<p>
</p>
<p>Why is it a negative that you can’t matriculate at UCI for both the pharm school and undergrad? To be a pharmacist, you need a doctoral degree (Pharm D) so you would had to have attended pharmacy school anyway.</p>
<p>yeah, that’s what I was thinking^. Don’t you usually have to apply for a pharm program after undergrad anyway? admittedly, i don’t know that much about it.</p>
<p>I’m actually in a similar predicament…I got into UCSD (Revelle- Econ) but I’m leaning towards UCI (School fo Social Sciences- Business Econ). I went to admit say for UCSD and now I’m having an even harder deciding. The main question I have that hasn’t really been answered is whether it is worth going to UCSD for a slightly higher ranking</p>
<p>megan, the question cannot be answered because it is quite subjective. If you’re wanting to know other opinions… well to me, the slight difference in ranking will not matter. Companies will recruit heavily at their local uni’s anyway. </p>
<p>Your future career path also has an impact on the decision, and it will probably be cheaper for you if you go to UCI (if finance is an issue).</p>
<p>Thanks for your input! I would dorm at both schools so the expenses would turn out pretty much the same. In the past year, I’ve been thinking about Political Science as a major. My real interests are in international relations, politics, and law, whereas my parents are pushing Econ so I can follow the family route into some form of investment banking. I’m hoping UCI’s admit day this Wednesday will clear some of my doubts.</p>
<p>ucsd is ranked like 5 spots higher than uci, right? that’s insignificant in my opinion, but it’s not like you ever think about it again once you’re in college anyway.</p>
<p>I had completely different criteria when I choosing my university.
To me, most of the cons that UCI has a reputation for are either huge plusses or complete non-issues. I say this as a boring, shameless nerd who knows himself, what he likes, and what kind of environment he’s comfortable working and studying in with no desire to change.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Lack of social scene
I don’t drink. I don’t smoke marijuana. I don’t like loud noises. My drug of choice is caffeine. I’d rather be at the library than a dorm party or lounge or bar. I don’t see any benefits to going Greek. The IEEE and ACM chapters provide enough professional/academic networking without a false sense of camraderie or initiations.
No offense to the seemingly vast majority of party animals who are interested in that, but it’s just not for me.</p></li>
<li><p>Lack of athletic prestige.
I don’t follow sports. The ARC is more than enough for my own personal fitness goals.</p></li>
<li><p>Not quite as academically rigorous as UC*
Undergraduate differential equations is the same anywhere. If the standard curricula isn’t rigorous enough for you, you can shoot for the honors or research programs and go to grad school at a more prestigious institution.</p></li>
<li><p>Too nerdy (often coming from the same person who mentioned the previous)
You’re in school to learn things, that means books and studying.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I often hear statements such as these (not in this thread, though) which I find mildly offensive:
- Too many asians
I’m part of the absolutely miniscule 2.5% African-American student body. I’m very used to being surrounded by people who do not look like I do. I’d be the odd one out at any other UC as well. What’s with the racial tension? Some might say UCSB has too many white people, but that would be a crude statement as well.</p>
<ul>
<li>Lack of attractive women
This usually means “the women aren’t white enough for me to be aroused”. There are cute girls of any ethnic background anywhere in California you go.</li>
</ul>
<p>UCSD, UCLA, and UCSB were my back-ups, but I would have been perfectly content with any of those schools. Go to UCI if you’re a boring workaholic with no soul, whatever that is.</p>
<p>^ agreed.</p>
<p>@OP I am a current UCSD student who also was deciding between UCI and UCSD. I picked UCSD due to its amazing bio department. I also liked UCSD’s environment. That said, based on your listings, I think UCI would be a better fit for you. And as others have said, rankings shouldn’t matter too much when picking a school.</p>
<p>Chimoso,</p>
<p>I think there are quite a bit of flaws in your pros/cons list. I hope you have revamped them and kept only the realistic ones. I am an alumni of UCI, and I came from San Jose so I left my comfort zone a long time ago. I’d recommend you take into account college being a way for you to break free of the confinements of your hometown and high school life. This way you can learn a bit more about life. From what it seems, UCI sits in a comfort zone for you (not because it’s “easier,” because it’s not, but because it is close by and all your old friends are there.) You will learn to be more independent and learn to meet new people this way. I suggest choose choose the campus that you will feel happy at as you study in the library or walk down the busy parts (Ring Road@UCI or Library Walk@UCSD). This way you will perform much better on a day to day basis.</p>
<p>RamenNation,</p>
<p>I think you’re forgetting UCI has a pharmaceutical science undergraduate program which can be VERY helpful as you prepare for pharmacy school at UCI. The classes are relevant, and the program will help you see if you truly want to become a pharmacist. You don’t need to be at a university with a pharmacy graduate program to get into one. For example, a lot of people I’ve met who’ve graduated at UCLA where there is no pharmacy program moved to USC for graduate school.</p>
<p>whistleblow,</p>
<p>I hope you participate in engineering leadership at UCI, especially IEEE. I was once the president, and I had a great amount of fun those days.</p>
<p>Everyone,</p>
<p>Parking seems to be worse at UCSD from what I’ve seen. I lived off campus and drove to UCI my last year and never had a problem in the parking lots not close to the social science structures. There was always parking available!
