<p>Hi everyone! I know there has been a flood of college comparison threads but I'd really appreciate any input on this. </p>
<p>For those who don't know, UPenn's Vagelos Scholars in Molecular Life Sciences Program allows students to get a B.A. and M.S. in 4 years and guarantees two summers of research with a $7,000 stipend/summer (although most scholars continue through the school year). The program has a high attrition rate but 90% of its graduates have ended up at top PHD, MD, MD/PHD programs (at Harvard, UPenn, MIT, etc.). </p>
<p>I'm looking at this versus UC Berkeley's Molecular Cell Biology major. I plan to pursue a MD/PHD.
Can anyone tell me how UCB is in terms of biomedical research opportunities and compare the two schools academically at the Undergraduate Level in the sciences? Thank you!</p>
<p>My opinion is obviously biased since I’m doing Vagelos MLS. :)</p>
<p>Penn has so many research opportunities to offer. I applied for a paid undergrad internship a month ago (as an incoming freshman) and got it, so it’s clearly not hard at all to find a lab at Penn. Berkeley’s undergrad population is much larger, so I’m not sure if it’s harder to find research opportunities there, especially during frosh/soph years. </p>
<p>Both are amazing schools, but I think the MLS program really makes Penn the better choice. An MS with a BA will give you an edge over most MD/PhD applicants, since it shows that you have a lot of research experience due to the thesis and summer internships, and that you can handle graduate-level coursework.</p>
<p>Feel free to message me and I’ll see you in September if you choose Penn! :)</p>
<p>Wow! that sounds cool (the undergrad internship). Do you live near Penn? haha, i’m leaning towards Penn right now but still considering Berkeley because of cost and distance (i live in cali).</p>
<p>I live 20 minutes from campus, so it won’t be hard to commute for the internship. Those summer stipends, along with work-study that you can earn by interning in labs during the year, can really help bring down the cost of Penn.</p>
<p>Hi. I’m also planning on attending the UPenn Vagelos MLS program. I totally agree with anonymouse5; MLS will provide great opportunities for research and for future grad school programs. Can’t wait for Ponzy’s seminars-I’ve heard they’re hilarious! Hopefully we’ll all get to meet next year:)</p>
<p>Not to bash on UC B, but I go to a school that sends 50-60 students to berkeley a year, and consistently people have the same problems- inability to get classes, and even if they do, classes of 400+ regularly. most say it will take 5 years to graduate, and with the financial situation in CA, tuition is skyrocketing.</p>
<p>Penn will give you many more opportunities and support</p>
<p>Hmmmmmmm I am a current student at Penn and I took a summer course at Berkeley last year, so I know a bit about both schools.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>First off, I am impressed that you are already aiming for an MD/PhD. Think about what an incredibly long time you will be in school: 4 years of undergrad, and then 8 years of MD/PhD. You will graduate in 2023 and then you will still need to do a residency or postdoc. If you are interested in basic science research, a PhD is fine. If you are interested in clinical research, an MD is powerful enough that you don’t need the PhD too.</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes down to it, both schools have almost endless faculty that are doing really cool research. Penn has a really good med school, but if you went to Berkeley you could probably work at UCSF during the summers if you are interested in clinical research. </p></li>
<li><p>As you are probably well aware, the California economy is in serious trouble. I do feel that this has put the quality of the undergraduate education at Berkeley in mild jeopardy. Sadly I think this is going to be true of a few other top state schools around the country, including UW-Madison.</p></li>
<li><p>Really, you can’t go wrong either way. Berkeley probably carries a much cheaper price tag unless you got an awesome financial aid package at Penn. The weather is also nicer at Berkeley. Penn has a world-class med school, and Vagelos MLS is top-notch preparation for a career in research science. It’s a win-win. Best of luck!</p></li>
</ul>
<p>The pHD does bear the benefit, assuming that the school is NIH funded, of paying for the MD though, so that could be a reason for the OP to choose a MD/PhD program.</p>
<p>@skidee3: so how’s the bio major goin’? (And how are your prospects for MD/PhD so far?)</p>
<p>I’ve heard so many amazing things about the Penn MLS program- that’s why I’ve chosen it myself. However, the distance for you will definitely be a struggle, but if you’re willing to travel all the way to Pennsylvania from Cali, go for it! The program is top-notch, as sunkist7 said, and Penn itself is amazing, so if your planning to go into research, MLS is the way to go. I honestly don’t know much about Berkeley though.</p>