Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, or SDSU Honors Program

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Right now these are probably my top 4 choices for schools. I am still considering UCSB.</p>

<p>I have about a 3.9 after my first year at CC. I am also an Honor student. I am also a Phi Thetta Kappa member.</p>

<p>I have a year to figure it out basically, but I am asking for some insight and experienced feedback from the board.</p>

<p>I have always been in love with Berkeley, but I am not stoked on the area, and honestly as shallow as it may sound, the lack of hot girls and fun. Still think it would be such an honor to go there, but am not sure if it is "too big" for me.</p>

<p>UCLA seems to me a nice mix of SoCal vibe and the academic rigor of Cal. I will also be TAP certified for UCLA.</p>

<p>UCSD is a beautiful school. I already live near La Jolla so moving will not have to happen, making the transition easier. They offer more in depth majors for Writing and some other majors I am considering. </p>

<p>The SDSU Honors program is supposed to be good, but it is still a tier 4 school. There will be plenty of the hot girls and party I like, but also a chance to get a decent education. I need to know more about the prestige of the program. Plus I am much better with small, hands on groups where there is a lot of class discussion. I can do very well in large research based settings, but I really shine in the interactive settings (I am a HAM).</p>

<p>It would be easier for me to stay in SD, but also would be a great experience to live in the Bay or LA for 2 years. My majors will either be History or Psych or both. Overall I want to right into grad school to stay with Psych and degrees in Education. I am pretty sure a PhD is i my future, as professor is my top career choice. I also take Drama/Music courses as I think they are very relevant to learning and education. (I play in bands as well).</p>

<p>My fear is passing up a chance to go to Berkeley or UCLA for mostly reasons of convenience (being to lazy to move, not wanting to leave fun SD) and kicking myself down the road for not taking the more prestigious road. How does a BA from UCSD or SDSU Honors match up to a degree from CAL or UCLA? If I am happier in SD would it be better to stay? Anyone have experience with this decision?</p>

<p>Thanx in advance.</p>

2

<p>UCSD is famed for having a large number of ugly girls. Honestly, what do you want to do with your degree? Toss out SDSU, if you want to stay in SD then UCSD>>>>>>SDSU. You should learn to expand your boundaries, Berkeley’s location may not be ideal but it would be a new experience for you.</p>

3

<p>You could save alot of money by going to SDSU, have alot of fun, get good grades and then get into a good grad school program. Not a bad deal if ya think about it.</p>

4

<p>haha I was hesitant to post the “lack of hot girls” point because it really stands out and draws attention to itself within the post (and kind of makes me sound like a jackass!)</p>

<p>If I went to UCSD, the fun and social elements of the school do not really apply, because I already live south of La Jolla on the Beach in PB. There is a constant party outside my front door at all times. I said it mostly to illustrate the point that I am a highly social person and really love my beach vibe home.</p>

<p>I am originally from the North East, and as much as I love SF and the Berkeley school, the atmosphere and area is much like back home, where as now I really love my new SoCal life. The point is also that when considering a school, I have to be honest with myself about what makes me happy. Again, I love the school of Berkeley, but I am afraid the school is too large for me. </p>

<p>My point being, if I decide to stay in SD, whether at SDSU Honors or UCSD, I just do not want to feel I passed up a better education. UCSD is suppose to be nearly as good as UCB or UCLA, I just don’t want to **** myself over without asking the appropriate questions and doing the due diligence so I can make the best decision for my future.</p>

<p>Will a degree from SDSU Honors or UCSD close doors for me when it comes to grad school? Will the education I get at UCLA or UCB be that much better than the SDSU Honors or UCSD programs? Or is it just all rankings and name dropping?</p>

<p>But as I said, I want to pursue degrees in Psych and Education, and being a History/English/Humanities professor would be a wonderful career for me.</p>

5

<p>You also have to consider networking after you get your degree. I think there are far more UCLA and UCB alumni willing to hire or help a fellow alum than there are for sdsu and UCSD. Just my two cents.</p>

6

<p>I went to SDSU my freshman year out of high school and thought I would love it. Living in San Diego for the last 12 years should have it easier on me, but it was the worst decision I could have made. Although I am not sure what the Honors program entails, almost every class I had was full of hung over or drugged out kids who never took anything seriously and suffered for it. This made discussion sections a waste of time and was hurting me academically. Hopefully upper division students are much different and I am sure they are. </p>

<p>I decided to transfer to Cal so I did my sophomore year at Grossmont CC and was admitted to spring 2010. Take note that I have never been to Berkeley and have no idea what the atmosphere is like but that makes it kind of exiting for me. Maybe when I transfer, I will not adjust to the new people, lack of hot girls or whatever else people may be afraid of but those are called obstacles for a reason so get over them. You may become a better and more successful person for excelling in an environment that seems challenging to you. </p>

