UCLA vs Berkeley for undergrad

[cuyegs]

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HELP!!!! 😱 I need to decide soon!!!! Is it better if i get my undergrad degree in Berkeley with a BA is Molecular and Cell Biology or if i go to UCLA and graduate with a BS in Biochemistry? UCLA gave me a regent scholarship while Berkeley gave me a Cal Bears scholarship. The regent scholarship is, i think more prestigious so....my main question is..does it look better on my Med school application if I graduate as a regents scholarship or if i graduate from Berekeley????

 

[QuantumMechanic]

dude its ucla 👍

 

[mchee]

there was another thread on this a while back...

here it is:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=278551

enjoy!

 

[Wookey]

HELP!!!! 😱 I need to decide soon!!!! Is it better if i get my undergrad degree in Berkeley with a BA is Molecular and Cell Biology or if i go to UCLA and graduate with a BS in Biochemistry? UCLA gave me a regent scholarship while Berkeley gave me a Cal Bears scholarship. The regent scholarship is, i think more prestigious so....my main question is..does it look better on my Med school application if I graduate as a regents scholarship or if i graduate from Berekeley????

I don't think undergrad schools matter that much on your med app and both schools are good, all be it Berkeley is a little more competitive. On the flip side, you're more likely to get a higher GPA at UCLA and have more time for ECs which are extremely important.

 

[bugmenot]

HELP!!!! 😱 I need to decide soon!!!! Is it better if i get my undergrad degree in Berkeley with a BA is Molecular and Cell Biology or if i go to UCLA and graduate with a BS in Biochemistry? UCLA gave me a regent scholarship while Berkeley gave me a Cal Bears scholarship. The regent scholarship is, i think more prestigious so....my main question is..does it look better on my Med school application if I graduate as a regents scholarship or if i graduate from Berekeley????

Oh for Christ's sake! Why do people post this crap on here? IT DOESN'T MATTER!

 

[WhiteHatDoc]

Oh for Christ's sake! Why do people post this crap on here? IT DOESN'T MATTER!

lol

go to ucla, u're a regents there. It shouldn't be so hard to choose.

 

[biobossx99]

I currently go to Cal and I have to say, it is one damn good of a school.

Another thing is, u'll change majors time and time again. But berkeley has sooo many cool science majors: MCB (5 emphasis), Intergradtive bio, public health, chemical biology, u name it.

I love berkeley for it's support for it's premed. There is a career center that does amazing things for us, letter service, counseling etc. There's also a study learn center that offers study group courses THAT HELP YOU GET AS. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN LESS THAN A TAKING A STUDY GROUP CLASS. These are student taught classes that u can just drop in. There's tons of clubs, sports (crew, rugby, lacross, tennis), tons of research positions, tons of opportunity to do things.

Research is pretty big here, so you'll land a lab position if u just work at it.

If u got a regent scholarship, it's not only the money. There's also additional support that goes along with it like networking and test files I think (and socials, my friend landed her boyfriend through that).

Berkeley is just damn good for premd. I have not seen any cut throatness and everyone is pretty chill.

Plus, I think being on a semester system is a lot better than quarter, u only deal with finals twice at a time versus three times a year.

There's also a lot of premed support groups/fraternities/clubs.

So I have to say, GO BERKELEY!

HELP!!!! 😱 I need to decide soon!!!! Is it better if i get my undergrad degree in Berkeley with a BA is Molecular and Cell Biology or if i go to UCLA and graduate with a BS in Biochemistry? UCLA gave me a regent scholarship while Berkeley gave me a Cal Bears scholarship. The regent scholarship is, i think more prestigious so....my main question is..does it look better on my Med school application if I graduate as a regents scholarship or if i graduate from Berekeley????

 

[mchee]

Go to Berkeley!

 

[MDCali]

I went to Berkeley and I loved it!

 

[dbhvt]

Doesn't matter. You will end up with a philosophy degree from wabash state. Which is very even more prestigious.

 

[cuyegs]

hehehe... i guess im a worrier by nature, i know i know, its a tough choice but its not a life or death thing. im just scared that cal will EAT ME ALIVE and I was thinking that UCLA would be more laid back... am I right? But i do want to live in the bay area... sfo is pretty... i'll miss the beach though since i live in socal right now. Right now i pretty much want to go to cal but I'm just worried that i'm throwing a good opportunity away(meaning the regents scholarship thing)... i studied my a** off for 2 years in JC to get that scholarship... its kind of nice to know that i can quit my jobs.

 

[mchee]

hehehe... i guess im a worrier by nature, i know i know, its a tough choice but its not a life or death thing. im just scared that cal will EAT ME ALIVE and I was thinking that UCLA would be more laid back... am I right? But i do want to live in the bay area... sfo is pretty... i'll miss the beach though since i live in socal right now. Right now i pretty much want to go to cal but I'm just worried that i'm throwing a good opportunity away(meaning the regents scholarship thing)... i studied my a** off for 2 years in JC to get that scholarship... its kind of nice to know that i can quit my jobs.

dude, you'll see, it really isn't that bad! Just be confident and don't get thrown off your game. The science classes at UCLA are the same so you might as well just go to Berkeley.

