Can You Rank These UCLA Science Majors By Difficulty?

[doctorDoctor.]

TL;DR
High GPA is very important to me. I am genuinely interested in all the majors listed below. Please rank in order of difficulty, #1 being hardest and #7 being easiest.

I am going to be a premed at UCLA this coming fall.

Here are the majors that I am considering at the moment, in order of my interest level:
1. MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics)
2. Neuroscience
3 (tie). Psychobiology
3 (tie). Psychology
4. Physiological Science (Phy. Sci.)
5. Biochemistry
6. MCDB (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)

First of all, I am actually (believe it or not) very interested in all of these majors. I'm just one of those people who takes an interest in a variety of fields (and not someone who majors in something just because he's premed). Please don't say things like "major in what you're interested in" because I am legitimately interested in all of those majors and cannot decide objectively.

It is important to me that I have a high GPA. Though interest level is definitely important, I don't think it's worth it to lower my chances for medical school (attending which is where my real interest lies).

Please rank the majors above in terms of difficulty, #1 being hardest and #7 being easiest.

Other miscellaneous questions:

1. I understand that MIMG, Neuroscience, and Phy. Sci. will essentially murder your GPA and thus am probably not going to major in those. But what about MCDB?

2. Are Psychobio classes really THAT boring, as many people seem to tell me?

3. What's the difference between Psychology and Psychobio, and which one is harder?

4. Are Psychology and Psychobiology majors considered North Campus or South Campus?


Sorry this is such a long post, but I would love some advice and answers.

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[Lucca]

@ZedsDed ?

 

[piii]

 

[efle]

Not a UCLA student, but if it's anything like most universities, Psychology is going to be far easier than any of the others.

 

[medic86]

Not a UCLA student, but if it's anything like most universities, Psychology is going to be far easier than any of the others.

/thread

 

[aalamruad]

TL;DR
High GPA is very important to me. I am genuinely interested in all the majors listed below. Please rank in order of difficulty, #1 being hardest and #7 being easiest.

I am going to be a premed at UCLA this coming fall.

Here are the majors that I am considering at the moment, in order of my interest level:
1. MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics)
2. Neuroscience
3 (tie). Psychobiology
3 (tie). Psychology
4. Physiological Science (Phy. Sci.)
5. Biochemistry
6. MCDB (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)

First of all, I am actually (believe it or not) very interested in all of these majors. I'm just one of those people who takes an interest in a variety of fields (and not someone who majors in something just because he's premed). Please don't say things like "major in what you're interested in" because I am legitimately interested in all of those majors and cannot decide objectively.

It is important to me that I have a high GPA. Though interest level is definitely important, I don't think it's worth it to lower my chances for medical school (attending which is where my real interest lies).

Please rank the majors above in terms of difficulty, #1 being hardest and #7 being easiest.

Other miscellaneous questions:

1. I understand that MIMG, Neuroscience, and Phy. Sci. will essentially murder your GPA and thus am probably not going to major in those. But what about MCDB?

2. Are Psychobio classes really THAT boring, as many people seem to tell me?

3. What's the difference between Psychology and Psychobio, and which one is harder?

4. Are Psychology and Psychobiology majors considered North Campus or South Campus?


Sorry this is such a long post, but I would love some advice and answers.

I can't accurately comment on the difficulties of those majors (I go to a different UC), but I just want to comment before everyone starts going after you for not simply choosing the major you're most interested in, regardless of difficulty.

My advice if you truly know you want to go to med school: choose the major from the ones you listed above that you think you'll be able to get the highest GPA with, and don't consider any other factors at all (i.e. your ranking of preference). Not enough people realize that an easy major not only gets you a better GPA (as long as you put in the same amount of work), but also frees up a ton of time to improve you application in a lot of other meaningful ways. There's nothing wrong with playing the game with respect to major. I chose psych (bachelor of arts), and it's been incredibly easy to get a 4.0 in my major classes, with very little effort. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to say the same if I chose a science major. Psych has been really interesting, and the ease of all my major classes gives me all the time I need to focus on other classes and focus on EC's that actually matter to me. In a year from now, my undergrad degree will be entirely irrelevant, so it would have been pointless to devote more time than necessary to school, as odd as that might sound.

