<p>Hey everyone! The deadline to submit the SIR is less than a month away, and I am completely torn over making this decision. So I was fortunate to have been accepted to UCLA, Cal, and UCSD, but there's a few problems in making the decision:</p>
<p>-UCLA & Berkeley will both cost ~30k/year because my family does not qualify for financial aid. We're one of the unlucky middle classers who aren't quite rich enough to afford 30k/year but aren't quite poor enough to qualify for financial aid :/</p>
<p>-I got into UCSD as a regents scholar and got a $2000/year merit scholarship, and I also live pretty close by, so UCSD would be the cheapest and would probably cost about half of what I'd pay for Berk or LA. </p>
<p>I know the most sensible decision sounds like it would be UCSD, but the only problem I have is the fact that I'd be a commuter. I have pretty strict Asian parents, and I feel like if I stay home during college, it'll just be a complete repeat of high school (which I hated), and I won't be able to learn independence or how to grow up and be on my own, pretty much the whole "college experience." Also, I've worked so hard the past four years to make it into my dream schools (LA & Cal), and since I've always detested staying local, UCSD has been the bane of my existence. </p>
<p>What do you all think? Should I just go with the money-saving decision and go to UCSD? Is it worth it to spend double the amount I'd pay for UCSD to go to a school like UCLA or Berkeley?</p>
<p>Any tips for getting involved as a commuter would also help tremendously!</p>
<p>My major is undecided but I'm leaning towards medicine or journalism, if that helps at all.</p>
<p>“UCSD would be the cheapest and would probably cost about half of what I’d pay for Berk or LA” <–Is this including the money you save by being a commuter?</p>
<p>I personally feel that living on your own and learning independence is one of the most important parts of college. (I’m also a HS senior though, so maybe some commuters could also share their experiences!)</p>
<p>Is the only reason you dislike UCSD because it’s so close to home, or do you not like the school itself? If you don’t like UCSD itself, not considering the location, then go to UCLA or Berkeley. You’ll do better if you’re happier. If you stay at home and are miserable the whole time, that won’t reflect well on your academics.
However, if the only reason you don’t want to go to UCSD is because you’ll have to commute, then… have you tried negotiating with your parents about living at UCSD? You’re getting scholarship money and Regents benefits (priority registration and other good stuff)! Tell them that you WANT to save money AND do well in college, but you’re only willing to go to UCSD if you’re allowed to live at UCSD instead of commuting.</p>
<p>@archaic: yes, UCSD would be half the cost of UCLA and Berk because of the 2000k from regents and because I’d be living at home. I’ve visited UCSD a few times and I’m not sure how much I like the more calm environment (I’m one of those people who always have to have something going on), but I’ll be visiting again on Triton Day, so we’ll see! I’ve also tried pushing for dorming my first year, but my parents don’t see the point if I can just live at home. Any ideas on how I can persuade them?</p>
<p>I honestly believe that you should go somewhere that makes you happy. It sounds like you are not too keen on going to UCSD. I can say with confidence that the happier you are, the more successful of a college career you will have.
If I were in your shoes, I would go with UCLA.</p>
<p>UCLA or CAl would be the better option as they’re better off for your intended major and have more prestige in comparison to SD (not that SD isn’t good, just not as universally known). More bang for your buck is what I say. Also I’m assuming your an in-state student based off that its 30k/year for you. You should know to never trust the cost estimation from the given site, truthfully if you lived frugal enough you can actually cut the cost down to anywhere from 25-28k a year. Factoring in that you don’t have a car which would cost even more =x. Go where you’re happy which seemingly isn’t UCSD</p>