I was accepted into UW Bioengineering and UCSD bioengienering: biotechnology.
I really want to pursue higher education and enter the biotech industry. But I’m struggling between choosing between these two. I know UCSD has more of a repuation for Bioengineering, but UW is also a good school. I’m in state WA, so UW costs only about 30K while San Diego is 67K. Paying the cost itself is not a problem, but I do wonder whether this much more money is worth it paying so much more and moving far away. Like can UCSD bioengineering really give me that much more.
In my opinion, no. We’re not talking about UCSD vs. Unknown Local U. There’s no way that you’re going to run out of opportunities at UW. It’s a top-notch university. I know it feels like more of a fit when you’re admitted to a named track within the major, that matches your goals, but the biotech is there at UW too. From what I can see, the two programs are more similar than different, and you can come even closer to the specialization of the UCSD program by choosing the Option in Nano & Molecular Engineering at UW. Research-wise, that dovetails with this: Biotech – Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute
Invest the extra money (and tbh, 67K sounds low for UCSD - pretty sure it’s mid-70’s for OOS). That extra six-figure nest egg will come in very handy in the future. UDub is great and will not hold you back in any way.
That’s great… but we’re talking about one undergraduate student. The question is what that one student’s potential piece of the pie will be, not how big the pie is. Do you think UW is lacking in biotech opportunities?
Total yearly cost of attendance for UC for OOS is currently estimated at $76,436 on campus / $74,236 off campus. (Source)
That’s the average COA for UC. In practice, some campuses will be more expensive than others due to higher housing and other costs. I do not have a student at UCSD but I hear that housing in the area is on the “more expensive” rather than less expensive side.
Agree. Housing in the San Diego area is insanely expensive and they DONT guarantee housing for upper classmen. (Entering freshman have a 2 year guarantee) They are constantly building new dorms on campus but they can’t keep up with the demand. There is a housing waitlist and you apply quarterly if you need housing but there are no guarantees.
The La Jolla area is expensive but so is the rest of the city. Figure $3000 per month (1 Brm), just for the rent and doesn’t include anything with that. Also, San Diego locals use their cars. There is a trolley system, that is continuing to expand, and is in at UCSD, but unless you live along the routes, you will have a lengthy commute.
Also, if you want to partake in the school spirit of the campus, you can’t beat UW. Locally, the high school kids refer to UCSD as “UC for the Socially Dead”. The school is trying to change that image, but the school spirit there is unseen.
Yes, the Biotech industry is right down the road from the campus but, just because you go to the local campus, that doesn’t mean you are a shoo-in to get hired. You will have a slight advantage, but the issue is that those companies KNOW what a UCSD grad will bring (-think ice cream flavors-vanilla for UCSD). Those companies like a variety of grads who are bringing something different from their universities (mint chocolate, strawberry, Cherry Garcia, etc.).
Our eldest grad (from a SUNY school) has friends working in biotech there.
The University of Washington is a very good university. You will find lots of very good opportunities there (way more than you could take full advantage of over four years).
UCSD is also a very good university, but I do not think that it is worth the difference in cost for a bachelor’s degree. In four years as an undergraduate student, you will find great opportunities at either of these very good universities.
Congratulations on your acceptances! These are both very good universities.