<p>^ Agreed. The parents seem to be using their personal impressions of the campuses rather than the admitted student statistics to compare.</p>
<p>Khipper, you might want to mention to them that the admitted students statistics at UCD, UCSB, and UCI are nearly the same. As far as “prestige” (which really shouldn’t be a concern, but in this case it helps the son’s cause), the US News and World Reports rankings have **UCD and UCSB tied at 39 **with **UCI behind them **slightly at 41. UCR receives a very respectible ranking of 94, putting it above USF, UOP and St. Mary’s.</p>
<p>In terms of admissions selectivity:</p>
<p>UCB and UCLA as the most selective</p>
<p>UCSD nearly as selective, but using a defined “points” system that makes admission results a bit more predictable</p>
<p>UCD, UCSB, and UCI the middle group with, as rc251 says, nearly identical admission statistics</p>
<p>UCSC and UCR as the system’s less-selective (but still only the top 12.5% of students statewide are eligible) schools - but becoming more selective each year as more students apply to the UC system in search of affordable college options.</p>
<p>and UCM as the so far unranked newest UC - it is growing fast and will likely soon appear on the big rankings. The UC system is employing clever strategies to improve the profile of the freshman class - such as offering admission to very well qualified students rejected from UCLA and UCB with guaranteed transfers to those schools - that might result in a quick rise in the rankings.</p>