<p>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Truly a rising star in the UC system, right behind UC’s top two schools Berkeley and LA. Definitely one of the best colleges a student interested in science can study at. With top programs in all the hard sciences, many students are applying there for pre-med or engineering programs. The party scene is definitely less intense due to fewer athletics and no frats, but only a few miles away from Mexico (where the drinking age is 18), students don’t have trouble finding a place to relax. San Diego is also a beautiful area with great beaches and a lot of sun!</p>