Accepted to:
Davis - Microbiology
Riverside - Microbiology
Santa Barbara - Microbiology
Santa Cruz - Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Cal Poly SLO - Microbiology
Waiting on: Irvine - Biological Sciences
I am planning to become a pathologist, and I’m wondering which UC/CSU is best for this career plan. I applied under microbiology for all of them, unless they didn’t have the major.
I’m researching about the schools right now (I know, I should have done them sooner).
Wow! Congrats, you have a great set of schools to chose from. Visit each campus and let your heart guide your decision.
@NCalRent Do you have any suggestions?
They are all outstanding schools - academically, there is no wrong choice. My suggestion is that you select a school that feels right to you. You will spend many hours on and around the campus in the coming years. Will the surroundings bring you peace or be distraction? Your peers will look and sound like those you encounter in your time on campus. Can you envision them as friends? Listen to yourself - Most people who feel at home at UCSC would hate Davis and visa versa. Some people can’t handle the distractions (beach, parties, etc) around UCSB, others thrive. Perhaps SLO is too isolated from a big metro area - or you hate the weather - or, perhaps you love the town and scale of the school in relation to the massive UCs.
Each school has it’s pluses and minuses. I bet you can winnow the list down to 2 pretty quickly with a campus visit - from there, flip a coin if you must.
Good luck
The only school on your list that I cannot speak for is Riverside. I am a graduate of Cal Poly as is my husband and I think our daughter has decided on Cal Poly as well (still thinking it through some). The right school truly comes down to how you feel on the campus, the culture of the campus and its surrounding areas. San Luis Obispo and Davis (we live in Sacramento and spend plenty of time in and around Davis) are similar in the sense that they are both college towns with downtowns and surrounding areas that cater to the heavy student population. Davis will have the valley heat (100 degrees is not uncommon) but will also have the seasons! Tahoe, SF/Bay Area/Sacramento are all quick drives too. SLO has the most perfect weather of any of your above choices and is in close proximity to Avila Beach which is the Cal Poly beach if you will. Campus life is active with a lot of outdoor activities outside your door. There is a reason it has been named “The Happiest City in America” and Cal Poly grads are the 2nd highest salary earners to date. We loved our years there and still visit 4-5x a year. Santa Cruz is nestled in the beachy pines and often is shrouded in heavy fog. The campus has a very “earthy” vibe. Not many Sacramento kids head that way but it seems So Cal and out of state kids do. UCSB was my daughter’s first choice but now not so sure. A ridiculously beautiful campus since it sits on the ocean and like CP a very active, outdoorsy vibe…bikes and kids out everywhere which to her seems fun. Isla Vista at the start is exciting but by your 3rd or 4th year might get old. It is absolutely a party school and IV gets pretty crazy so if that is your thing, you would love it. State Street/dtown is lovely with lots of shops, bars and food but it is not walking distance from campus (there is a campus shuttle that will take you to and from). Finally, SB location for some is tricky. Long drive for us (6.0 hours) and no direct flights (LAX is closest). Amtrak is an option though. Based on your major I would put Davis first especially if you are considering medicine (UCD med center is right there and a highly respected teaching hospital). The rest comes down to you, your personality, where you live and what you value. Hope this helps 
As stated by all the above posters, visit each campus and talk to current students. Spend time in the surround town and you should be able to determine which school you would like to spend 4 years attending. All will give an excellent education so it will probably come down to what “fits” you financially and socially.
You have to LIVE there for 4 years.
Visit.
If you like biking EVERYWHERE, consider Davis and Santa Barbara, in that order.
College town, big school environment? Davis, SLO.
Desert-like environment? Riverside.
Ocean? Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara.
VISIT.
Thank you so much for your insight! I actually have visited all of the campuses listed, except UCR. Though some, I visited on the weekends when they had no classes, so it felt pretty dead unfortunately. I definitely know that’s not the case. I’m leaning toward SLO or UCSB (mostly) right now since Davis is too far away for me.
Daughter loved Davis!
The med center and education is awesome! We’re in SD. 9 hours away.