LESS THAN 24 HOURS PLEASE HELP!! UCI (Computer Science) vs UCSD (undeclared)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
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Hello guys, I know it’s less than 24 hours before I have to make my final decision, I’m here asking for your sincerest last minute advice.

I’m well aware that this is a topic discussed on various other threads, but my main concern is NOT BECAUSE of “not getting into UCSD CSE because it’s such an impacted major” that’s making me indecisive.

There are several things within my consideration. Throughout my academic career, I’m somewhat comfortable with working with computers and I’m familiar with using many off-the-shelf softwares, and I also make websites and apps from time to time (I can code in HTML and very very basic C and Java, i know how the basic mechanism of the syntax works). However, having enrolled in the APCS I don’t really know if I want to pursue CS anymore. I found things like arrays, sort algorithms, and lab applications hard and sometimes I don’t have the patience to review and read the codes. This made me indecisive because I’m afraid of the hard studies that will follow up in during the 3rd and 4th year of college, and I don’t have a particularly strong background and experience in the maths or sciences. (They never interest in learning). I came to a conclusion that I am more interested in the humanities, especially in film, music, and the arts.

To me, going to UCI would be CS or nothing, because UCSD offers better programs than UCI. But UCSD’s ranked 3rd prestigious nature in the UC system scares me because I know I’m not really self-motivated in studying and doing research. But it’s not like I don’t like learning, I like to do hands-on learning on things I truly love and I know I learn far more stuff through hands-on.

Plus, UCI has a far better living environment than UCSD. Restaurants are all over the place on and off campus, it’s easy to get around the campus on feet, and it’s closer to the airport (I’m an international student), disneyland, LA, and everything.

I know may sound biased towards UCI… but If I don’t study CS at UCI… I don’t really want to graduate with an unemployable degree and end up not learning much.

P.S. I’m recently looking into UCSD’s ICAM major, but I don’t really know if this is a considerable degree to pursue.

PLEASE HELP ME!!

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Are you going to have a car? That’s important if you plan on going around to the local sites. If you do, then you can’t rule out either school.

Both schools will be equally tough and you have to be self-motivated enough to do what you are coming to do: STUDY.

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Thanks for answering! I’m an international student, so the perks of having cars aren’t really within my criteria…
Adding onto the self-motivation to study, I’m well aware that both universities can be demanding, but I want to look for an experience that I can enjoy learning. (and not be overly stressed out by academics and still be able to enjoy a good university life.)

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If you aren’t sure about what major you want to be in just go to ucsd where you’re undeclared. And about the area, ucsd is located in la jolla which is a rich town directky on thr beach. There are many food places near ucsd campus lol I don’t know why you’re saying the neighborhood in irvine is better. Ucsd is overall ranked higher and could possibly help you with getting jobs in the future. you sound like you’re really into irvine just because you’re not motivated to study but let’s be real here, any college or university in the world requires you to study. It’s inevitable.I hope this helped you :slight_smile:

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@Ellenparkk, UCSB is directly on the beach.

UCSD is on a cliffside in the La Jolla **Village ** area. You can’t see the ocean from La Jolla Village. The locals say, “if you can’t see the ocean”, it aint La Jolla. It will not take you a few minutes to get to the beach like at Santa Barbara.

To reach the beach at UCSD, you need to travel down Torrey Pines Road. It will not take a few minutes. You can try to walk it down, but you would need a ride up the hill, from the bus or a friend. The area is expensive. UCSD looks like a business park; it does not look like a typical university campus; neither does UCI but it is a little more user friendly as far as getting around.

@Leoparex, you will be fine at either UC. Lots of huge companies in the Redondo Beach/ LA and Irvine areas that know UCI grads. San Diego has Qualcomm and some tech companies, but not as many as Orange and LA county.

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@“aunt bea” I feel like I’ve been on the same thread as you before for a similar issue. Yes, UCSB is directly on the beach. But yes, you can see the ocean from UCSD. Source: I can see and have seen the ocean from the Keeling Apartments at Revelle, the HDH administration building, Pacific Hall, the Tamarack Apartments in Muir, the Oceanview Terrace dining hall in Marshall, Cafe Ventanas in ERC, RIMAC Annex, the Rady School of Management and most of the westernmost buildings in ERC and the Village.
No, the beach isn’t as close as it is at UCSB. But from ERC/the Village it’s a ten minute walk along Torrey Pines Scenic Road and down a staircase cut into the cliffs below the Gliderport to reach the sand (easy to get back up). From Muir, it is a ten minute walk to Black’s Beach by cutting through the pedestrian path behind the Mormon community center, walking along La Jolla Farms Road, and taking the pedestrian-only path down (it’s a steep hike back up, but I don’t know how you’d get a ride since it’s usually closed to cars). From Revelle, it is a ten-minute walk down Expedition Way, across the Scripps Crossing bridge, and down to the Scripps Coastal Reserve beach adjacent to La Jolla Shores. Trust me, I make all three of these trips regularly. Getting to La Jolla Shores itself takes fifteen minutes walking or a five-minute ride on the MTS 30 bus or UCSD S shuttle. Also, if you count the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Torrey Pines Gliderport as part of UCSD, the campus is definitely literally on the ocean. This is all pretty irrelevant to leoparex’s original dilemma, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t continue to spread exaggerated misinformation about UCSD’s location. Thanks in advance.

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@DoctorP PREACH =D>

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I get visitors (nephews/nieces) from other states who often remark how they are surprised that it’s not on the beach. Surprised by the building architecture; surprised by the ambience. This is an international student who can’t visit, so he needs to be aware of the uniqueness of this school.

It’s not directly on the beach, which people claim, who don’t live here. Yes you can walk to it, and you can see it from elevated buildings, but it’s not “on the beach”, which for some reason, people have this TV image of UCSD being directly on the beach. It’s not.

(FYI-I was given a full ride to UCSD many moons ago. My dh attended undergrad and met Roger Revelle at orientation and at graduation, so we do have a history and know when some buildings were erected).