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I am facing pleasant but tough decision to make by 5/1/04.

I have been accepted by UCB, UCLA, UCSD and UCI for Bioengineering undergraduate program this fall 2004.

I am admitted to UCI Campus Wide Honor Program with Regents Scholarship and Alumni Scholarship (total of $11500/year) plus National Merit Scholarship.

I am admitted to UCSD Honors Program with Regents Scholarship ($5000/year) plus National Merit Scholarship.

UCB and UCLA do not offer any scholarship but they are more prestigious than UCI and UCSD. I may have problem with on campus housing, as I am not a Regents Scholar here.

UCB has more bioengineering core courses (19 undergraduate courses in bioengineering) compare to UCI. The class size is about 30-40. Opportunity for specialization in advanced area on both UCB and UCSF campuses.

UCLA bioengineering undergraduate program is new (starts fall 2004) with initial 30 to 40 students only but not ABET accredited. According to the chair (professor Montemagno), I just need to take one more Chemical Engineering class to get double major. It gears for further education (graduate school).

Which field of bioengineering (bioinformatics, premedical/biomedical, biotechnology, biomechanis, tissue engineering, genomics, micromachines, robotics, neural/sensory and nano-technology) that has more future (potential) after I graduate.

Should I sacrifice the prestige and quality for monies? e.g. UCI over UCB?

I appreciate if you can advise me on which school to attend this fall.

Many thanks in advance

By Thefrode989 (Thefrode989) on Friday, April 09, 2004 - 11:27 pm: Edit

go to ucsd, it's where the bioengineering quality and prestige is. UCLA and UCB may be overall more prestigious as campuses, but they are less so than UCSD when it comes to bioengineering. I might be mistaken, but UCSD might have the top bioengineering program in the country..?

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 12:36 am: Edit

I agree w/ Thefrode989. UCSD is number 3 or 4 currently in bioengineering overall..and the number one public school in bioengineering. UCSD's bioengineering is much much more prestigious than UCLA or UCB. When you apply to graduate schools, they take into account quality of program in the school more than the overall prestige of the school (companies and grad schools know UCSD is top notch in bioengineering).

As well, UCSD is a great school overall. You shouldn't feel bad about passing up UCB or UCLA for UCSD. Your passing up a great school for another great school.

Being a Regent's Scholar is awesome and very, very helpful. Housing is a pain (trust me) to find. Having guaranteed housing, priority registration, and some scholarship money is wonderful. As well, it's a great thing to put on your apps and resumes.

If you opt for bioengineering at UCSD, do not do the premedical track. That track is not credited by ABET. As well, you're not really getting anything out of it. You do half the engineering courses only. The rest of your requirements are basic premed requirements. In the end, you don't get a real bioengineering degree or even a bio degree. It won't give you mcuh variability. I am not completely familiar w/ all the fields, but I know bioinformatics has a lot going for it.

Lastly, bioengineering as an undergraduate degree is limited (I understand this from people I know who are doing bioengineering right now in college). You definitely will have to look towards graduate school.

Another thing...I wanted to give you another perspective. UCSD is one of the top schools in this field b/c of the immense research and the accomplished faculty. This doesn't necessarily mean they teach you the subject the best.

By Rana (Rana) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 02:19 am: Edit

Think hard on this one! There is a lot more to college than just your major, esp at the undergrad level (consider the quality and diversity of GE courses, potential minor fields and double majors, concurrent enrollment opps with Stanford and UCSF, a strong campus life and environment, prox. to SF, Yosemite, etc.). Berkeley is one of the most dynamic and challenging academic environments on the planet! You're selling yourself short if the only thing you focus on is your major, esp if it means ignoring a place like Berkeley. You have so much to gain by going to Cal, including very strong bioscience programs. If money is really that tight, well, then you have to do what you have to do...but believe me, having gone there myself, it is worth paying the extra (I turned down twice as much in scholarships and grants from UCLA to attend UCB and I am SO GLAD I did!). Think long term and total education...sorry for the rant, but hard to imagine not wanting to go there, given your other (still very good) choices...

By Exy1e (Exy1e) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 02:24 am: Edit

UCSD if you like it there. it has the best bioengineering program and as you said yourself you got regents + honors program. unless you are extremely attracted to the other schools.

By Gatesbill (Gatesbill) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 11:58 pm: Edit

bioengineer
If I were you, I will go to UCSD that comes with Regents, honors and perks
Good luck

By Peepilis (Peepilis) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 01:59 am: Edit

"If you opt for bioengineering at UCSD, do not do the premedical track. That track is not credited by ABET."

What is ABET? I though bioengineering would be a good stepping stone towards med school?

By Mkhman (Mkhman) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 02:24 am: Edit

Can we change if I accidentally put bioegineering:premidical, i did not that this would not be more biology than engineering and not really engineering, does anyone know if we can change to to normal bioengineering?

How is the biomedical engineering at UC Davis? Anyone know?

By Peepilis (Peepilis) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 02:00 pm: Edit

bump

By Gatesbill (Gatesbill) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 10:15 pm: Edit

ABET = Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

ABET will provide world leadership in assuring quality and in stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology education.

ABET, Inc., the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology, is a federation of 31 professional and technical societies representing these fields. Among the most respected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has provided leadership and quality assurance in higher education for over 70 years. ABET currently accredits some 2,500 programs at over 550 colleges and universities nationwide. Over 1,500 dedicated volunteers participate annually in ABET activities.

Accreditation
ABET's four accreditation commissions perform the accreditation function and determine accreditation actions. The Engineering Accreditation Commission is responsible for engineering programs, the Technology Accreditation Commission is responsible for engineering technology programs, the Computing Accreditation Commission is responsible for computer science programs, and the Applied Science Accreditation Commission for applied science programs. All commission members who chair the on-site visit teams are qualified evaluators and are thoroughly knowledgeable of accreditation procedures, policies, and criteria. Programs are identified as accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET), Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET (TAC/ABET), Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC/ABET), or Applied Science Commission of ABET (ASAC/ABET).


http://www.abet.org/

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 11:25 pm: Edit

Peepilis,

Bioengineering-premedical is a specific track. I didn't say bioengineering is not a good precursor to med school. The Premedical track is very limited...and if you decide not to do medical school (which is a strong possibility), this track is very limited and not very respected.

As well, bioengineering is as good a stepping stone to medical school as psychology or international relations is. No major is better than the other (though some may help you better prepare for the MCATS)

By Ucla4ever (Ucla4ever) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 02:26 pm: Edit

Although I'm a UCLA Alumni, I would have to say GO TO UCSD if you want to have a career in bioengineering or medicine. UCSD has one of the top programs in bioengineering. (better than Berkeley!) I actually opted to go to UCLA instead of UCSD and I could just kick myself. Also, UCSD is a great campus (both my siblings went there) and it's engineering programs are as good, if not better than UCLA's. Do some more research, and make sure bioengineering is what you want to do. I was more interested in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, so it worked out for me to have majored in Chemical Engineering (bioengineering option) at UCLA. If you want to double major in Chemical Engineering, Berkeley has one of the top ChemE programs in the country. Good luck to you and congrats!