose UCLA. But, you’ll also need a car (or a friend with a car) to explore the city.</p>
<p>UCquestion, the housing thing is really important. Please find out from your program if they’ll assist you with finding housing, or if you’ll need to work directly with the housing offices of the campus. Then contact the housing offices, and ask if you’ll be able to get on-campus housing. Ask what off-campus options are available for an international exchange student. If you don’t have an affordable, tolerable place to live, it makes life much less pleasant.</p>
<p>concur with UCBChem. Cal has a higher international rep than UCLA, but UCLA has a med school on campus (helpful for genetics work?). Also, getting around Berkeley and the Bay Area is much easier, since LA’s public transportation system on the west side (near campus) is all buses.</p>
<p>While housing is expensive in both areas, it’s probably more plentiful close to the Berkeley campus, where apartments can be less expensive than dorms.</p>
<p>These schools are both some of the best in the world in the biomedical sciences. You needn’t worry about encountering anything but good lab equipment and staff. If you want to decide between these two, the right thing to do is to check through the faculty at each of these places and see which has a larger number of faculty doing research in the area you like. I would even go as far as contacting them about setting up an “undergraduate independent study” credit in their lab.</p>
<p>Oh and these areas are on par with London in terms of housing, so you should be well prepared for that already.</p>
<p>All American do not enjoy the endless suburban sprawl that is LA. Without a car it is a tough place to live. With a car it’s still tough with unbelievable traffic and endless boring suburbs. I think most from London would prefer Berkeley. It’s urban in a true sense, walkable with easy public transportation to SF. Combine that with top programs and it’s hard to beat IMO.</p>
<p>I was brought up in LA and did undergrad at Berkeley and would recommend Berkeley for non-academic reasons. I know you say you’re just interested in school, but you’re going to be there for a year, the bay area has such great public transportation and LA has very little and what it has is poor in comparison. Westwood is an OK part of LA, but the bay area has so much more to offer culturally. While both are excellent institutions and well regarded, the Berkeley name is known worldwide.</p>