<p>So i've been accepted to both UCB and UCLA's psychology department! yay! there's just one thing...I want to switch to neuroscience. Talking to different neuroscience departments around the nation, it sounds like I need to do a pre-med curriculum and I'll be qualified for a phd in neuro. UCLA has a better psychology department, where as UCB has a wonderful neuroscience department. Should i go for the school with the best major that i'm entering? or the best phd program that i could potentially be entering? which school will give me less of a hard time with my "pre-med" schedule, getting the right classes....undergraduate research...</p>
<p>Can you provide me your stats?</p>
<p>LadyK, I’m curious to know why you think psychology is better at UCLA. I was always under the impression that Psych is better at UCB.</p>
<p>I’m going through the same dilemma, but I want to remain a psych major lol.</p>
<p>Please let me know why you think UCLA’s program is stronger; I’m really curious.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re really nitpicking about departmental rankings. I would suggest you go to the school you like better.</p>
<p>"which school will give me less of a hard time with my “pre-med” schedule, getting the right classes…undergraduate research… "</p>
<p>I doubt there will be a huge difference between Berkeley and LA, though LA does have a higher pre-med population.</p>
<p>UCLA exceeds UCB’s psych in the sense that it allows students to explore all areas of psych. UCB is top notch for clinical psychology, but I think that UCLA’s classes seemed much more “experimental”. which program is best for you depends on which area of psych you want to study. anyhoo…no ones really giving me any feedback…any thoughts?</p>
<p>Premed will probably be harder at Berkeley due to the harsh curves in the weeders (like orgo, calc, physics, and Bio 1A). </p>
<p>Btw Berkeley is not fond of accepting their own. I’ve spoke to many counselors about this, and they seriously don’t want their own undergrads for grad school. You’ll be at a disadvantage to get into UCB’s PhD program if you go there for undergrad. Will it be a major disadvantage - no. However, they do prefer students from other school with different backgrounds etc.</p>
<p>For research: UCLA has 2 research centers, and a med school right there. I would pick UCLA over UCB for research, but it’s pretty close. UCB has great opportunities as well.</p>
<p>go to whichever campus you like better. the rankings dont matter all that much. If you go where you know you’ll be happy, the better you will do in school. thats what matters.</p>
<p>I totally agree with Guitar- and I wish more people thought like that. For a lot of departments at UCLA and Berkeley, the differences in rankings aren’t huge. You’ll probably do a lot better academically if you go somewhere you enjoy living/being a student. You have grad school to worry about rankings! Besides, you really can’t go wrong with either!</p>