Current UCSD student willing to try and answer people's questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

<p>Hey potential freshman, I will be on College Confidential trying to answer any question, in a positive manner, to the best of my ability. Don't be afraid to ask what you might think is a stupid question.
About Me: (might help my credibility in answering certain questions)
As my name indicates I'm a CE major. I'm a 4th year graduating warren student with a programming job. I only lived on campus one year though. Being extremely social, I have decent knowledge about most campus related questions (or at least I like to think so). Including varsity sports, and the party scene.</p>

<p>PLEASE NOTE: I know a little about other schools, but not a lot. No one person is going to be able to help you make a decision between schools. So research both, make a pro and con table, then pick. If you are determined to have a great college experience, you will no matter where you go.</p>

<p>Lastly, my love for UCSD and my time here will make me biased.</p>

2

<p>Hi UCSDCompEng,

  1. So how easy it was to get internship/co-op and eventually job? Do the sillicon valley companies recruite at UCSD for internship? In there enough cluster of tech/computer/software companies close by to get part time internship?
  2. Is is possible to among various major related to CE and CS, Which are all impacted? How hard is it? Any conditions for it? </p>
3

<ol>
<li>Very easy. Getting one is the same with girls, you have to ask a lot different ones, many will deny you… but you only need ONE yes. All major Sillicon Valley companies definitely recruit from UCSD, in fact the company I will be working for is based in redwood city. There are a bunch of companies near by. Lots of times you don’t even need one from a tech, but rather a random company that needs a techie. I had to apply to 30 different ones, but eventually found a sweet gig on campus. We have a campus job posting site that is very easy to scroll through, especially since most the jobs are for CS.</li>
<li>I think you mean transfer majors. Check the website to figure out which ones are impacted. I heard math-cs isn’t, and its a pretty good major. That being said, it probably will be soon, so switch ASAP. Most if not all companies won’t discriminate against you because of it too. At the very worst, you just have to pretend that it is what you wanted the whole time :slight_smile: . In fact its even preferred for certain positions for running analytics on databases.</li>
</ol>

4

<p>@UCSDcompEng I’m transferring this fall from a CC into Computer Engineering! I have all of my lower division completed aside from the third physics class and the intro to EE series. Any information you’d like to share on the program? Any advice you wish you could’ve given yourself? </p>

5

<p>Were you a transfer student?!
I am transferring from SMC, love to be there…I took Java Programming class here, but really did not like the teacher, and despite getting A(ok very very very easy A) I did not learn much, and I’d like to take it again in UCSD…do you know if it’d be possible to attend a class without enrolling(like do the teachers kick you out if you’re not enrolled like in CCC)?! or can I just enroll again despite passing the class before?
And what are the conditions to become a programming tutor?!</p>

<p>(and thanks for contributing…I’ll have many questions from you once I know for sure I’m accepted lol)</p>

6

<p>@stevoleeto
So I have loved the program… but many don’t. Quick overview why
Pros:
You learn higher level stuff about computers, like how bits are stored and used via electricity. To me this stuff was very interesting. If you think you might want to go into hard ware, you still can. CS students don’t always have that option. As much as I like programming, its also nice to have classes that feel more classical College engineering. Having 3 programming courses can get frustrating. Lastly, you don’t have to take compilers (amongst a few other classes). Compilers is the most time consuming cs course. Apparently its not the most dificult, but requires hours and hours on end of programming. To me that’s huge. I rather take a difficult class and get a poor grade, then spends hours at a time consuming class. Because then you just become the code monkey everyone loves to hate on. Plus it is time I could spend drinking :)</p>

<p>Cons:
The ECE classes is much harder, and the EE (electrical engineering) students tend to score much better than the CE students. Being graded on a curve, that can get very frustrating. Also most CE students end up just getting programming jobs anyways because of the abundance of them. They pay better and they are easier to get. Hardware jobs are extremely scarce for people without an MS or PHD. That being said, all the time spent learning ECE stuff goes to waste, and could have been spent on CS classes. I also heard that companies prefer CS because of that. However form my experience that does not seem to be the case. Oh and you have a few extra physics courses (and one extra math course). My freshman year most people transferred out of CE to CS purely because of this. CS students can CHEM or BILD instead if they so choose. This was before CS was impacted, so I don’t think that is an option for you :(</p>

