<p>Well, as with everyone else, I am frantically deciding which college I should attend!
I am planning to be a neuroscience major and I have narrowed my choices down to the following college:</p>
<p>University of California San Diego
University of California Berkeley
Wesleyan University
University of Southern California</p>
<p>I heard that UCSD had a great neuroscience program, but I am really attracted to the fact that USC is a private college (after all the scholarships and grants, USC costs the same as UCSD and UCB). I want to go to Wesleyan, but I am worried that it is across the country (I'm not sure if I am ready for such a huge change). And well, Berkeley is just Berkeley.
Can you guys give some opinions? I would have loved attending a small school such as Pomona College, but well, you know, I was obviously rejected.
THANKS</p>
<p>It depends on how hardcore you want to get into neuroscience. I wouldn't go to a place like Wesleyan if you want to go deep into that, want go get involved with research as an undergraduate, etc. You want to be at a big research university for that. </p>
<p>Sounds like you really want to stay in Southern California. In that case, I'd go visit USC and UCSD and choose based on feel, since you say cost isn't a big issue. UCSD has some amazing stuff going on in neuroscience, I can't help but think it has some nice advantages there.</p>
<p>Academically Berkeley probably is best of them all, really, but you don't seem to want to go there.</p>
<p>Actually, although I don't think Wesleyan's program is nearly as broad as Berkley's (which is something to consider: most of my friends in it love the program, but I know one girl who thought it was too constraining), it IS a good place to go if you want to get into research. Grad school funding + not many grad students = TONS of reaserch oppertunities for undergrads. The reaserch might not be as cutting edge as at Berkley, but you'll get a lot of experiance.</p>
<p>Anyway, if you really want the small college experiance, it might be worth going cross country for, IMO.</p>
<p>I go to Wes, and love it, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>If you have the benefit of such great schools at in-state costs (or in USC's case, scholarships), it's silly to pay more money to go somewhere else. Plus, it seems like your heart wants to stay in CA anyway.</p>
<p>What's your situation with Wesleyan financially?</p>
<p>Could you do an overnight as Wes? It'd be the biggest change for you and probably the one you should really visit if you haven't already, especially if you really do think you want a smaller school.</p>
<p>for Wesleyan:
2,500 Perkins Loans
2,500 Work Study
6,200 Parental Contribution
1,950 Student Contribution
Total:13,150
For USC:
500 Perkins Loan
2,500 Work Study
3,500 Stafford Loands
3,212 Student/Parent Contribution
Total :9,712</p>
<p>So in terms of Loans and Contributions added together, USC is cheaper.
The UCs are about 8000.
I am really attracted to Wesleyan probably because its a small liberal arts school, but I know it will be a big change. I really want to visit, but I dont know if I have the time or money to do so.
I know UCSD is really strong in Neuroscience, but again, I am really turned off by the fact that it is so huge--I really want the teacher/student relationships that are encouraged, or permitted, by a small liberal arts college.
Berkeley offers great academics, I know that, but it seems to hard to do well in that school. I am on the premed track, and a teacher recommended me not to go to Berkeley because he said that it would be tougher, if not impossible, for me to get a really high GPA, compared to an "easier" school as UCSD. I want a challenging school, but I dont want to constantly be at a place where I cant relax at some times.
thanks for your replies!!</p>
<p>its so hard to decide.
it might not be a good reason, but i dont think i want to leave my family and see them only two or three times a year... am i being silly for thinking this way?
you see, if wesleyan was in cali, it would totally be my number one.</p>
<p>how is it to go to an out of state college?
I know it must be hard to get used to everything, but is it worth it? what if i never get accustomed to it?</p>
<p>
[quote]
it might not be a good reason, but i dont think i want to leave my family and see them only two or three times a year... am i being silly for thinking this way?
[/quote]
There's nothing wrong with feeling that way. It's a perfectly legitimate thing to think about; if you go to school far away, you won't be able to come home very often, and when you do, it will be expensive. </p>
<p>It seems like staying close to family is important to you right now, so I'm going to suggest going to USC - it's a compromise; smaller than the UCs, but still close to family.</p>
<p>is that sacrifice alright?
would you say that I would be giving up a good education for a petty reason?
I know UCSD is outstanding with neuroscience, but i really dont like that it is so huge.</p>
<p>If your heart is telling you to stay in CA where your family is, then do it, it is expensive and time consuming to fly across the country three times a year, and when everyone around you is able to see their family more often, you may wish you could too. If you heart is in California with your family, it is worth the sacrifice, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I live in Connecticut and know the Wesleyan location well. Wesleyan is a great school and the students and alumni really enjoy(ed) their experience.</p>
<p>You need to visit and see what it's really like.
I'd choose it over California -- but this is home for me.
You need to visit if you are considering it seriously</p>
<p>I think USC gets better every year....D2 has several friends there who love it. D1 is at UCSD and loves it as well. but she transferred in as a junior. I think you might get more of the "RAH RAH" stuff at USC, although obviously the UCs are all great.</p>
<p>If I were to just judge the college on which is the best for Neuroscience, which should I choose? How would you guys rank them?</p>
<p>I would really like a good professor and student relationship; which college would provide that (excluding wes, because i know it would be best there.)</p>
<p>should i really worried about the huge class size of the UCs and USC?</p>
<p>Berkeley is the best for neuroscience if you're not considering UCSD. If you plan on going to grad school however, you might want to consider Wesleyan. USC, from my perspective, isn't that strong in terms of the sciences</p>
<p>My ranking for you:
Berkeley
Wesleyan
SD
USC</p>
<p>That's just me of course. I'm biased for Berkeley though. :P</p>
<p>... no question about it. berk. ppl in my school are dying to get in but because it accepts mostly kids from california, kids that were like 3rd in my class (in the best public school in my state) got rejected. its ridiculously hard to get in and is one of the best public universities in the nation behind penn and near uva and unc.</p>
<p>I know--sometimes I wonder why the hell I am giving up one of the best public schools in the nation.
Isnt it incredibly hard to survive there?
I asked the advice of a teacher and he said that i would be better if I didnt go to such a tough school for undergrad if I was planning to go to med school because berkeley would be so tough on grades. He told me to shoot for a school that isnt as tough, so i could get better grades. So I am totally confused about what i should do.
is research really that important? some people say it is, others say its not.</p>