It's that time of the year again

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - GENERAL
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<p>It’s that time of the year again when UC decisions are coming out and the graduating high school seniors are reaping the fruits of their hard work. First of all, congratulations on your college acceptances. Even if you did not get accepted into the UC of your choice, it’s all right, there are other ways of getting into that UC. Second, although it seems that all the hard work is finished, you still have one final task before you can call yourselves college students. And that is choosing the right UC for you.</p>

<p>There are many criteria to examine before choosing the right UC, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that they have to be applicable to you. It does not matter much what others’ opinions are regarding a specific UC since they don’t have the exact same needs and expectations as you do. With that said, here are a couple things you should do before choosing the right college for you:</p>

<li><p>Visit the campuses
You should try to visit the UC campuses that you are interested in. Don’t solely rely on what others tell you, because the scope of their description cannot be nearly as broad as what you can see by going there yourself. The difference between being physically on campus and learning about the campus is huge. Here are somethings that you should look for: weather, transportation, safety of campus, dorms, food, etc. Of course, you should do some research about what you are interested in and seeing those sights. Try to visit when there are actually students on campus or you won’t be able to evaluate the student body.</p></li>
<li><p>Determine your career goal
What is it that you really want to do? Are you really sure about the major that you applied under? If you’re not, then can you switch out of it? Keep these questions in mind. You don’t want to end up with a degree that doesn’t take you where you want to go. Also, determine if the path you intend to take affect you now. For example, if you want to be a doctor and intend to be on the premed track, it’s highly probable that you’ll have to repeat some courses that you can pass out with AP exams. So, if that’s the case, there’s no sense in wasting $85 and taking the AP exam other than just to see how well you are doing in the class.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>For those of you who are unsure of what you want to do in the future, it’s a tough question. My advice is to choose a campus that offers at least a few majors that are interesting to you. If there are more than one campus that offer this, then your best bet is to choose the one with higher rankings in those departments, which may give you slightly advantage after you graduate.</p>

<p>While we are on the topic of rankings, realize that rankings cannot be absolutely correct. There are always some intrinsic factors that make rankings seem skewed. This cannot be avoided. However, rankings do give a general idea of where a school/department stands relative to others. So, it’s not something to be completely disregarded. And again, when using rankings, make sure that they are somewhat applicable to you. For example, if you’re using the best value for the money ranking and money is not an issue to you, then don’t give much thought into it.</p>

<li><p>Money
How much do you have to pay to go to that UC? This is a rather controversial point since it differs greatly from person to person. But the bottom line is if it is very difficult for you to attend a particular UC that you desperately want to attend due to the cost, then it’s probably a good decision to take a step back and re-evaluate your choices. You’re not going to be happy college student if you have to work 20-30 hours a week on top of your regular course work just so you can afford your education.</p></li>
<li><p>Gather as much information as you can
In this process, make sure to separate facts from biased, useless data and false information. This is hard, because you won’t always be able to separate the truth from half-lies, half-truth. Here’s an example:

<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=3627325#post3627325[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=3627325#post3627325</a>
Here, the poster has ranked the UC campuses according to applicant data. There is nothing much to read into the applicant data as they tell us essentially nothing. Yet, the poster has manipulated the data into a ranking that is obviously biased. How is this biased? Look at the comparison between UCI and UCD. With just pure applicant data, these two comparison don’t mean much. However, with the rankings posted below those two comparisons, the idea that UCD is somehow ranked higher than UCI is achieved along with the statement “This is hardly an anomaly.” The poster contends that this is not biased because the ranking reflects the overall applicant pool. But the question is, why rank them? What’s the point of ranking UC’s based on applicant data? It obviously has significant errors in it if UCSD is ranked higher than UCLA and the gap between the two is so well pronounced in the quality of students admitted. So, the lesson here is to always scrutinize data that is presented to you. Ask yourself if they make sense and if they make any relevant point. If not, then question more about it.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>An example of false information follows:

There are more than 5 different types of graduate schools, so to claim that UCD has ALL 5 of them is wrong. Some examples of graduate schools not included are optometry school, graduate school of journalism, dentistry school, etc. Clearly, this is false information. It’s similar to little Timmy coming home from school and telling his mother, “I got ALL 5 points on the test!” when the test is out of 10 points.</p>

