<p>Hi everyone! I am a senior, and am contemplating applying to UCSD for International Studies. I want to work for the Papua New Guinea embassy in America when I grow up, because my dad is from PNG and has many connections within the embassy for me to utilize. This being said, I would really like to go to a school with a strong International Relations major with an emphasis on Pacific Islands/Southeast Asia, and UCSD seems like the perfect place for that. However, I live in Milwaukee, WI, and wonder if OOS tuition to UCSD is really worth the education. I am signed up as African American in the application, and while my unweighted grade point average (3.685) and ACT score (30) are good enough to get me accepted, I doubt they will win me large amounts of money. I guess my questions are: Is UCSD worth the money for an undergraduate degree? How generous are they with financial aid for OOS applicants? Do you think I'll get a good financial aid package? Will being African American increase their desire to have me attend, therefore giving me more money?
Thanks so much for all of the replies, and this is only my 3rd post on this site, so if I messed something up, please tell me. </p>
<p>As an OOS applicant, you will receive little to no financial aid for UCSD. Your price tag to attend would come to about $55K/year. California publics banned affirmative action so being a URM will not help you. Your GPA looks a little low but ACT score on target. Unless you comfortably afford to attend, UCSD would not be worth over $200,000 no matter how good the school.</p>
<p>Worth it is a pretty subjective term. but, OOS is really expensive - very close to private school rates.Unlike private schools, there will be no financial aid for OOS applicants at any UC. Also, ethnicity is not a fact or admission. I’d look at USD and LMU in So Cal and perhaps Santa Clara in N Cal. They may offer financial aid.</p>
<p>UCSD cannot “officially” consider your race and is forbidden to ask about. So many URMs work it into their essays. All UC campuses are concerned about the decline in minority admissions, so mentioning your URM status is smart as it will factor into their “holisitc” process. Also, you should note that the law does allow socio-economic factors to be considered.</p>