#UCLA vs. UCB

11 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

obtuse sapphire
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Schools: UCLA vs. UCB
Intended major: Microbiology, and minor/ double major in English (Lit)
Similarities: Both incredibly good schools in Cali. Great bio programs. Relatively similar student: faculty ratio.

UCLA
School 1 Pros:

  • 4 years guaranteed housing
  • Great housing/ dining facilities
  • Lots and lots of clubs, and study abroad programs. Many of which I'm excited to join if I commit. (I have yet to look in-depth at the clubs in UCB)
  • Westwood is pretty, or so I've heard
  • Seems like a more 'chill' school in comparison to UCB

School 1 Cons:

  • Bio program not as highly ranked as UCB

UCB
School 2 Pros:

  • #1 in Bio, and #2 in Microbio according to US News
  • Close to friends/ family (shouldn't be a huge deciding factor tho)
  • Opportunity to start in FPF which allows me to start with smaller class sizes
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School 2 Cons:

  • Don't enjoy the location
  • Housing issues
  • By being in FPF, i'm not allowed to take all the courses i'd like to take in my fall semester, and idk if this would affect me later.
  • I heard that the homeless folk really detest the students, how true is this?
  • I've heard from different students that UCB is either competitive and toxic, or not as competitive/ toxic as people really think
  • Heard you gotta apply into clubs?

Tiebreaking considerations:

  • Research opportunities, who has more and how much do i have to fight for them
  • Environment: is it toxic and competitive? How much pressure is there? I'd prefer to be in a school that's supportive, and not super competitive.
  • Career/ internship advisors and opportunities. I'd like to go somewhere that has better guidance.
  • Would I be able to double major? And, which one would it be for me to more feasibly double major without ripping my hair out?

Other things:

  • I'm not interested in a huge party school, but I would like to have a social life.
  • Is duck syndrome a big thing at either campus?
  • The alumni network at either school, are they helpful for internship/ career opportunities?

May add to this the more I find out but pls help. I also got into UCSD but I have no clue if I should consider UCSD as well.

pulsar creek
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from a prospective student perspective, the housing is a really big turn off for ucb. i think ucla can compete with cal in most every academic program to a reasonable extent, so it shouldnt be disappointing to pick LA. if you dont like the berkeley area and want a fun college social life id also take LA in that regard. competitiveness for opportunities should be the same at each. duck syndrome probably more of a thing at berkeley? i dont really think either school is toxic enough to worry about.
congrats on these two schools, regardless of your choice!

obtuse sapphire
reef bluff
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@obtuse sapphire are you interested in premed?

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If so i think UCLA would be a much better fit.

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Just keep an eye out when ur walking around and you won't run into issues with homeless people at Berkeley.

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Everyone i've met at berkeley have been incredibly helpful. Yes, academics are tough but if you know where to look for resources, you'll do great at berkeley.

obtuse sapphire
reef bluff
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hm

wary bramble
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I honestly think berkeley, although both are equal in terms of academic. Class over enrollment is a big problem in UCLA and less of a problem at berkeley. Also, berkeley does have that enrollment cut coming soon, so could be better. I heard for UCLA they give priority to upperclassmen and regents so usually freshmans are the last for class enrollment which makes it hard for studens to get easier classes/classes they want and in some cases they're not even able to sign up for pre reqs.