<p>Another example of false information has been propagated for quite a while. It goes something like “UC Davis should be ranked higher than other blah blah blah schools in the current U.S. News ranking, because UC Davis made a mistake in reporting the faculty resources.”
This is false. The mistake happened in 2005 and was reflected in the 2006 ranking. The current one is the 2007 ranking. The mistake has been corrected. The ranking, as it stands, is as it was intended to be. Now, we can argue over how inaccurate U.S. News rankings are all day, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is no mistake in its rankings based on the specific methodology. So, if you want to use the U.S. News ranking as a gauge/indicator of what a school is best fit for you, then use it. It no longer has the error that was present in 2006’s.
Here’s the thread to give you a better idea:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=314039[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=314039</a></p>

<p>Now, am I here to put down UCD? No. But why are all these examples related to UCD? I wish I knew. No user from other UC’s has been as aggressive in advertising their school with false information and biased data as the users from UCD. I don’t put down a school to recommend my own school. This cannot be said for some of the UCD users. I’m here to debunk the lies and half-truths that are posted on this forum. My intent is not to stir up trouble, but to inform the users of wrong and biased information.</p>

<p>One of the purposes of this site is to provide high school students with correct information and these biased, useless data and false information cannot do that.</p>

<p>And if any user wants to dispute these things that I’ve posted, please prove your points with solid facts. It makes no sense to throw out unsupported claims since anyone could do that.</p>

<li><p>Location
Is it too close to home? Or is it too far? Are there companies/other points of interest that can offer you extracurricular activities such as internships, shadowing, volunteer work? This is especially crucial if you think that you intend to go on to graduate school or professional school.</p></li>
<li><p>Your own happiness
As I’ve said before, it’s all about choosing the right UC for you. Would you be happy going to the UC for the next four years? If not, do you think you can transfer out? Intercampus UC transfers are difficulty since they are given the last priority. So, make sure you can find an escape route if it become absolutely necessary.</p></li>
<li><p>Optional: Talk it over with your parents
If your parents are paying for your college education, then ask them about their opinion. If not, then still ask them as a common courtesy to people who care about you.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>These are the things that I can think of right now.
I encourage other posters to add more to this list or add explanations and whatnot. This can help future graduating high school seniors in their college decision.</p>

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<p>It does appear as though you are picking on UCD a little to me. There have been many posts made on here that are equally inaccurate. Reading through last nights posts I found this one by a rather over zealous poster you seem to be ignoring</p>

<p>ranking by SAT: UCSD, UCSB, UCI, UCD
ranking by accept rate: UCSD, UCSB, UCI, UCD
ranking in engineering: UCSD, UCSB, UCI, UCD</p>

<p>Also in defense of the poster you are referring to above he did say in his post that those were the applicant pool. I think you don't give enough credit to us to be able to read for ourselves. I also heartily disagree with you about using rankings for undergraduate school choices. Those rankings are for graduate school. Undergraduate school should be chosen because of the fit. It seems like you have an agenda here with rankings. Perhaps because you go to Berkeley?</p>

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<p>The OP is not picking on UCD. Rather, he is picking on voiceofreason. FINALLY.</p>

<p>Thanks for the post.</p>

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<p>"It does appear as though you are picking on UCD a little to me."</p>

<p>I'm not picking on UCD, but the posters from UCD who propagate false information on these boards. There's nothing wrong with advertising UCD, but the tactic of using biased data and false information is wrong. I have done this in the past as well with claims that UCSD is the powerhouse of science and engineering.</p>

<p>"Reading through last nights posts I found this one by a rather over zealous poster you seem to be ignoring"</p>

<p>I'm sorry, I don't have time to read through all that flaming/trolling that was going on last night. Furthermore, I did not intend to list every instance of such happenings since I gave examples. If you want to find all of these and post them on this board, then I'd greatly appreciate it.</p>

<p>"Also in defense of the poster you are referring to above he did say in his post that those were the applicant pool."</p>

<p>So, what? We all know that the data he was referring to were from the applicant pool. It doesn't change the fact that the ranking is biased and useless information intended to prove some point about UCI and UCD.</p>

<p>"Undergraduate school should be chosen because of the fit. It seems like you have an agenda here with rankings."</p>

<p>Where did I say that you should use graduate rankings in choosing an undergraduate institution? Are you not aware that there are rankings for undergraduate majors as well? Furthermore, graduate rankings are not all that terrible in evaluating the undergraduate program since the same professors and resources are used in teaching undergrads.</p>