I am glad to hear everyone is stressing that rank is absolutely not important when it comes to choosing universities. For all of those admitted to UCI, make sure to visit during Wayzgoose on Saturday, April 16, to see a time when the campus is lively, and the alumni, like me, come to make a visit. Alumni, come out!</p>
<p>@jas0n, thanks so much for your response because you really said what I couldn’t say articulately. I really do want to leave my comfort zone. That is exactly what I meant by UCI being the easier road for me. I wouldn’t have to rely on myself as much as my parents and friends. I’m the type of person that is dependent on others and if go to UCI I really won’t grow as a person. Sorry if I offended anyone by saying “UCI is the easier road” but I didn’t mean it in terms of academics.</p>
<p>and yeah!! I am definitely going to UCI’s wayzgoose event. I can’t wait :)))))</p>
<p>Chimoso,</p>
<p>I’m glad you’re taking that into account. However, we all depend on others to make our lives come…well “alive.” Although depending on old friends and parents can inhibit growth, it does not necessarily mean you won’t grow as a person with them around. There are always ways to break free from it all even while being in close proximity. But just keep in mind where you will be most happy. I find happiness with where you’ve decided is truly the key to excel at the academic and personal levels.</p>
<p>do you guys think ucsd graduates will have an easier time getting good jobs compare to uci graduates tho??</p>
<p>Not at all.</p>
<p>Go to the school that you will be happier at. The rankings are pretty much the same… It’s not like you’re comparing CSUF to UCSD. UCI is pretty much on the same level to UCSD and the gap may close thanks to UCI’s Business and Law programs.</p>
<p>Visit both schools, look at the class schedule and walk through the buildings where you will be taking classes. I did this and I realized that I like taking classes in newer buildings…this may not matter to some, but it matters to me. These are the types of things you should consider.</p>
<p>The campus was amazing! I just came back from visiting it right now. Lol today I came home from school and was like “hey why not visit UCI today?!” so I printed out directions (got lost anyways) and was amazed by the beautiful campus. The trees and the architecture just made everything so calm and peaceful…the people were nice too they waved and smiled when I walked by :P. I loved Aldrich park. I don’t understand why people say UCI isn’t really a college setting, it sure does look like it and it was plenty diverse…</p>
<p>I can imagine myself attending classes there but at the same time I can imagine myself at UCSD, this is so difficult, ughauhga</p>
<p>that was my reaction too the first time I visited. It’s a really pretty campus, and i feel like a lot of people don’t realize that.</p>
<p>I turned down every UC School except for UC Berkeley which I didn’t apply to, in favor for UCI.</p>
<p>The only UC I wasn’t accepted to was UCSD- I was waitlisted, but months before their decision came out I knew I preferred Irvine over SD. I can’t really tell you my reasoning other than when I finished the tour through Irvine, I knew there was no other place I wanted to go! :)</p>
<p>I guess I sort of felt like Irvine had more to offer for me in terms of what I was interested in, if I had to give a reason. ^^</p>
<p>@taiwonton
mind to tell us what your major is??</p>
<p>@dominic: International Relations. ^^</p>
<p>i’m turning down ucsd for uci!</p>