<p>Hey everyone!
I'm just trying to gather some opinions.
I got accepted to NYU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Univ. of Chicago, & Cornell (waitlist)...</p>
<p>and i'm planning to major either </p>
<p>-double major in math & bio
- or major in biomath or mathematical biology</p>
<p>Which college should i go for :) ... and why?
I'm trying to move to the east coast, but Berkeley is just too damn good to pass up.
Any thoughts or comment?</p>
<p>**Honest responses please :P</p>
<p>are those real majors, just combinations of math and biology? Personally, I don't like NYU very much. For math, my uninformed opinion would be to consider Chicago, Cornell (if you get in), and UC Berkely</p>
<p>i know...as weird as it sounds it actually exists
here's some websites</p>
<p>ucla : <a href="http://www.biomath.ucla.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.biomath.ucla.edu/</a>
cal: <a href="http://bio.math.berkeley.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://bio.math.berkeley.edu/</a>
davis: <a href="http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/group?area=mathbio%5B/url%5D">http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/group?area=mathbio</a></p>
<p>when i found out about this field, i was so hyped up.
it's pretty cool & it's rather brand new. :)</p>
<p>Btw... why don't you like NYU ?
I'm considering it b/c it's #1 above MIT in applied math.
tell me more...</p>
<p>NYU is in downtown Manhattan (the village) and if you're not familiar with the east coast/NYC it can be pretty insane. But I don't know too much about it as far as math/biology goes, all of my friends who go there are for business or drama. I would say that you should at least visit the school before making any decisions.</p>
<p>UChicago is of course an excellent option, as the biology and math departments are great and it's an enormous research institution, so opportunities to do research or lab work are unlimited. I'm not quite sure about "biomath" as a major specifically, I do know that the individual fields are very popular here and for good reason.</p>
<p>UCB is also considered a powerhouse in those fields, and don't you get a really sweet deal (assuming you're a Cali resident)? You'd be around mostly california people, while Chicago would offer a much more diverse student body, but you would probably save some serious money, too. Plus, they seem to have your specific major implemented already.</p>
<p>Just some thoughts.</p>
<p>I don't like NYU because it is a pretty large University, and it doesn't have a campus. I think any school needs to have a central area it can call its own. I live in Brooklyn, and I've been to Columbia's campus and it feels like the center of a school. I've been to NYU buildings and around dorms, and it just feels like I'm standing somewhere in the city. To top it off, a lot of NYU kids have no idea what kind of city NYC is, and I can see them being overwhelmed by it pretty quickly. </p>
<p>Aside from my personal opinions, I just think as far as quality of education is concerned, not that NYU is not good by any means, its excellent, but I think out of the other schools you got into, you have better opportunities.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that you're going to get an amazing education at any of the schools you listed if you apply yourself, and guess what?! If you don't apply yourself you'll get a terrible education at any of those schools.</p>
<p>The real question is which one of those schools is the best fit for you, not which one has the highest ranked program or the most Nobel prize winners in your area. That makes virtually no difference in the quality of education you will receive; it is merely indicative of the type of people who have already been there.</p>
<p>That being said, I would be weary of moving from California to New York because the atmosphere is completely different there. If you haven't already done so, and you are seriously considering NYU, you NEED to visit before you commit to it because it is a very unique experience. I live less than 40 minutes from downtown Chicago, so I know what a big city is like, but NYC is something else entirely, and NYU... just visit before you jump to any decisions. You don't want to go there and then find out you absolutely hate the atmosphere. I visited during a week long college visiting excursion along the east coast and decided that there was no way I would ever subject myself to that kind of environment no matter how good of an education it is. Of course, that's me, and there are tons of people who would love to have that experience and would prosper because of it. Power to them. Just make sure you educate yourself and know what you're getting in to.</p>
<p>Of course, that goes for all of these schools. With the possible exception of the two UC's (I have not actually visited them, but I'm assuming they're fairly similar), all of them have a very unique atmosphere around campus and ideally you would be able to visit all of them and choose which one is best for you.</p>
<p>New York is a very fast city, and NYU really throws you straight in.<br>
In my opinion, UChicago will offer you the best overall education, though not so much for the specific major; NYU will offer you the best job prospects and internship opportunities; while Berkeley will be inexpensive, close to home, and of course, offer a stellar education no matter what you end up doing.</p>
<p>Good luck! And yes, you should definitely visit each of those places, and perhaps try to stay overnight, to see if you really feel the place.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your replies. They've really helped me put things in perspective.</p>
<p>I'll elaborate on myself a bit...</p>
<p>I actually grew up in New York City and when we moved here, i was miserable. I really don't like southern California. I don't like the weather, the environment, lack of trees, lack of rain, lack of food, etc.etc.... And it was my dream come true that I got accepted into a college outside of California.</p>
<p>I think I'm just a bit afraid with the idea of staying here for another four years. Should I ignore my this feeling for...or should i follow my heart and just apply myself wherever i go ( as Enigma207 said)?</p>
<p>I've always adored big city like chicago.... (sigh....)</p>
<p>I'm actually trying to visit chicago & cornell on the second week of april, so i'll see how it is.
Thanks again everyone</p>
<p>I would say it's a cost issue, then. Are your parents ok spending considerably more (tuition, airfare, etc.) to give you your choice of college, even if no financial aid is offered? And I'm not trying to make you sound spoiled, everybody who goes to a private institution faces this same issue. If money is not a sticking point, than by all means follow your heart - it'll be much easier to apply yourself if you really dig the school you're at.</p>
<p>Given that you are
- familar with NY
- in favor of big cities
- wanting to get out of California
then NYU and UChicago become more likely choices. Chicago is fairly different in feel though from NYC so definitely try and get a visit in April. If you come on those two big prospie thursdays (12th and 19th) you'll get to see something that I guarantee you won't see at NYU - a frat party. </p>
<p>Bottom line: I didn't click with a school until I visited Chicago. After my overnight, I called up my parents and said "I absolutely could spend four years of my life here." And now I'm here, and couldn't be happier. Many of my friends have similar stories. Go with what you feel in your gut, and you'll be all the happier for it.</p>
<p>for current chicago students....can you please tell me more about your experiences both in the univ. and the city in general? A little anecdote maybe?</p>
<p>Can you tell me the 'pro' and 'cons' ?</p>
<p>Any specific questions or concerns?</p>
<p>Well...i mean,
How do you like it in Chicago?...life quality in general & academic life.
What is it that you like & don't like about U of chicago ?
(If you do know) How do Chicago's math & biology program compare to other univ.?</p>
<p>bumppppp...........</p>