Psych majors also get higher MCAT scores on average than do science majors, and they have higher acceptance rates to med school. Keep in mind that this is a correlation and not causation, but it's something to think about. (for the record, I think a lot of humanities majors have even higher scores and acceptance rates than do psych majors, but it doesn't look like that's something you're interested in.)

I'd go with psych, and would place psychobio as a very distant second. You seem like a relatively smart guy; use that to breeze through school and use the extra time to strengthen the rest of your app, instead of setting yourself an unnecessary hurdle to jump over just because you're slightly more interested in one major than another.

 

[neekzg]

what you are most interested in = what you are most likely to do best in.

It is impossible to rank your list objectively because different people have different strengths: how interested they are in a certain subject has A LOT to do with that.

That being said, MIMG and MCDB have a lot of overlap, with the former being more focused on genetics and the latter on developmental biology. Since MIMG is ranked #1 on your interest list, I recommend going with that one. Although I am against ranking the list by difficulty, I will tell you that neuroscience and phy/sci have the notoriously hard upper division core classes. I would stay away from those unless you seriously love those subjects and are willing to sacrifice extra time to study that you could use towards ECs instead.

To be honest, I don't know that there's much difference between psych/psychbio but everyone who is pre-med does the second one probably because you need those extra science courses for pre-med/pre-health requisites anyway. On your list, one might argue that a psychobiology major is the easiest and will give you the best chance at a good GPA. However, you shouldn't sell yourself short considering that you might just as well do better at a major that is more stimulating and rewarding for your interests.

The good thing is that you don't need to make up your mind any time soon. Look heavily into the upper division core classes and electives for each major and see if you can rule out any. It sounds like you would be bored with psych so I would start with potentially ruling out psych/psychobio. When taking your pre-reqs, if you find yourself really liking LS3, MCDB/MIMG might be right up your alley, and particularly MIMG if you like LS4 as well.

 

[Toutie]

Get through your pre-reqs first. They are more likely to be your GPA killers. Especially the Chem sequence....they are major weed-out classes. Do you have a good solid background in Chem and Physics and Calculus? Did you take AP classes in HS in these subjects? If so then you stand a chance of making it through the pre-reqs relatively unscathed. DO NOT overload yourself your first year...take it very slow. Don't even think about a major until part way through your 2nd year. Go go office hours! Go to your TA sessions! Stay up on studying daily! Do NOT get behind. Being on a quarter system gives you no time to catch up if you get behind.

 

[aalamruad]

what you are most interested in = what you are most likely to do best in.

Empirically wrong. Easier = better GPA. OP already made it clear he's interested in all the majors he listed. Undergrad is a stepping stone, and unless OP is concerned about a suitable back-up plan with respect to major, undergrad really isn't the best time to simply pursue what you're interested in the most without regard for its repercussions on application quality. Save that kind of academic curiosity for med school when you're choosing a specialty.

Now I'm certainly not saying someone who hates music should become a music major just to get into med school, but it's clear that OP like all of the fields he listed, and it would be a mistake to choose anything but the easiest major if he could enjoy himself in any of them.

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

My advice if you truly know you want to go to med school: choose the major from the ones you listed above that you think you'll be able to get the highest GPA with, and don't consider any other factors at all (i.e. your ranking of preference). Not enough people realize that an easy major not only gets you a better GPA (as long as you put in the same amount of work), but also frees up a ton of time to improve you application in a lot of other meaningful ways.

If only someone had told me this before I started college. It sucks that the system is the way it is...but I 10000% agree with this statement. Protect that GPA above all else.

 

[deleted737477]

TL;DR
High GPA is very important to me. I am genuinely interested in all the majors listed below. Please rank in order of difficulty, #1 being hardest and #7 being easiest.

I am going to be a premed at UCLA this coming fall.

Here are the majors that I am considering at the moment, in order of my interest level:
1. MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics)
2. Neuroscience
3 (tie). Psychobiology
3 (tie). Psychology
4. Physiological Science (Phy. Sci.)
5. Biochemistry
6. MCDB (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)

First of all, I am actually (believe it or not) very interested in all of these majors. I'm just one of those people who takes an interest in a variety of fields (and not someone who majors in something just because he's premed). Please don't say things like "major in what you're interested in" because I am legitimately interested in all of those majors and cannot decide objectively.

It is important to me that I have a high GPA. Though interest level is definitely important, I don't think it's worth it to lower my chances for medical school (attending which is where my real interest lies).