A scholarship is a scholoarship...

 

[jackieMD2007]

Oh for Christ's sake! Why do people post this crap on here? IT DOESN'T MATTER!

LOL!! Yes. OP, go to whatever school gave you more $$$. 👍

 

[zbruinz]

Shouldn't you have decided a long time ago? May 1 was the deadline for SIRs!

 

[brianard0]

5 yrs ago, i had to make that decision. im from northern cal, but for some strange reason, chose ucla.... i think you'll be happy either way

 

[DHMO]

I currently go to Cal and I have to say, it is one damn good of a school.

 

[LADoc00]

How bout this: neither, go to Stanford...

 

[argonana]

Who can say no to Westwood? Go to UCLA. And congrats on the regents scholarship. 👍

 

[Messerschmitts]

Didn't we just have this conversation not one week ago? That said, Go Bears!!! Cal rocks!

 

[calvinandhobbes]

Who can say no to Westwood?

i can. go to cal, better school, better city, better people, better culture, better food, better everything..period.

 

[LADoc00]

i can. go to cal, better school, better city, better people, better culture, better food, better everything..period.

sheesh, cal vs ucla debate, its like 2 ******s locked in a kung fu fight....

 

[Pewl]

Go to UCLA.

Having the medical center on campus will be a huge advantage to a premed.

 

[DrHuang]

sheesh, cal vs ucla debate, its like 2 ******s locked in a kung fu fight....

qft

 

[etf]

i think this is one instance where i'd pick LA over Cal - being a regent's scholar has too many perks, and I actually think it is something you might be able to put on your med app...

 

[X5Boi]

HELP!!!! 😱 I need to decide soon!!!! Is it better if i get my undergrad degree in Berkeley with a BA is Molecular and Cell Biology or if i go to UCLA and graduate with a BS in Biochemistry? UCLA gave me a regent scholarship while Berkeley gave me a Cal Bears scholarship. The regent scholarship is, i think more prestigious so....my main question is..does it look better on my Med school application if I graduate as a regents scholarship or if i graduate from Berekeley????

No, a Regent Scholarship does not make a big difference in your application. I was a Regent Scholar for four years at Berkeley, and I realized that Adcomms don't care AT ALL... seriously dude, it's all about GPA + MCAT + impressive extracurriculars (the scholarship would not be a big factor, trust me).

I can tell you that besides the money, and the ocassional wow that random people give me, I did not really gain anything else from it (the network is not that strong, there were no study groups, etc etc).

I say go to Cal as the NAME would actually help land you interviews, not the scholarship.

 

[etf]

yeah, but being able to get all your classes in phase 1 of telebears might help the gpa a little bit

 

[biobossx99]

Money is important and plus, Cal isn't that bad. There's the spectrum of all kinds of students here. Working and being premed is HARD.

hehehe... i guess im a worrier by nature, i know i know, its a tough choice but its not a life or death thing. im just scared that cal will EAT ME ALIVE and I was thinking that UCLA would be more laid back... am I right? But i do want to live in the bay area... sfo is pretty... i'll miss the beach though since i live in socal right now. Right now i pretty much want to go to cal but I'm just worried that i'm throwing a good opportunity away(meaning the regents scholarship thing)... i studied my a** off for 2 years in JC to get that scholarship... its kind of nice to know that i can quit my jobs.

 

[X5Boi]

Money is important and plus, Cal isn't that bad. There's the spectrum of all kinds of students here. Working and being premed is HARD.

LoL... yo it's Allen... SMD in the HOUSE!

 

[TM2006]

I think every two weeks or so we just have to repost why we hate la and love cal.

it's your choice, if you want to throw your life away go to ucla. if you want to succeed then go to cal. this is the most important choice in your life, just don't mess it up. seriously who knows how many more years ucla will remain accredited.

or

you could just flip a coin because it's not that different.

btw:

OXC

 

[cuyegs]

I think every two weeks or so we just have to repost why we hate la and love cal.

it's your choice, if you want to throw your life away go to ucla. if you want to succeed then go to cal. this is the most important choice in your life, just don't mess it up. seriously who knows how many more years ucla will remain accredited.

or

you could just flip a coin because it's not that different.

btw:

OXC

I love this site!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I just joined in yesterday and i've gotten more info and opinions than i've ever had in the last month! I'm going for berkeley...so go bears?? hahahah i just decided and i'm turning in my SIR tomorow, i mean today since its 2 am. Thanks for all the input!!!Wish me luck and i hope this is the right decision 🙄

 

[Nutmeg]

Go to UCLA.

Having the medical center on campus will be a huge advantage to a premed.

Having been put in the same situation, choosing between UCLA and Berkeley, I'd have to say that the lack of a med school was my major regret about Berkeley. I love my alma mater, and there were a lot of great opportunities there, but you feel pretty isolated from the world of medicine.

I chose Cal of UCLA because I didn't like the culture at UCLA. When i was shown the ugly "south campus" where science majors have to spend their time, and told about the North vs South campus rivalry, I was really turned off. Cal has a great academic atmosphere.

