How is the accounting minor at UCSD? I’m trying to decide between being an accounting major at UCR or accounting minor at UCSD.
Hi,
I got into Marshall for poli sci - international relations, and I’m currently trying to pick between UCSD and UCSB. I live in San Diego and would probably live at home to save money.
From the research I’ve done it seems they’re pretty even academically, UCSB just has the reputation for a better environment/happier people. From other threads I’ve read on UCSD, I heard that the environment is much more competitive and subsequently more depressing, and students there tend to be less happy. I would prefer to go to UCSB just based on that, but unfortunately finances may be tying me down.
So my overall question is: is that reputation for UCSD accurate, or is it easy to find chill/laid back and fun people? I don’t want to pay the extra 14k a year for housing at UCSB if the reputation is all rumors and I could actually be happy at SD.
And if I do go to SD, would it be worth it to stay in the dorms just for my first year? I’m an insanely social person and when I’m not around a lot of friends I tend to get depressed. I heard that dorms are pretty much the only way to make friends, because I’m not sure how ready I’ll be to join a lot of clubs my freshman year.
@fruitlupee I strongly believe that our reputation as a “socially dead” school is attributed to confirmation bias – people go to this school, get lonely, and then blame it on the reputation rather than themselves. In reality, if you actually try (which most of these complainers don’t) then you’re able to find friends and fun fast. In addition, this is an issue that people at all colleges face – they won’t find friends if they don’t actually get out there. It’s just easier to blame it on the school here because of its so-called social deaded-ness… ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I’m incredibly social person myself, and I’ve met many of my friends from mutuals, organizations, office hours, or randomly chatting up the person next to me. However, my best advice to you regarding happiness is to visit the schools yourself (not on a weekend!) and see. My experience doesn’t translate to everyone’s here, but do note the confirmation bias I explained earlier. Also, while UCSD may be competitive, I also find it to be very collaborative as well. People are usually willing to help others out.
Dorms make it much easier to make friends though. (I myself hated my suitemates so the factor doesn’t matter much to me, but my boyfriend’s suitemates are all very close to each other and it’s a cute man family LOL) Social orgs you can join whenever, but I do recommend bouncing around orgs in your fall quarter because it’s the easiest time to integrate into them – they strongly expect newbies this time of the year and are more accepting. In the middle of the year it’s a bit more difficult because of the sub-cliques that form. But dorming in general is just a really good college experience.
@ucsdcompsci thank you for the advice!! this makes me feel more optimistic about ucsd 
I will definitely visit both.
Hi so I was admitted into UCSD’s Revelle College! I understand that it is said to be one of the more academically rigorous colleges, but what say you about the dorms and the dining hall? Are they in good condition? Also, is there a particular major which dominates Revelle? I myself am admitted into Revelle with a major in Linguistics. Would I be able to fit in?
As a ECE: Computer Engineering major, do i have the same priority as majors from the CSE department in enrolling for CS classes?
@songuji4 Dining hall is one of the best on vampus; dorms are super cramped (mostly triples) but if you can tough it out they have one of the best apts on campus (singles and doubles). No major really dominates, but premed majors have an easier time as their GEs get fulfilled faster. Having a particular major does not dictate whether or not you’re able to fit in, by the way.
@Minerclawz too lazy to find a link but definitely yes
@Minerclawz I belieeeeve you’re second priority; behind everyone actually in CSE, but ahead of people not in ECE/CogSci/Data Science/Math-CS majors. CSE enrollment usually involves them putting everyone on a waitlist, then screening by major priority (CSE majors and minors, then CS-related majors, then everyone else). You shouldn’t have any trouble getting the classes you need.
@fruitlupee The vast majority of people here are incredibly happy! I think at this point it’s a meme around here to revel in our misery. It’s hard to compare to UCSB, but in my experience most people don’t have a lot of real complaints about La Jolla, the social life, or their classes. Obviously I’d recommend living on campus at either campus if possible, but I don’t know that it’s worth $14K more. Plenty of people I met freshmen year were commuters (although admittedly the only one I met regularly started dating a guy in my dorm). If you’re as social as you say you are, you shouldn’t have any problems making and keeping friends at UCSD whether or not you get involved. (Side note: you’re probably going to end up joining some organizations, because it’s the best way to consistently meet the same people. Freshman year isn’t too taxing anyway, so it’d be good to get involved sooner rather than later.)
@DoctorP The info about ECE:CE majors receiving second priority is incorrect. Priority is given to CS25/26/27/28 and EC26 majors (http://cse.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/spring-2018-course-updates) and EC26 is ECE: Computer Engineering.
@Minerclawz as you can see, I didn’t do my research and @ucsdcompsci did! thanks mate
hi! sorry if this has been answered before but what can you tell me about marshall college (dining, dorms, ge’s) and regents/chancellor scholarships?
@kidthatneedshelp did you get the regents scholarship or Chancellor’s scholarship? They are similar, but sort of different at the same time.
Marshall has great dining options, having Goodys (knockoff chipotle) and OVT (make your own pizza). Dorms I hear are mostly singles and also very nice, and GEs aren’t overbearing and may be convenient (don’t have to do a DEI separately). Marshall is also pretty central, and if you’re tired of Marshall food walk over to Muir or ERC haha. Location is great, dorms are pretty good, GEs are pretty good too.
Only thing that may or may not be an issue for people is that Marshall has a slight sjw culture, but this doesn’t matter too much because you will find friends with a similar personality to you anyway.
@ucsdcompsci i received regents and my friend received chancellor’s. could you tell me about both?
@kidthatneedshelp Both are super great!!
Both:
- Priority enrollment
- 4 year housing
Regents:
- Research opportunity under that one program I’m forgetting the name of
- 2k/year minimum
- Faculty mentorship beginning junior year, but optional from AEP – not a junior yet so I haven’t had much to say about it
Chancellor’s: (for first gen + merit I think)
- 5k/year minimum
- Weekly personal/professional development seminar until second year fall. Some sessions are apparently very interesting and useful, and others might be a little less so, according to my friend, but generally useful overall.
- Faculty mentorship beginning your freshman year – this bunch of faculty are retired however but my friend speaks highly of the connections she was able to make through her mentor.
As a Chancellor’s scholar, my friend also likes to brag about free fancy as heck food as part of the program, like getting invited to 3-course dinners where the chancellor is present. It’s like the fancy version of Regents I guess LOL.
Does anyone know if “UC San Diego Grant” amount (listed on the FA estimate) is an annual amount for 4 years? Or will this amount change from year to year?
@socalman Presumably year by year as grant amounts depend on FAFSA
@ucsdcompsci …thank you
@ucsdcompsci thank you! that really helped
Hi! Could I ask how difficult it is to declare your major. I’m undeclared and I heard that you’re only allowed to request to change majors once a year and that’s it. Is it difficult to get into a capped major? If I don’t get in, is there very little chance of getting in the second time around? I’m not sure how I could balance my schedule by completing the college GEs while doing the required classes to apply for a capped major at the same time.