<p>@bolandgoo
Classes have 200 students, so you can definitely sit in without being enrolled in it. However, to do the assignments I’m not sure how your credits will transfer, but if there is a chance to retake CSE11 (the slightly more advanced beginner course) and get credits for it. To become a tutor you need above a 3.0 and apply. They hire lots of them, but they do deny people. If you go to office hours, show interest and skill, you will definitely get a position. Also you need to have gotten a B or better in the course… maybe even an A, I’m not entirely sure.</p>

7

<p>Hi, I was wondering if UCSD is really that competitive as some say it is. I read a review on Yelp that used the term ‘cut-throat competition’ which kind of scared me. My major is biological sciences, by the way.
I am always greatful for you guys on CC answering prospective sutdents’ questions. Such a good way of knowing the school better. Thank you!</p>

8

<p>I’m not a biology student, but I’ll try to answer based on what my friends tell me, I’ll also see if I can ask around.</p>

<p>From what I know, its not cut-throat because of competition. Everyone is struggling together, but no one is messing with each other to lower the curve… but everyone does joke about that happening. I think they mean cut-throat because it is difficult. Biology at any school requires lots of memorizing, and I know ochem aint no joke either. Also certain classes are based on a curve where up to a third of the class doesn’t pass. However, that tends to be only for a one or two “weeder” classes. You will find this to be the case at all renowned schools that offer pre-med.
All in all the program is very much doable and I know people who have succeeded while maintaining a social life. It will test you dedication though, and like any STEM major, sacrifices will have to be made and tears will be shed.</p>

<p>P.S. I didn’t know there were Yelp reviews for schools. I’m not surprised that you heard that there, because I tend to only use yelp when I’m bitter about something.</p>

9

<p>What kind of GPA do you need for CS or CE to get a job after graduation?</p>

10

<p>Hi UCSDCompEng,</p>

<p>My daughter has been accepted into CS for the fall. We are trying to make a decision before May 1st.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>What do employers look for for internships? A certain GPA? Experience? Something else? </p></li>
<li><p>At what point can student with no prior CS experience start looking for interships? 2nd year summer? Earlier?</p></li>
<li><p>We heard about not being able to register for classes wanted/needed. Is this true? How big is the average class size?</p></li>
<li><p>On weekends what do STEM students (who live on campus) do usually? We live in OC but most likely she will not be coming home every weekend.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks! </p>

11

<p>@RedCrayon‌ </p>

<p>I just wanted to chime in on this thread as a current UCSD student though I am -not- a CS major.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Though I’m not a CS major, I’ve listened in on several phone interviews. The interviewers ask for languages the candidate knows and what kind of software he/she has had exposure to. I’m sure UCSDCompEng has a much better answer to that question. With that being said, interviewers look for classes taken and previous work experience. GPA is often a requirement to be considered (a 3.0 is standard) but not a breaking factor. Work experience and previous internships are more important. Since CS itself has so many branches and possibilities, experience and knowledge in a certain field is oftentimes asked about in the interviews. </p></li>
<li><p>The following is a case that should answer the internship question:</p></li>
</ol>

<p>My best friend is a 3rd year CS major interning year-round for Northrup Grumman and has been there since the halfway through his 2nd year. He got the job through a posting online, though he had 7 or 8 phone interviews with various other tech companies (Yahoo, Informatica, Direct TV etc) that were obtained through a job fair at school. UCSD has plenty of job fairs and internships for CS majors are plentiful. He interned the summer after his freshmen year (yes it can be done) at an e-commerce place. It wasn’t exactly in the major but it was more or less IT work and it helped him land the job at NGC, where the trained him. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Unfortunately, it is true. Lower division classes that a lot of majors need like calculus and chemistry are hard to get. The CS department is pretty good at increasing the class size when the demand exceeds the expected enrollment. Enrollment caps are based on how many people can fit inside the assigned room, so to increase a class size means to find a bigger room, which I’ve seen the CS department do for almost every class my friends have been waitlisted in.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m a STEM major (structural engineering) and I lived on campus my first year instead of heading back to LA. To be honest, I caught up on sleep, hung out with friends and maybe did a campus involvement event. I would also do some homework in the evenings if need be. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Ask me any other questions. I’m a 2nd year in structural engineering graduating in my 3rd year.</p>