<p>"It seems like you have an agenda here with rankings. Perhaps because you go to Berkeley?"</p>

<p>I don't have an agenda with rankings, in fact, I've already said that all rankings have intrinsic factors that make them seem skewed. What's my agenda with rankings? And what does that have to do with the fact that I attend UC Berkeley? I couldn't care less what rank a school is, but it's wrong when people are using these rankings in the wrong way and propagating false information with them. Case in point, the 2007 ranking. I have nothing to say about the ranking itself, because I couldn't care less what's going on there. But when people start claiming that there's a mistake in the ranking that was already corrected in order to make their school look better, that's when I take interest in the matter.</p>

<p>Take note, have I ever put down a school and told a prospective student to go to Berkeley? No. Have UCD posters put down another school and told a prospective student to go to UCD? Yes, many times.</p>

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<p>Are you a high school guidance counselor?</p>

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<p>"Are you a high school guidance counselor?"</p>

<p>No, are you? Are those posters who throw around false information and biased data high school guidance counselors?</p>

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<p>He's showing examples of what he belives is bias. As a HS senior, this is a great thread, no need to call him out. And what, do you have to be a High School guidance counselor to make a thread?</p>

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<p>I don't object to all of what the OP is saying, but I do object to the authorative (bullying) tone being used. Most of us here are not professionals. So some kids who post on here (who I'm sure are young) get a little too enthusiacstic. They are young and still learning. There is no reason to be uncivil to them. You can get your good points across with kindness, please. Try to keep a sense of humor and perspective.</p>

<p>I have worked for five years at my children's high school in volunteer counseling. Based on a great deal of training from professionals I object 100% to this piece of advice from the OP.</p>

<p>If there are more than one campus that offer this, then your best bet is to choose the one with higher rankings in those departments, which may give you slightly advantage after you graduate.</p>

<p>Graduate schools are not going to pay attention to miniscule difference in rankings. That is simply not true. Schools should be chosen for choice of major and fit not rankings. Guidance counselors always advise this. It is one of the first things emphasized each year as we review how to help the students. If you have a choice of schools you should try to visit but if that's not possible at least do plenty of research. I'm sure that the OP did not intend to give bad advice so I'm just pointing it out nicely. There are often opinions given on here that need to be taken as that, opinions. No one should take what is posted on here as gospel. If you have serious questions you should seek out your guidance counselor. I'm sure school is stressful right now, but please everyone calm down the tone.</p>

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<p>No offense, but people who are similar ages and who actually attend the colleges are way more likely to be knowledgeable about their school than a HS counselor. I acknowledge that there can be a lot of bias from a student for their school, but there is no way a single person can know schools they've never attended as in-depth as a current student. </p>

<p>I personally think this is a wonderful thread, but I hope no one is stupid enough to base their decision solely on strangers on the internet, and anyone who does deserves getting screwed if they make the wrong decision.</p>

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<p>Seems like someone was in a bad mood earlier today. Calm your macho man Cal ego please. Good stuff about the bias and whatnot some users are posting, but learn to play nice?</p>

<p>Let people decide for themselves whether to listen to biased reports and data posted... seriously, people aren't that stupid. Everyone basically already rejected the applicant data post, you don't have point out examples of what has already been confirmed useless.</p>

<p>Whatever... I have nothing against the information in this thread but your tone just ****es people off. Even though you write that your "intent is not to stir up trouble," your attitude suggests otherwise.</p>

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<p>"Most of us here are not professionals. So some kids who post on here (who I'm sure are young) get a little too enthusiacstic."</p>

<p>Not only that, they post false information and insist that they are correct.</p>

<p>"There is no reason to be uncivil to them. You can get your good points across with kindness, please."</p>

<p>Have I resorted to any kind of name-calling? No.</p>

<p>"I'm sure that the OP did not intend to give bad advice so I'm just pointing it out nicely."</p>

<p>I've stated that it is a tough situation if you are unsure about your future career. I'm not familiar with graduate school admissions so I stated that a higher ranked program MAY help in graduate admissions. But since you have experience with high school career counseling and know for sure that the undergraduate department ranking does not matter in graduate school admissions, do you care to explain how you know that?</p>

<p>And from what you've proposed there, you've offered nothing more than I did. You advise them to visit and gather information. Those are covered in my post.</p>

