So I’m applying to UCSD but I’m not too familiar with all of the colleges…
Could you list just some of the pros and cons of each college at UCSD to give me an idea as to where I’d like to attend?
Thanks
I posted this guide toward the end of last year, it might help.
Disclaimer: I’m a Revelle College bioengineering major living in Warren, and this is only my perception of each college. Second disclaimer: the only things that really matter are your GEs (and to a lesser degree the dorms). You might not even live in your college for your second year. No matter which college you end up in, you’re going to figure it out and enjoy life.
TLDR:
Muir (by far)
Revelle (but GEs suck)
Marshall
ERC (lower because of GEs)
Warren
Sixth
-
Revelle College
The oldest college, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore. Most dorms renovated in the past five years. Argo and Blake rooms are reasonably sized. Fleet buildings have very small rooms with big suites. Brand new dining hall is beautiful and popular with students not from Revelle: it has decent food that you get bored of. Lots of sunny courtyard space for socializing and studying, close to a lot of classrooms. Apartments are awesome. Many study spaces outside dorms. Among the hardest and most structured general education requirements—HUM is hell. 70% science (and engineering) majors, diverse student body. Plenty of traditions and some spirit. La Jolla Shores is walkable.
Residence Halls: Argo, Blake, Fleet Atlantis, Beagle, Challenger, Discovery, Meteor, Galathea
Apartments: Keeling Apartments (10/10), Revelle Apartments at Sixth
Dining Hall: 64 Degrees (8/10)
Cafe: Roger’s Place and Market
Study Spaces: Galbraith-Barnwood, Galbraith-Collaborative, Roger’s, 64°, Revelle Commuter Lounge
Classrooms: York, Mayer, Urey, Galbraith, Natural Sciences, Pacific, Bonner
Attractions: Revelle Plaza, Revelle Anchor, Ché Café
GE sequence: HUM - Humanities (hell) -
John Muir College
The second oldest college. Some of the best views you can get in any dorm are on Tioga penthouse. Suite areas conducive to socialization but not hosting kickbacks. Rooms larger than Revelle’s. Very popular dining hall with average/decent food. Cold facades—buildings have a very threatening feel. Close to most classrooms (considered closest to heart of campus), with plenty of space for socializing. Close to old athletic facilities and old student center. Apartments are the nicest on campus. Nice study spaces outside dorms. Easiest general education requirements—MCWP is hard, but brief. Plenty of traditions and most spirited. Two Stuart Collection pieces. Black’s Beach is easily walkable.
Residence Halls: Tioga, Tenaya (9/10)
Apartments: Tamarack Apartments, Tuolumne/Muir College Apartments (9/10)
Dining Halls: Pines, Roots (8/10, 6/10)
Cafes: Middle of Muir, John’s Place and Market, Mandeville Coffee Cart
Study Spaces: Stewart Commons, Half Dome Lounge, MoM, Student Center
Classrooms: McGill, Applied Physics and Mathematics, Ledden, Humanities and Social Sciences, Biology, Mandler
Attractions: Sun God, Green Table, Old Student Center, Main Gym
GE sequence: MCWP - Muir College Writing Program (not bad) -
Thurgood Marshall College
Third College, but it feels older than that. Spacious suite areas with large triples, but tiny mini-doubles. Few pretty buildings, lots of lecture halls. Main dining hall is closed for remodeling, but burrito shack is popular. Not many spaces conducive to socializing, but views from the main study lounge are nice. Apartments are closest to campus center, but dorms are nestled far from everything. Pretty courtyards. General education requirements aren’t too bad, but Marshall students complain a lot about DOC. Emphasizes diversity a lot. Some traditions, not a lot of spirit. Some Stuart Collection pieces. Black’s Beach is walkable.
Residence Halls: N, O, P, Q, R, S, T/U, V (7/10)
Apartments: Marshall Uppers, Marshall Lowers (8/10)
Dining Halls: OceanView Terrace/future halal-kosher spot (6/10), Goody’s Place (9/10)
Cafes: Goody’s Place and Market
Study Spaces: OceanView Lounge, Fireside Lounge
Classrooms: Economics, Peterson, Solis, Cognitive Science, Communication, Social Science Research, Sequoyah
Attractions: Goody’s
GE sequence: DOC - Dimensions of Culture (lotta reading, but fulfills DEI requirement too) -
Warren College
Fourth College, lots of engineers. Spacious suite areas with probably the largest rooms on campus. Nice enough buildings, but dorms are nestled far from the rest of campus. No beach views, but overlooks a cool canyon. Worst dining hall, closest to Price Center and Canyonview Gym. Some nice study spaces, close to several classrooms but very far from some others. Pretty small rooms in the apartments, shabbier than most. General education requirements are reasonable—best college for engineers. Diverse student body. Few traditions, plenty of spirit during UnOlympics. Two major Stuart Collection pieces. No beach is walkable.
Residence Halls: Harlan, Frankfurter, Stewart (8.5/10)
Apartments: Goldberg, Douglas, Brennan, Black (6/10)
Dining Hall: Canyon Vista
Study Spaces: Student Activities Center, Courtroom
Classrooms: Warren Lecture Hall, Powell-Focht, Engineering-I, EBU-II, Computer Science, Atkinson, Literature
Attractions: Warren Bear, Fallen Star, Canyonview
GE sequence: WCWP - Warren College Writing Program (not too bad) -
Eleanor Roosevelt College
Fifth College, looks and is the newest. Gleaming buildings and spacious suites and rooms. Nice enough views and best party scene in i-House and the Village. Pretty bad dining hall. Closest to RIMAC, RIMAC Annex, RIMAC Field, and The Village transfer housing, as well as the Bistro. No classrooms; far from most major lecture halls on campus. Best looking student body. Apartments are pretty awesome. International theme, hardest general education requirements, even more so than Revelle. MMW is hated. Few traditions, pretty decent spirit. No major Stuart Collection pieces. Gliderport is walkable.
Residence Halls: Asia Hall, Africa Hall, Europe Hall, Latin America Hall, North America Hall (9/10)
Apartments: Earth Hall, Oceania, Middle East, International House (Geneva, Kathmandu, Cuzco, Asante, Mesa Verde) (9/10)
Dining Halls: Cafe Ventanas (7/10), The Bistro at the Strand (10/10)
Market: (none: Village Market is closest and huge)
Study Spaces: GPS Library, RIMAC Annex, Middle Earth
Classrooms: Social Sciences
Attractions: RIMAC, The Bistro
GE sequence: MMW - Making of the Modern World (hell^2) -
Sixth College
Youngest college, looks straight out of the 1860s. Dorms have a log cabin summer camp feel (nicknamed Camp Snoopy). No views. Spacious suite areas for socializing, average to small rooms. Dining hall has little indoor seating and is far from dorms and rest of campus, nestled in the apartments. Apartments are pretty pleasant with a nice community. Not many study spaces, but plenty of open space for socializing. Not near most classes. Reasonably easy general education requirements—CAT isn’t that bad. Few traditions, surprisingly quite spirited. Trolley station coming 2019.
Residence Halls: 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710 (6.5/10)
Apartments: Sixth College Apartments, Matthews Apartments (9/10)
Dining Hall: Foodworx (6/10), Flavors of the World truck (?/10), Incredi-Bowls truck (3/10)
Market: Sixth College Place and Market (6/10)
Study Spaces: Dogghouse?
Classrooms: Pepper Canyon, Structural Engineering, Visual Arts
Attractions:
GE sequence: CAT - Culture, Art, and Technology (not bad)