Davis or UCSD? This is such a hard choice

<p>I’ve always been partial to UC Davis and have always wanted to go there. I go out there to study all the time, and I love the campus and the whole college town environment. I also like the social aspects and the school spirit aspect of Davis more. I’ve been hearing people say UCSD is not that socially active so that makes me kinda leery because I want to balance school with fun.</p>

<p>I didn’t think I would get into UCSD, so I never had set any plans for going there, but I just got accepted yesterday as a transfer student so now I need to reconsider this. Out of all the UC’s, I like Davis and UCSD the most. I would pick either of these 2 schools over UCB and UCLA. I’m an electrical engineering major, so the engineering program at UCSD is stronger than UC Davis which is the strongest selling point for me to attend UCSD.</p>

<p>I prefer Davis small college town feel over UCSD’s location nestled in La Jolla, as beautiful as it may be. So I tend to think that I would be happier at Davis. On the other hand, the engineering program at UCSD is stronger which attracts me to that school also. I guess it comes down to a battle between my preference for Davis cozy college town environment vs. UCSD engineering academic reputation. </p>

<p>This is a tough choice. What should I do?</p>

<p>It all depends on what you value more: being the best looking EM on paper (or even in reality) for the security of best of the best carreers while in living situations that you're not entirely pleased with, or getting a great education in EM (and not bad on paper either) and becoming a successful EM all the while fully enjoying your college experience.</p>

<p>To me, living conditions play a big factor in decision making. No matter which school you go to, you're not making the wrong decision, and though this has been said too many times, you get what you make of it. Whether you decide to attend UCSD or UCSD and carry on with your EM major with enjoyment in that field, you'll be a successful EM.</p>

<p>"I guess it comes down to a battle between my preference for Davis cozy college town environment vs. UCSD engineering academic reputation."</p>

<p>UC Davis.</p>

<p>nate cali, </p>

<p>I've been reading some of your previous posts and I definitely see the feelings you stated about UC Davis. The academic reputation here is stellar, but UCSD is great for engineering. </p>

<p>I'd urge you to pick what feels right - not what reputation makes it feel right.
In the end last year, I was trying to choose between Davis, UCSD, and USC. I'm loving UC Davis with no second thoughts whatsoever; it was the right decision for me.</p>

<p>seriously, do not choose reputation over which college you feel is best for you.</p>

<p>Yeah I really love UC Davis alot. It pretty much has strong and well respected academic programs across the board. I have UCD teddy bears, mugs, t-shirt, hoody, license plate frame, binder, and folder that I've purchased over the past 6 months from UCD. </p>

<p>As for UCSD, it sucks that I have never been to that campus before. The curiosity inside me tells me that I need to go to their Admit Day on May 12th to check them out and see if I like it there or not. This is such a huge decision, and it would suck in a scenario where I submit my SIR to them having never visited the school before. If I start school there in the fall, I don't want to end up not liking the place. But if I attend Admit Day, I can find out that it may not feel like "home" there so I can decline their offer.</p>

<p>I know that I'll perform best wherever I feel the happiest at. The complicated thing is that I know I will be happy studying at Davis, but I have no idea if I will like UCSD or not without having never seen the place besides in pictures. I just checked airline tickets to San Diego, and it's going to cost about $250 round trip which is too much, so I've decided to just go ahead and drive down there to attend Admit Day on May 12th.</p>

<p>Friday (May 11th)</p>

<p>2pm-10pm: sleep
11pm: drive to San Diego
7am: arrive in SD
8am-3pm: attend Admit Day
3pm: drive back to Bay Area
11pm: arrive back home
12am: sleep</p>

<p>7 hour event plus 16 hour driving, that's going to be grueling.</p>

<p>didn't you have to submit your SIR a few days ago??</p>

<p>I'm a transfer student so our deadline isn't until June 1st.</p>

<p>If you like Davis more and the only thing that's keeping SD afloat is its academic reputation, then I would definitely choose Davis if I were in your shoes. Maybe if it was Berkeley/UCLA versus UCD I might be hesitant, but UCSD versus UCD is somewhat close as far as reputation goes, almost like splitting hairs. Also greatly depends if you wanna live in Northern California or Southern California after college.</p>

<p>"...live in Northern California or Southern California after college."</p>

<p>where you go to school has an impact on that? Isn't it up to you where you wanna live?</p>

<p>After thinking it over for the past week, I eventually decided to go with Davis.</p>

<p>It's a done deal. I just submitted my SIR to UC Davis today. </p>

<p>I'm now officially an Aggie :)</p>