<p>"I personally think this is a wonderful thread, but I hope no one is stupid enough to base their decision solely on strangers on the internet, and anyone who does deserves getting screwed if they make the wrong decision."</p>

<p>Very true. That's why I emphasize that the UC they choose must be right for them and not for other people</p>

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<p>TheRighteous has a low tolerance for idiots, and in the case of Voiceofreason, he/she is absolutely justified.</p>

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<p>^The incivility continutes. Don't you think making statments such as these makes one appear as bad as the individual they criticize.</p>

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<p>Voiceofreason is not the only one on here who needs to learn it's not what you say but how you say it that counts.</p>

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<p>The orginial post is gold.</p>

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<p>thanks TheRighteous! some good advice. :)</p>

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<p>No problem.</p>

<p>If you know of any other things to consider in choosing a college, don't hesitate to post them.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know what percentage of ELC students were admitted to UCLA in the past?</p>

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<p>"ELC Student Admit Rate: 57.6%"</p>

<p><a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/camp_profiles_ucla.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/camp_profiles_ucla.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I found this article on fastweb, it seems to mention some good questions...</p>

<p>"10 Questions to Ask Before Accepting a College Offer
Melissa Bearns, Chris Diehl</p>

<p>The college you?re considering offers your major, a variety of extracurricular activities and the ideal social mix. You?ve done your research and checked out the school?s location, class size, teacher/student ratio and dozens of other factors. You?re ready to accept their offer to attend.</p>

<p>However, before you mail the deposit, make sure you ask some questions that are frequently overlooked in the decision-making process.</p>

<ol>
<li>Is the office of residential life accessible to students? Can students switch if they get a terrible roommate, and how long does that process take?</li>
</ol>

<p>You?re going to eat, hang out and study in your room. It needs to be a place where you feel comfortable. If you face tension or arguments in your room, it may cause your grades and social life to suffer.</p>

<ol>
<li>Does the school provide student escorts to accompany students walking home late at night?</li>
</ol>

<p>You may occasionally have evening classes or study sessions. Make sure the college or university offers some way for students to get home safely after a long night at the library. If not, the school might not have other security measures that ensure students? safety and welfare.</p>

<ol>
<li>What is the average increase in tuition, and when are tuition increases next expected?</li>
</ol>

<p>By asking this, you can plan your finances appropriately and not be hit by unexpected tuition hikes.</p>

<ol>
<li>What are the hours at the student health clinic? What about 24-hour emergency care? What does the college?s health insurance cover, and are pre-existing conditions included in the coverage?</li>
</ol>

<p>Get these answers before your parents take you off their insurance.</p>

<ol>
<li>How does the college handle leaves of absence?</li>
</ol>

<p>If you should need personal time off for a week, month or semester, will you be penalized academically for the time missed? Will you be able to obtain a tuition refund if you?re gone for longer than a term?</p>

<ol>
<li>Can you pick your academic advisor? How do current students feel about the advising system?</li>
</ol>

<p>Students often change majors several times. A good advisor can help a student plan their classes, make career-planning decisions and graduate on time.</p>

<ol>
<li>Does the school offer storage facilities? How much does it cost?</li>
</ol>

<p>If you accumulate a lot of furniture, books and personal items, it's a big hassle to transport it all home, only to haul it back in the fall. Ask your college if they have secure storage facilities for use during the summer or winter months.</p>

<ol>
<li>What is the crime rate on campus?</li>
</ol>

<p>The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 requires all colleges and universities to produce an annual report of their safety and security procedures, as well as statistics relating to criminal offenses reported to the police. Request a copy and read it.</p>

<ol>
<li>What is a school?s policy on dorm room wear and tear? Are you responsible for compensating the school?</li>
</ol>

<p>A lot of things in a dorm room can break - chairs, desks, dressers, etc. And don?t forget about the walls and floor - holes from hanging pictures, coffee stains and scuff marks. If damage occurs - and it will - what expenses are you responsible for?</p>

<ol>
<li>What kind of food does the cafeteria offer? What are the options when the cafeteria is closed?</li>
</ol>

<p>At home, available food might be something you take for granted. However, it can become an issue when you?re living at college. Will the cafeteria fit your dietary needs? How late does it stay open? Get the answers so you can budget for food outside your meal plan.</p>

<p>Choosing a college is an important decision. It?s where you will spend four years of your life and it can set the foundation for post-graduate success. Make an informed decision that will lead to an enjoyable, fulfilling college experience."</p>