<p>I would like to hear your reactions in terms of overall quality of degree and college experience. UCSD BioE is obviously ranked much higher. How rigorous is UCSD, i.e., will a UCB admittee not be challenged at UCSD?</p>
<p>UCB and UCSD are on fairly similar tiers. I doubt one would be much more difficult than the other.</p>
<p>Hi, I graduated from UCSD in BioE. For kicks, I’m just looking back at what it’s like to apply, and giving a helping opinion.</p>
<p>In terms of grades and college experience. Most UCSD BioE classes have class averages set to B- to B range. I think UCSD BioE was really competitive (I know a few people who rejected Ivies to go to UCSD BioE). One of my friends at UCB BioE told me his class averages were set to B+, but that’s just one dude saying. Most of my friends in UCSD BioE didn’t enjoy the program – we think the interdisciplinary nature trains you to be a jack of many trades, but a master of few. But I heard UCB’s curriculum is less specialized, while the pure BioE major at UCSD has almost all the material of a mechanical engineering BS.</p>
<p>Not sure about the BioE upper division classes (I’ve heard there is some grade “inflation” to attract people to the major), but lower division classes at Cal for BioE are quite rigorous and competitive. BioE at Cal is really good if you want to go to grad school. As a premed though you might end up with a lower GPA than you’d like.</p>
<p>There are many high-caliber students in the BioE major here so I would think that it may be even more competitive than the program at UCSD.</p>