<p>I’m trying to choose the best place to apply to for COSMOS (<a href=“http://www.ucop.edu/cosmos/[/url]”>http://www.ucop.edu/cosmos/</a>) summer program. Don’t really care which is the best education, just want the best experience and most fun.</p>
<p>Not applying til next year, but I think I should start planning now in order to get my friends to apply as well.</p>
<p>I was thinking about UCSD.</p>
<p>San Diego= Close To Ocean, Forest-like Atmosphere
Irvine= Big Park With Many Trees In Middle Of Campus, Close To Disneyland And Beach
Davis= Forest-like.... Don't Know Much More
Sc= ?</p>
<p>irvine's the most peaceful...</p>
<p>Santa Cruz is so woodsy it feels like being at summer camp. It's also very close to the beach, and the town itself is quirky and a lot of fun. San Diego is near the beach, but it's not actually in San Diego -- it's in La Jolla, an upper-class area where there really isn't that much for kids to do (though it is relatively easy to get to cool places). Davis... well, it's nice and all, but to be honest I wouldn't want to spend my summer there -- it's too far inland! And I've never been to Irvine.</p>
<p>oh lord don't spend your summer at davis. I'm going there for college, but you do not want to spend a summer there.</p>
<p>UCSC is on a hill, in a redwood forest, overlooking the ocean. </p>
<p>we're in a 2000+ acre redwood forest, surrounded by Cowell state park (continuation of the forest). It's a VERY non traditional campus, based on 10 residential colleges that each house a few academic departments. </p>
<p>The town is fun and "hippie" but can get old fast if you're from a big city. We're also about 3 miles from the ocean and surfing is really big.</p>
<p>"San Diego is near the beach, but it's not actually in San Diego -- it's in La Jolla"</p>
<p>-UCSD is located in the city of san diego, in la jolla. la jolla is located within the city limits of san diego.</p>
<p>Yes, I know that. What I meant was, it's not in the most desirable part of San Diego -- IMHO, La Jolla really doesn't have much going on for young people. The town is really small and gets boring fast.</p>
<p>Well, it seems that going further from familiar surroundings might make for a more enriching experience. San Diego is a very nice place to visit. Santa Cruz is truly stunning if you appreciate natural surroundings.</p>
<p>"Yes, I know that. What I meant was, it's not in the most desirable part of San Diego"</p>
<p>-actually la jolla is without question the single most desirable area of san diego. not only the most beautiful, but the most expensive. you must meen not the most desirable for the college students, since it is snobby and upper class. but usually la jolla is considered the pinnacle area to live in in san diego. i believe the average home price in la jolla is well above 2 or 3 million, and some homes go for as high as 25-30 million.</p>
<p>San Diego...by the beach...go there for the summer! Not only can you take a five minute shuttle ride with a boogy board and surf it up on the weekends, but you can sun out by the dorms, there are many activities on campus, and you can take a bus to nearby downtown and the city where there's many cute restaurants.</p>
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<p>you think the OP is going to be able to do that at COSMOS (a summer program for highschoolers)?</p>
<p>for cosmos i would take ucsc (i applied, they rejected, o well), since you will be spending your time ON CAMPUS, maybe theyll even take you to beach boardwalk. the summer weather in santa cruz is awesome.</p>
<p>Giving this one more bump.</p>
<p>San Diego's atmosphere is tranquil and soothing, especially because people are quiet or gone a lot >_></p>
<p>At least I'll be driving so I can go downtown or to SDSU to visit friends or go to parties.</p>
<p>Yes, ucchris, I meant FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, as I previously said. I used to live in La Jolla, and, for a high schooler, it was boring as hell. And I am well aware of the inflated real estate market, which is the case not only in La Jolla but practically everywhere these days. (I currently live in the Bay Area, in a place where teeny little houses sell for well above the $5 million range.)</p>
<p>the UCSD campus would be pretty cool for summer camp imo</p>
<p>UCSC and UCSD are my two favorites. I'm lucky that I get to attend UCSD in the fall :}</p>