Looks like i'm going to UCSB for undergrad... comments?

[MrDreamWeaver]

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I had the decision of going to UCI, UCSD, UCD and UCSB for undergrad (transfer student).

UCSB gave me the regents scholarship w/ a few other scholarships, so they are pretty much paying me to go to their school.

Point being: does the undergrad school really matter?

 

[GatorsWearJorts]

I had the decision of going to UCI, UCSD, UCD and UCSB for undergrad (transfer student).

UCSB gave me the regents scholarship w/ a few other scholarships, so they are pretty much paying me to go to their school.

Point being: does the undergrad school really matter?

Unbelievable.

 

[riceman04]

It's beautiful up there

 

[DrHuang]

take advantage of the partying up there

 

[kidthor]

If you like it, you should definitely go!

 

[jjmack]

I had the decision of going to UCI, UCSD, UCD and UCSB for undergrad (transfer student).

UCSB gave me the regents scholarship w/ a few other scholarships, so they are pretty much paying me to go to their school.

Point being: does the undergrad school really matter?

the answer that no one wants to hear is that what you do before always matters for the next stage. Undergrad does matter for med, med for residency, and residency more than med school for job. Do you think it's an accident that we have ~10 people in my class form harvard?

 

[AxlxA]

I had the exact same choice. Regent scholarship offered from UCSB but at that time, prestige was all that mattered so I went to Berkeley instead. You should go to a school that has a good foot hole in the community. Something that your school can easily get you access to any other groups/projects/volunteering programs. So judging from that, UCSD is actulaly a better choice from what I've heard. By being the only school there, it has a lot of connections with community projects that you can get yourself involved in. They're a very heavy research school so you can probably get a lab job there as well to boost up your resume.

If money is a problem though, by all means, UCSB would be a better choice. There are a few EXCELLENT professors in Berkeley that graduated from UCSB.

Good luck making your decision.

 

[Elastase]

It does matter, and being at San Deigo, Davis, and Irvine you would probably have better pre-med resources and research opportunities especially since these school have med schools. Santa Barbara is definitely a good school, but I would prefer the other ones if I were pre-med, any other major (as planning to not go to med school) would be fine at SB. Good luck with your decision and congrats!

 

[NapeSpikes]

Take the money and run! The differences between opportunities among UCs are not worth turning down a free ride.

 

[paradisedoc]

UCSB should be your choice hands down. Actually, they are doing a tremendous amount of biomedical and medical research at UCSB despite not having a medical school there. You will have ample opportunities to do research if you choose. There are also community (neighborhood) clinics that care for the indigent including one in Isla Vista where you can volunteer. Cottage Hospital has many volunteer opportunities and you can be paid to hang out in the Emergency Room by being a "scribe" for the ER doctors. Socially, UCSB is great, probably not as many gunners as some other UC schools, although still competitive, second best party school in the country, Isla Vista sucks, but SB is gorgeous, right on the beach, no crowds, and it is being paid for? Sounds good to me!!!! Good luck on many fine choices.

 

[jackieMD2007]

You know what?

UCSB has won two Nobel prizes in recent years, in Chemistry and Physics.

Paula Bruice, who teaches organic chemistry, and wrote the textbook for it, is a wonderful pre-med advisor.

There are so many beautiful new science buildings, and the Donald Bren school of Environmental science is one of the "Greenest Laboratory" buildings in America. Cool facility, too.

UCSB has a great pharmacology program with an amazing lab program and lots of good research opportunities. You can major in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental biology or in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology (MCDB and EEMB departments, respectively). The upper division courses and majors are different. EEMB has a lot of really interesting upper division classes as well--an interesting and more non-traditional way of getting a biology degree.

The Universities of California have a good reputation and UCSB's has only gotten better in recent years.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[centralline]

I went to UCSB and am currently getting paid to "hang out" in the ER as a scribe. I haven't had any problems because of the undergraduate school I attended and the scribe position at Cottage Hospital is one of the most amazing pre-medical jobs out there. Where else can you get paid to stand in a room and watch doctors intubate and place central lines (where do you think I got my name?)? UCSB does have great opportunities for research and our reputation is growing by the year.
On another note, the town is ridiculous. The people are gorgeous, the weather is amazing and the atmosphere is pretty laid back. I am currently applying to medical school, and I can't imagine having missed out on the UCSB experience just to have the slightly better reputation of another UC. You will still be in the University of California system, just having more fun than the rest of them.

 

[Rebs]

Dude, go to UCSB. Spend a night out on DP, and get a late-night burrito from Freebirds and you'll realize that this is the school for you. Although most of my friends who went to UCSB are on the seven-year plan, it is definitely a good time.

 

[MirrorTodd]

Two of my brother's went to UCSB and they loved it. It's a big party school, but as long as you have some self-discipline, you'll get through it. I was born in Cottage Hospital, so yes, I am a little biased. Be forewarned, my brother is now a cop in the Isla Vista area, so don't get caught. HAHAHAHA

 

[bugmenot]

Looks like I had toast for breakfast this morning. Comments?

 

[angietron3000]

Go to SB! Don't live in IV if you want to keep your grades up, and have a breakfast burrito at the cantina for me! (oh cantina I miss you so!)

 

[Pewl]

UCSB has a fantastic physics department. Several of the physicists here at UCLA Biomedical Physics are from UCSB.

 

[MrDreamWeaver]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement.

For the person who asked, money is a big issue, so I'm obviously stoked UCSB is giving me more than enough money to attend their school.

I have been in community college for 3 years because I have been working at the same time (to help pay family expenses). It's going to be pretty nice not working so I can focus on school.

Anyway, it looks like I'll be going to UCSB. The deal they offered me is just too good to refuse.

and yes, the partying/socializing is a big factor. I like rewards for studying , haha.

Thanks to those of you who mentioned the "scribe" thing, I'll be sure to check that out.

 

[LT2]

Go to SB! Don't live in IV if you want to keep your grades up, and have a breakfast burrito at the cantina for me! (oh cantina I miss you so!)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm cantina breakfast burrito...

GO GAUCHOS!! you won't regret your decision.