Please rank the majors above in terms of difficulty, #1 being hardest and #7 being easiest.

Other miscellaneous questions:

1. I understand that MIMG, Neuroscience, and Phy. Sci. will essentially murder your GPA and thus am probably not going to major in those. But what about MCDB?

2. Are Psychobio classes really THAT boring, as many people seem to tell me?

3. What's the difference between Psychology and Psychobio, and which one is harder?

4. Are Psychology and Psychobiology majors considered North Campus or South Campus?


Sorry this is such a long post, but I would love some advice and answers.

1. MIMG and MCDB are sister majors. The two overlap immensely and it is commonplace for MCDB majors to take MIMG classes and MIMG majors to take MCDB classes.

2. I did not find my psychobiology class interesting.

3. From what I've heard in psychbiology you take lower division science classes like other life science majors and your upper divisions are psychology classes. Psychology majors do not need to take the same lower division classes as psychobiology majors. Since you are pre-med you will need to take these classes anyway.

4. Depends on who you ask but nobody really cares.

MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics)
Neuroscience
Psychobiology
Psychology
Physiological Science (Phy. Sci.)
Biochemistry
MCDB (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)

A ranking of these majors is pointless. In all of them there are people who get 4.0s. Among those you listed though psychology and psychobiology are substantially easier. Unless you are genuinely interested and engaged by science you will find all the other majors listed challenging.

 

[neekzg]

Empirically wrong. Easier = better GPA. OP already made it clear he's interested in all the majors he listed. Undergrad is a stepping stone, and unless OP is concerned about a suitable back-up plan with respect to major, undergrad really isn't the best time to simply pursue what you're interested in the most without regard for its repercussions on application quality. Save that kind of academic curiosity for med school when you're choosing a specialty.

Now I'm certainly not saying someone who hates music should become a music major just to get into med school, but it's clear that OP like all of the fields he listed, and it would be a mistake to choose anything but the easiest major if he could enjoy himself in any of them.

????

What a waste of an education to care simply about getting a good GPA. Undergrad is not just a stepping stone to med school--it's an educational experience to be enjoyed and explored in it's own right.

The major I suggested provides the best balance of difficulty and the OP's interests. I actually had a different take-away from OP's post of which major he would enjoy the most based off his own numbered list. Based off his impressions of the "easier" majors, it seems he wouldn't actually enjoy psych/psychobio.

edit: Although I stand by what I just wrote, I will qualify my post to indicate that there are indeed many people who pursue the major they think is most interesting but end up doing poorly. This is most often seen with neuro/physiological sciences. I see many people with high GPAs in MIMG/MCDB but rarely neuro and physci.

 

[aalamruad]

????

What a waste of an education to care simply about getting a good GPA. Undergrad is not just a stepping stone to med school--it's an educational experience to be enjoyed and explored in it's own right.

The major I suggested provides the best balance of difficulty and the OP's interests. I actually had a different take-away from OP's post of which major he would enjoy the most based off his own numbered list.

Maybe that's true for some. But I couldn't really care less about the "experience" of undergrad. It's a stepping stone for me, and you shouldn't judge people just because that's not the case for you. My family didn't make enormous sacrifices so that I could risk my chances of getting into med school in exchange for having fun for a few years. My goal is getting into med school, and everything else is secondary to that. If OP's main goal is becoming a doctor, he should follow my advice. If that's one of his many goals, along with exploring other possibilities during undergrad, then he should follow yours. Simple as that.

 

[efle]

Among those you listed though psychology and psychobiology are substantially easier.

Ahah! The stereotype fits

What a waste of an education to care simply about getting a good GPA

It's good to enjoy classes of course. But realistically, few if any of us are studying things that will be useful at all in daily life down the road. Typically easy subjects like psych are plenty interesting, and making very good grades is a must for Californian premeds. You should study what you most enjoy from among the things you can do extremely well in.

 

[neekzg]

I'll concede that I might've been among the minority at UCLA (or at any college for that matter) to major in something both interesting and applicable to their career goals. To the OP--it is possible to get the both of best worlds but I do hope that you choose something that is not just easy but rewarding and stimulating as well.

I think you will have a better picture of where your interests/strengths lie in a year or two. If you find yourself struggling in the pre-reqs, I would absolutely advise you to choose an easier major like psych/psychobio.

