<p>I know most threads are always LA vs. Cal or UCD vs. UCSB, etc. but I'm seriously considering UCSD over Berkeley. Let me know your thoughts. I am really, really torn and need advice and pros and cons, etc.</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in political science.</p>
<p>1.) UCSD will be cheaper since I can just live at home, and I can work longer during the summer and keep my job part-time. I would say this would probably make the experience less stressful than worrying about making food, laundry, etc.</p>
<p>2.) I can arguably get higher grades with less work there, which is a plus for law school admissions.</p>
<p>3.) Can take a prep course for the LSAT before the one in the fall of 2010 without having to juggle coursework and the class, since it would end right when classes start. This would probably mean that I would get a higher score.</p>
<p>4.) The classes aren't as filled up as they are at Berkeley, it's much easier to register, not as many people, etc.</p>
<p>5.) San Diego is not as "ghetto" as Berkeley and the weather is much better.</p>
<p>6.) Probably more personalized teaching and more relaxed at UCSD.</p>
<p>7.) No hassle of moving and flying up and down from Berkeley and contacting all of these people and having to send so many different things. I think the process of transferring to SD would be a LOT simpler.</p>
<p>and…wut was ur major… u gotta concern more about later on… cuz graduating at a top university means much more to you just than later on to look for jobs… I mean the ppl you met or the way you thought. will affects you more… don’t loook too short</p>
<p>I chose UCSD over UCB. I’m pre-med and I’ve heard UCSD has a superior pre-med advisory committee than Berkeley. Also, as far as med school preferences, prestige is subordinate to numbers – law schools are the same, I think. Grade deflation in Berkeley scares me; I’ve talked to a lot of Berkeley alumni and the environment is that of competition rather than learning. Personally, I just don’t think Berkeley offers the learning environment that I’m comfortable with and the academic support that is necessary for pre-meds. This is just my opinion, and I’m an English Major – if it matters.</p>
<p>I got into both Cal and UCSD for computer engineering Fall 2009.
Of course, I choose Cal over SD. However, two of my friends w/ similar situation choose SD because they’re in Bio eng major.</p>
<p>Tell the turth, after reviewing the housing and etc, I like UCSD’s campus better. It’s more clean (I think), convenience, and so on…</p>
<p>How important is the “college experience” to you? A lot of your post suggests that it isn’t. Living at home, you’ll miss out on a lot of social aspects at school. The whole “making food” and doing laundry are experiences that you’ll have to learn anyway. And while moving up and down will be a hassle, it will allow you to explore a much different part of the state. Do you put a lot of weight into this or are you focused a lot more on academics/the campuses?</p>
<p>Nick-You really should go where you feel the most comfortable. If you force yourself to go somewhere you don’t really want to go, you are going to be very unhappy. It will be hard to give up a school like Berkeley, but choosing a college is such a personal decision. I really don’t think that anyone can make this decision but you. </p>
<p>BTW, have you visited Berkeley? It’s not ghetto.</p>
<p>^
I think he means the surrounding areas, which ARE ghetto. </p>
<p>Hi. [: </p>
<p>Are you still trying to decide? I’m waiting for my Cal decision, but I can’t help but think between UCSD and Cal as well, it’s going to be a tough decision for me as well. X__X;;</p>
<p>Let me know how it goes…or if you need to tour around SD. ;D</p>
<p>I would be an English major at Cal and UCLA, but a Comms major at UCSD. SD is just a far nicer city than Berkeley, however i heard that the English program is really good at Cal and it isn’t as competitive as the rest of the majors. I was told the curves work in your favor for English majors, rather than the other way around for like a bio major. Anyone know any truth to this?</p>
<p>curve in an english course for an english major? how do you curve an essay? i think the curves you’ll see will be economics, engineering, mathematics, and science courses. i don’t think there are any weeder courses or if the english major is a weeder major</p>
<p>in response to the op,</p>
<p>2) higher grades are not a guarantee because there are people at ucsd who also want to do law just like you</p>
<p>4) political science is a popular major at any school, so don’t expect any easy registration times unless you’re a uc to uc transfer. the ucsd political science department is moving up in rankings and prestige so more students are probably majoring in political science</p>
<p>6) at any UC there isn’t any personalized teaching unless your major is unpopular and doesn’t require TAs. Popular majors always have TAs so don’t expect interaction with the professor. Most of the time classes will have students from 75-200. check the schedule of classes, with the budget cuts, it might be harder to get classes</p>
<p>your main reason for not going to UCB is financial reasons. if thats the case, and if you are not torn by going to UCSD, then go to UCSD. its a tough decision but i just wanted to highlight those points for you</p>
<p>It’s more than just being nice tho. La Jolla is composed mainly of wealthy residents who hate kids. Does it have an active strip of places for students to go to. A lot of coffee shops? A thriving music scene? Etc… The “nicest” places doesn’t necessarily provide the best environments for students.</p>
<p>I say choose the college that you will be most comfortable with and perform well at. I doubt the prestige will make a difference. Just go there and do well. I think the only people who should be worrying about the prestige are the ones who don’t plan to go to grad school and their bachelors is what they are going to use to market themselves in the real world (ie. engineers/business). But looks like you want to go to law school. So I would go somewhere you will perform best at.</p>