UCLA Molecular Biology IDP

[Le prospective grad]

I've finally made my decision to go to UCLA's Molecular Biology IDP program (BBSB home area)! Anyone else also decided to go to UCLA?

[nutellarain]

I'm thinking about it, stuck between UCLA IDP and UCSD BMS. What made you pick UCLA? 

[Le prospective grad]

I'm thinking about it, stuck between UCLA IDP and UCSD BMS. What made you pick UCLA? 

I had many PI's that I was interested in at both schools, so I knew i couldn't really make a wrong decision in terms of research fit and resources. It really came down to which school I think I would be happier at, since I will be spending the rest of my 20's at grad school. I enjoyed my visit to UCLA a bit more, since it was much more personal, and I feel like the graduate students there gave off a happier vibe. I also felt that the labs at UCLA are more graduate student driven, and I think that as graduate students we really need the attention of the PI in order to get the necessary training. I think UCSD would be a place that I'd be more interested in when I am looking for post-doc positions. 

[GABA-daba-doo]

I'm deciding between Vanderbilt and UCLA right now! (Although for Neuro direct admit). My biggest concern about UCLA is definitely the stipend vs. cost of living. I know it's doable but it stresses me when looking at apartments and everything. Are you worried about this le prospective grad?

[nutellarain]

I'm deciding between Vanderbilt and UCLA right now! (Although for Neuro direct admit). My biggest concern about UCLA is definitely the stipend vs. cost of living. I know it's doable but it stresses me when looking at apartments and everything. Are you worried about this le prospective grad?

That is my main concern with UCLA as well, I was offered the same stipend for much cheaper areas. The graduate housing is over half your income alone...

 

Le prospective grad, I definitely agree about the grad student driven mentality at UCLA. Some of the labs at UCSD are HUGE and grad students are really not the focus. Though I have heard that you can get just as good (or even better) mentoring from postdocs in those sorts of labs. I'm just going to have to decide if I want a more independent driven project or more attention from a PI. I did really love how centralized the science depts seemed at UCLA, it felt like much more of a community. 

[Le prospective grad]

I'm deciding between Vanderbilt and UCLA right now! (Although for Neuro direct admit). My biggest concern about UCLA is definitely the stipend vs. cost of living. I know it's doable but it stresses me when looking at apartments and everything. Are you worried about this le prospective grad?

I'm not too worried about it since I will most likely only live in the graduate housing for the first year. Afterwards I will probably move out once I've had time to actually look around for better deals. Then again I don't have the burden of student loan debt or car payments so I'm okay with only saving a bit over the course of graduate school.