Also, Cal is about to open a new biotech facility on campus--I'm sure that will open up new research opportunities that weren't there when I was there. And if you have the transportation necessary, there's always the chance of getting some research experience at UCSF across the bay (who seek Cal ugrads--an opportunity I was a fool for passing up).

Cheers and good luck. You really can't go wrong either way, but I think that Berkeley is a great choice. I would, however, consider possibly choosing a different major. I did both MCB and Chemical Engineering, and I found ChemE to be way, way cooler, with better organization and a better-run faculty working with a smaller student body. My MCB graduating class was 1000 undergraduates with the BA--no grad students at all. There's also Bio engineering, which is another great option. The classes are tougher, but it likely looks better and stands out a bit more, and you can get some really good lab course work choosing the BS programs over the BA program.

 

[cuyegs]

Having been put in the same situation, choosing between UCLA and Berkeley, I'd have to say that the lack of a med school was my major regret about Berkeley. I love my alma mater, and there were a lot of great opportunities there, but you feel pretty isolated from the world of medicine.

I chose Cal of UCLA because I didn't like the culture at UCLA. When i was shown the ugly "south campus" where science majors have to spend their time, and told about the North vs South campus rivalry, I was really turned off. Cal has a great academic atmosphere.

Also, Cal is about to open a new biotech facility on campus--I'm sure that will open up new research opportunities that weren't there when I was there. And if you have the transportation necessary, there's always the chance of getting some research experience at UCSF across the bay (who seek Cal ugrads--an opportunity I was a fool for passing up).

Cheers and good luck. You really can't go wrong either way, but I think that Berkeley is a great choice. I would, however, consider possibly choosing a different major. I did both MCB and Chemical Engineering, and I found ChemE to be way, way cooler, with better organization and a better-run faculty working with a smaller student body. My MCB graduating class was 1000 undergraduates with the BA--no grad students at all. There's also Bio engineering, which is another great option. The classes are tougher, but it likely looks better and stands out a bit more, and you can get some really good lab course work choosing the BS programs over the BA program.

I actually got into the Chem bio program but i'm thinking of switching to MCB coz i'm scared of all the math i need to do for chem bio

 

[UCLAstudent]

I picked UCLA over Cal and have no regrets. They're both good schools and you can't go wrong either way. I seriously doubt that going to Cal over UCLA will give you that big of an advantage when applying to med schools. GPA and MCAT will be much more important. School name would play a greater role if, say, you were choosing between Berkeley and CSU San Bernardino. (One of my interviewers actually said this to me, haha.) Choose the school where you think you'll be the happiest. Good luck with your decision! 🙂

 

[markboonya]

if you you choose berkeley, enroll yourself into ids130 as soon as possible. its the gateway class to the awesome field study internship (FSI) where you are set-up to shadow a doctor for an entire semester. one of my best EC experience at cal.

 

[dopaminesurge]

Honestly, I'd go to UCLA if I could do it over again. Berkeley's kind of a cold place, and in my experience, no more interesting or intellectual than UCLA. If anything, more pseudointellectual and stuck up its own ass.

 

[calvinandhobbes]

Honestly, I'd go to UCLA if I could do it over again. Berkeley's kind of a cold place, and in my experience, no more interesting or intellectual than UCLA. If anything, more pseudointellectual and stuck up its own ass.

woah now....

 

[Dr. Pepper]

One thing that people overlook about LA is the huge distinction between North Campus and South Campus.

North campus = humanities; South campus= science.

If I would choose between the two, I'd probably go for UCLA just because I loved the food, atmosphere etc. South campus students are just as smart as Berkeley people and (I won't beat around the bush) North campus girls are gorgeous...like actually take some obscure basket-weaving, art history just for some eye candy.

I'm shallow, I know. 😀
-Dr. P.

 

[UCBoi]

If anything, [Cal is] more pseudointellectual and stuck up its own ass.

Oh Come on... and you're not?! One look at your MDApp profile says all (just 5 schools and all in top 20). By your own "theory", you fit in there just fine. Stop making such a blanket statement about everyone at Cal, because it is just not true.

Thank you.

 

[UCBoi]

If anything, [Cal is] more pseudointellectual and stuck up its own ass.

Oh Come on... and you're not?! One look at your MDApp profile says all (just 5 schools and all in top 20). By your own "theory", you fit in there just fine. Stop making such a blanket statement about everyone at Cal, because it is just not true.

Thank you.

 

[pagemmapants]

Go to UCLA.

Having the medical center on campus will be a huge advantage to a premed.

Not true. We do have an on-campus EMS org though. I was $500/year at Cal vs. $5000/year at UCLA. Not much of a decision. I should have gone to Yale.

 

[monami]

Go to Berkely.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Go to Berkely.

I'm going to assume that you didn't go there. 😉

 

[calvinandhobbes]

I'm going to assume that you didn't go there. 😉

Zing!

 

[cuyegs]

I'm headed for Berkeley! thanks for all the input 🙂

 

[biobossx99]

rush Sigma mu delta, the only premedical frat on cal

I'm headed for Berkeley! thanks for all the input 🙂