University of California-Santa Cruz Reviews of Bachelor's in Biology

"Before making the decision to attend UCSC I had a planned major in Kinesiology. At the time I did not know what I wanted to pursue as a career but I knew it was going to involve physical activity and the functions of the human body. I heard UCSC was a great school, although costly, so I decided to attend. My major changed to Human Biology and the courses were quite difficult, but very informative. I learned about a million specific things about the biology of the human body. In the end I decided to pursue the career of physical therapy. My degree did not necessarily provide the courses to prepare you for such career. The Human Biology major is intended more for pre-med students who wish to pursue the career of a medical doctor. However, the quality of my education and the fairness of the faculty provided me with a high quality education that I do not regret obtaining, although it was quite costly."

"The thing I enjoy most about my program is that my college is literally in the woods. Our campus is unlike other campuses where it's a block of buildings. It takes an hour to walk the perimeter of campus. Parts of the campus haven't been developed because it requires tearing down protected red wood trees. My high school was a collection of portable buildings in the middle of the suburb. As a biology student, I was prone to a lot of stress whether it was class/grade related or financial issues. I found that being in the red woods was calming and helped me cope better with typical college student problems."

"UC Santa Cruz is a top public school especially in the science fields. Science students can easily take advantage of the collaborative atmosphere and get involved in labs, research, and other extracurricular activities that can build experience and bolster you resume. I was able to get into a top medical school and the transition from undergraduate studies to medical school was easy. UCSC is a great school for anyone looking for a laid back college experience in a beautiful place, but that is also affordable and high quality."

"Overall, I enjoyed getting to know my professors. Those teaching in the biological sciences are very kind, open to questions, and make sure that you understand the concepts. There was an abundance of resources available all throughout campus. In addition, whenever you need a break from your studies, you are very lucky to be located in an ideal area--full of hiking trails, beaches, the boardwalk, and a lively downtown area!"

"I enjoyed the University's approach in welcoming new students and the various orientations provided. Monthly newsletters also provided great information of upcoming dates and events in the next quarter. As a Biology major, many courses revolved around Ecology and Evolution. The University had sections of the campus preserved for wildlife and exploring those parts of campus for the Biology courses. The campus is focused on Bio research, where they are focusing on the Human Genome Project. Students are able to work with professors in labs as well. Overall, UC Santa Cruz is a great experience."

"UC Santa Cruz is a great place to pursue a bachelor's degree because it is an accepting and passionate community of scientists. Courses are challenging but help is available if you look for it. People are willing to collaborate and there are research opportunities if you pursue them."