 

[morgoanie]

The good thing is that you don't need to make up your mind any time soon.

 

[msavvy]

I'll give my shot at it then you should consider any disagreements in other posts

1. Biochemistry
You MUST take the Math 31A, 31B, 32A series instead of 3A, 3B, 3C series..
You MUST take the Chem 20A, 20B, 20C series instead of the 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D series..

You will be competing with engineers/chem engineers in these math and chemistry classes. Also, you must have a deep conceptual/abstract understanding to do well in upper-div biochem classes like physical biochemistry (Chem 156) and intermediate thermodynamic (Chem 110A).

2. MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics)
2. MCDB (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)
3. Neuroscience
4. Physiological Science (Phy. Sci.)
5. Psychobiology

For the rest of these majors, you can take the easier Math and Chem series.

100. Psychology

Notoriously easy, but I THINK you'll have trouble fulfilling pre-med requirements, don't quote me on this.

 

[flyingeagle]

I think it's also important to major in what you like the most in case you decide you do not want to be pre-med (you might find that you like the subject itself better than medicine). From there you can decide to pursue graduate school or something similar that is related to your major.

 

[aalamruad]

I think it's also important to major in what you like the most in case you decide you do not want to be pre-med (you might find that you like the subject itself better than medicine). From there you can decide to pursue graduate school or something similar that is related to your major.

Back-up plans are for the weak.

 

[ZedsDed]

@ZedsDed ?

@doctorDoctor. Personally, I'm of the @md-2020 school of thought that says you should major in whatever will garner you the highest GPA. Let's be honest, this process is a game. No one is going to care if you martyr yourself on the hill of "a rich college experience" if you end up with a 3.4 GPA.

As for the specific majors, it really can't be ranked as strictly as you would like it to OP. Whether or not one major is slightly harder than another is going to vary depending on who you ask, it's just too subjective. The best I can do is break it into categories and even then understand that I mainly going off of heresay (wasn't a bio or humanities major.)

Edit: Nevermind, @msavvy beat me to it. I'll just add that I knew two people who took biopsych and they claimed it was every bit of a joke as regular psych was -- basically just psych plus a couple lower-div bio classes. I haven't verified this myself.

 

[sss1219]

I'll give my shot at it then you should consider any disagreements in other posts

1. Biochemistry
You MUST take the Math 31A, 31B, 32A series instead of 3A, 3B, 3C series..
You MUST take the Chem 20A, 20B, 20C series instead of the 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D series..

You will be competing with engineers/chem engineers in these math and chemistry classes. Also, you must have a deep conceptual/abstract understanding to do well in upper-div biochem classes like physical biochemistry (Chem 156) and intermediate thermodynamic (Chem 110A).

2. MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics)
2. MCDB (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)
3. Neuroscience
4. Physiological Science (Phy. Sci.)
5. Psychobiology

For the rest of these majors, you can take the easier Math and Chem series.

100. Psychology

Notoriously easy, but I THINK you'll have trouble fulfilling pre-med requirements, don't quote me on this.

Recent UCLA grad here (2014), MIMG major. Would change slightly:

1. Biochem
2. Phy Sci & MIMG
3. Neuro & MCDB
4. Psychobio
5. Psych

Like everyone said, do what you are interested in. Also, keep in mind that UCLA is prestigious enough that people doing non-science majors also do well in the app cycle - I know people with language majors, sociology majors, and anthro majors that ended up at top 10 schools. PM me if you have any questions.

EDIT: MCDB and MIMG overlap a lot, and they are both very difficult. I think MIMG trumps it because the immunology classes are killer, but if you're motivated enough you can do well in either. MCDB probably prepares you for the MCAT a little more since they are still doing bio classes while we are doing bacteriology/virology courses when we enter upper divs. Either way, you're not going to do well in either unless you're a motivated student. You may want to look into psychobio or bio since those are the easier of the LS majors, or consider your medical anthros or human biology/society majors. If you're able to do well in your pre-reqs and other science courses, you can do well in the app cycle with these too (know plenty of people who have).

 

[e2cp1]

Recent UCLA grad and matriculating to a california med school this fall.

The thing with all the majors listed you have to take the same premed prereqs, and generally upper division courses are easier than the weeder, lower division courses. For the first two years you will be basically taking the same courses as every other premed despite your major.