<p>Thank you for your advice in advance. I am a senior in High school and I am stuck between deciding which campus to attend--UCLA or UCSD. I have heard mixed and opposing advice for my decision. I was admitted as a biology major at both campuses and I have no intention of changing majors. I am 98% sure I want to become a pharmacist. The other 2% remains open because I would like to see if I truly like the profession through experiencing the work through a pharmacy technician degree. If in the case that I do not like the work that pharmacists conduct, my other passion lies within medicine and I would like to attend med-school. I got into the John Muir college in UCSD. I know that UCSD has a great bio-engineering dpt, and therefore a good biology dept. as well. What is UCLA's biology program ranking in comparison to UCSD? I feel that I will enjoy either of the campuses that I attend, but the only differences seem to lie in the academics. I'm hesitant to attend UCLA because I feel that with great competition at the campus there will be GPA deflation and it will make me a less competitive applicant for pharm school or med school. Which school do you think I should attend if I have the intention to become a pharmacist in the future?.. a doctor? Thank you.</p>
<p>Which would be a wise choice to be a competitive applicant for grad school in those fields? Because even though I am a biology major, I will have to also take other GE courses that will vary in difficulty between the two campuses and this may work in favor or against me in the future.</p>
<p>You really should go where you think you will be happiest. They both will provide excellent preparation in biology. Probably UCSD is going to be a little less competitive, but I doubt if you’ll find that big of a difference.</p>
<p>A friend of mine that is currently attending USC, had told me that I should attend the school that I will do better in. Another friend of mine had told me to attend UCLA because selecting UCSD over UCLA due the greater academic rigor is not a great enough reason to turn down UCLA. My friend feels that I will be selling myself short and that there is no easy way out. I feel that San Diego is not exactly the easy way out, but it is the best route to my future. My main question is which would make my graduate school application stronger? being a UCLA or UCSD alumni?</p>
<p>graduate school or med school? But I don’t think it makes a whole lot of difference. The only thing is you might change your mind and not majoring in bio, you have more choices at UCLA.</p>
<p>Sorry, by graduate school, I meant acquiring a professional degree like Pharm. D or MD. I am sure that I will not be changing my major from biology because I love biology and cannot see myself majoring in anything else.</p>
<p>For MD, high GPA and high MCAT scores are more important, not the reputation of your undergraduate university. I would say both are equally competitive.</p>
<p>Nope, and you don’t have to study bio either. Study whatever you like as long as you get high GPA. But you have to fulfill the science requirements for medical school admission. High MCAT score is important too.</p>
<p>I think you are really splitting hairs about the academics. I think you should call that a draw and look at other factors now. Especially look at the distribution requirements and see if that is significantly different. Look at the location and culture. I’d pick SD for a little more beach laid back activity. Westwood is nice, but has horrible traffic and more expensive. Have you done visits?</p>