<p>I spend a lot of my free time in PB because as you said the vibe is great and that is hard to give up. I plan on going into the military after I graduate and although my path is a little different than yours , I figure If I opt for grad school or some other job, a degree from cal would be worth to me than than fun times I would have had at SDSU. Good luck</p>

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<p>The Honors program at SDSU limits all honors classes to no more than 20 students. The honors program I am at CC has successfully insulated me from the kids who don’t give a *****. I would imagine lower division at SDSU being a nightmare, and had ruled out SDSU completely until I heard such good things about the Honors program.</p>

<p>I am not scared of living at Berkeley or the adjustments or even the work load. I have been everywhere. I played in a touring band for 13 years before going back to school. I also am an older student, 28, and will be 30 when I transfer. My reasons for wanting to stay in SD are more than the party. I have a great apartment, a great job, and live in a neighborhood with all my best friends. I have been moving and traveling most of my life, and have friends in Oakland I can move in with if I decide to go with Cal.</p>

<p>The only reason I am asking for some perspective, is because if i decide on UCLA or CAL I want it to be for the right reasons, and not that I am just chasing a prestigious name. If the UCSD program or the SDSU Honors program is as good as I have been hearing so far, than I might consider them again as backup plans behind UCLA or UCB. Or even better, if they are a better fit for me personally, I can not uproot myself for an undergrad, focus on my options for Grad school. I have been cautioned about undergrad at a UC, especially Berkeley. Their grad programs are amazing, but I hear the undergrad programs leave a lot to be desired and can be too overcrowded for some people.</p>

<p>If I can get a rigorous program in SDSU Honors with small class size, or the equivalent of a UCB or UCLA education at UCSD (minus the name dropping factor) I really want to explore all my options before I make one of the most important decisions of my life. I am really not concerned with prestige, but more with what I actually take away from my education. </p>

<p>Money is also a HUGE factor for me as I am older and living on my own 3000 miles away from family. What I will probably do is just apply to all those schools, and a few private ones, and take the ones that give me the best deal money wise if they are all good places for me academically. What I am trying to find out is if SDSU or UCSD ARE good for me academically. </p>

<p>Thank you for all your responses and perspectives so far, this is actually quite helpful.</p>

8

<p>I’m sort of almost exactly in your situation. I live in San Diego, too, I go to City, strong GPA, Phi Theta Kappa, applying (for sure) to Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD, and probably Northeastern (Boston, MA). </p>

<p>As much as I love the sun, and SD, PB, and everything here, I think I could sacrifice for Berkeley (there’s always summer/winter breaks, right?).</p>

9

<p>^The thing is, he can’t really go back to SD for the breaks.
He said that he lives on his own so more than likely, he would have to carry all his important belongings with him and sell off stuff like furniture etc. He will probably lose his job too unless it also has a branch in LA or SF. </p>

<p>If you feel that CAL is worth throwing away or putting off a lot of the things you have right now (apartment, job , etc) , then take the chance and go for it.</p>

<p>Otherwise, UCSD is not a bad choice since
"They offer more in depth majors for Writing and some other majors "</p>

10

<p>Unknownpleasures is exactly right. Where ever I go it will be a total move and I will be a permanent resident in that town. My room here in San Diego will be rented out to a new tenant, so coming back will not be an option. (Besides weekends couch-surfing).</p>

<p>Honestly the more research I do, the more I think UCSB will be my first choice. It is laid back, yet demanding education. Classes are not quite as large and professors are more involved. If I go there I will be doing the Honors Program, which gives the Honors Students the benefits as if they went to a small Liberal Arts College.</p>

<p>I love Berkeley and UCLA, but they will still be there for Grad school. (In fact I heard those schools are MUCH better for grad than undergrad.)</p>

<p>The older I get the less I really care about prestige and I just want to study Psychology, History, and English. Work in education (as a teacher and counselor, most likely at College level) and write books. I have no interest in being in a competitive environment and wrestling with other students for the few A’s available on the curve.</p>

<p>As of right now UCSB seems like it might be the right fit for me, but we will see. I will apply to all the schools I mentioned, but most likely will save UCB or UCLA for grad school.</p>

11

<p>SDSU accepted me for their honors program, but as a student in my 30s, I felt REALLY out of place when I visited. Not one person acknowledged me as the student at first, I always had to explain that no, I was not someone’s parent, I am the student - and I don’t look that old! That was super annoying. I personally think you should scratch SDSU off of your list and focus on UCSD, UCSB, and UCLA. Add Cal just in case, but don’t feel obligated to choose it for the prestige or whatever for undergrad.</p>