12

<p>Sorry Ive been so absent, but let me fill in the blanks
@DrGoogle‌
GPA is far from everything on a resume. Some companies require a 3.0, but usually experience is more important. If you have no experiance, a 3.0 is required for larger companies, but there are always a ton of people looking for webdevs and lower paid programmers (still way more $ than most college grads). Essentially the only thing a GPA does is get you an interview, and getting one is pretty easy. After that, your knowledge, experience, and personality will be the only criteria in getting the job.
Side Note: You have 3 GPAs. Overall, Upper division, and Major. Pick the highest of the three and put that on your resume.</p>

<p>@RedCrayon‌
Heart arrow did an amazing job answer your questions.
There are a few things I could add to #1. For internships they don’t’ expect prior experiences, but rather what you have been doing in school. Most of getting a position is doing well in the technical part, which is basically a quiz. Information on that can be looked up online.</p>

<p>For #2 here is what I did. First year summer, random job. Second year, worked at a tech summer camp teaching kids to program. Third year real internship which turned into my job after this quarter. Basically you don’t need an internship until a year before you graduate but getting one before hand is nice. First and second year summers, students should get a fun job, or an IT/webdev position.</p>

<p>Lastly, I want to confirm that this is your DAUGHTER’s decision, not the combination of both of you. I’m being very presumptuous right now, but based on “…we are trying to make…” and that your asking a question for her, I get the feeling you’re influencing her way to much. Even if she is asking for it, I really recommend taking a step back and let her do the decision making. At the very most, help her on how to make decisions, but not on the decision itself. I have seem too many students come to college and be miserable because their parents dictated their major and/or school. Or worse, they take the freedom a little too far and party too much. Eventually you will pay for the resentment. I’m guessing your paying for her school and therefor you believe your input is justified. However, she is going to be the one stuck in college for the next four years, and the major for the rest of her life (assuming she doesn’t switch). If she got into UCSD for CS, she’s must be a pretty smart cookie and can make decisions on her own. If she makes a bad one, she’ll recover; that is part of growing up. Again, I am being very presumptuous, and this might not be you… but it happens far too often for me stay quite. </p>

13

<p>UCSDCompEng, thanks for your reply. I was worried it might be much higher.</p>

14

<p>Do you know if you can request roommates in a triple? Like if you and 2 others of the same college all want to room together. </p>

15

<p>Yes you can do that, but it won’t be for sure until you find out who your roommate(s) are.</p>

16

<p>Hey there,</p>

<p>I was accepted into CE as a transfer, but not going to stick with it (for a lot of the reasons you said), and am instead looking at CS (possibly with the bioinformatics focus) or some other engineering discipline (I’m not sure which one, but not EE or CE). I’m having a hard time because I’m considering giving the classes for med school a run and it seems like they’ll get covered by the bioinformatics specialization.</p>

<p>Do you know anything about the bioinformatics specialization? I think it may be a good cohesion of my interests and goals but still have the itch to pick a more classical major within Jacobs if I can. Also, do you think a good GPA is attainable in CSE? I know I sound pretty “typical” but I’m just trying to leave all my options open because I have scattered interest and goals lol. </p>

17

<p>@UCSDcompEng‌, could you tell me about the major"Mathematics and Economics" at UCSD? I really like UCSD, and I believe it will be a fabulous place for me. My acceptance letter says my major is applied mathematics, which I want to change it to “math and econ”, is it hard to change major?</p>

18

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>How do you get into Earl Warren’s Honors Society? On their website it said that incoming freshmen with at least a 3.8 High School Cumulative GPA and Scores of 700 or above on the SAT I Critical Reasoning, Quantitative, and Writing sections are automatically in. I meet these requirements, but I didn’t receive an invitation or indication that I’m in the Honors Society.</p>

19

<p>Hello, I wanted to inquire about the social life at UCSD. I hear that there is not one or that you have to really go out and look for one. Can you tell me anything about your experience there, was it fun and enjoyable, or mostly studious? It’s something I have really been wanting to know about the school. </p>

20

<p>Hello, I have got acceptance in Bioengineering-Bioinformatics at UCSD(Warren college). I also have acceptance from Univ Of Washington and UCI (biomedical engineering). People I have reached out, suggest that I should pick UCSD because of its ranking. Does school ranking that important?
Also Bioengineering-Bioinformatics has around 4 CS courses. Is it a good idea to take more CS courses ( not sure if its possible) to increase your chances for internship/job?
I want to try for med school, but I know its pretty tough to get it, and so want to ensure I have other options open.
I know CS major is hot for jobs. How does bioengineering-Bioinformatics compare from job opportunities perspectives.
Any popular minor folks with this major go for in UCSD or it in itself is too challenging?</p>