<p>@sarahscarlett95 I loved Marshall. It was my second choice in colleges. They have an excellent, somewhat central location and their apartments are near the library in some trees. I’ve never heard anyone complain about their GEs and Marshallpalooza is really fun. If you become an RA for the apartments in your later years, you get the entire place to yourself, for free. They also have a cool Public Service minor that looks fantastic on grad school apps. As for cons, there aren’t many. Some people don’t care for the dining hall much, but it has a smoothie bar and Goody’s (like a chipotle) is where most people eat. I wasn’t a huge fan of the study area, Fireside Lounge, but I heard they redid it. And you’re welcome! Just trying to help people be more excited and a little less nervous/frustrated! </p>
<p>@TritonAlum i got accepted to Muir. Wanted to know your views about the pro/cons of muir. also, im a computer engineering major so is there any chance that i could graduate in less than 4 yrs if im in muir?</p>
<p>Same question as @SoccerGuy7 but for revelle.</p>
<p>@TritonAlum Could you also explain the layout of the Marshall dorms? And could you explain move-in day (what goes on, when you show up, etc). Sorry for bombarding you with so many questions but I really have nobody else to ask!! Thanks! </p>
<p>@SoccerGuy7 Muir will be a biased review 
Not really, but since it was my college, I have more direct experience with it than the other ones. Muir is pretty laid back with GEs and the writing course made me a much better researcher. It’s very central to campus and has an excellent dining hall, but that also makes it crowded. Muir Woods/MOM is a very nice hang out and general store, but they do not take dining dollars. There is a nearby store that will though. They drop a massive pumpkin off one of the dorms in October which is pretty fun, but is pretty quick. I wish there was more of a festival about it. When you graduate, you get bagpipes which makes it feel like Braveheart. Some of the dorms are a little old, but you’re close to a good majority of campus so you can just venture our more. </p>
<p>As for graduating in less than 4 years, it depends more on the student than the college. It is not impossible, but I would not advise it either. If this is truly something you want to achieve, you will need to be in contact often with your advisors (Muir and department) to get approvals for extra courses and to make sure you stay on track. Don’t go once you need the approval. Go early, lay out a plan with your counselor, ask what issues you may encounter, and have contingency plans. Think about your reasons for a quick graduation and your post-grad goals (what if you cant get a seat in a class? Can you waive pre-recs? What of you have a bad quarter? What if you get sick?) Sometimes students forget to lay a foundation for their careers during college. It’s not just about the courses and degree. </p>
<p>@deathnexus Revelle is the oldest college at UCSD and named for the founder, Roger Revelle. That part of campus has the most “college-y” feel to me with an open plaza and a big fountain. The dining hall was pretty dismal, so they’re rennovating it right now! The new one will “feature a smoothie or [will probably be an ‘and’] sushi bar, as well as a fireplace for a cozier atmosphere.” Sounds awesome. </p>
<p>They have new apartments, basketball hoops, and barbecues. There is a really nice rooftop garden. My Revelle friends liked it and didn’t have many negative things to say about the GEs. They drop a watermelon off Urey Hall due to a teacher making a physics mistake on a test years ago. They also crown a watermelon queen, male or female, who gets to drop it. It hits the ground at over 100 mph. </p>
<p>There’s a good amount of history and tradition with Revelle. However, it’s a little far for some people so consider a bike (with a good U-Lock, not cable) if you have classes that are far.</p>
<p>Hi @sarahscarlett95 </p>
<p>Move in is a frantic day. I have some tips, but every year and every college is different. They will send you information when the day gets closer. Though I am happy to help, ultimately the information you get from your college will be the most accurate and helpful.</p>
<p>For the layout, Marshall has an awesome layout on this webpage <a href=“http://housing.ucsd.edu/marshall.asp”>http://housing.ucsd.edu/marshall.asp</a> with virtual tours and floor plans. There are many stairs so come prepared with good, solid sneakers. Moving in wearing flip flops is a bummer.</p>
<p>Your college will be in touch about your assigned move in time. Please keep to this time as best as possible and call ahead if you have an unexpected circumstance. It’s crowded and people are tired and cranky from their drives so have a good breakfast/lunch and take a deep breath! I helped move in over 1800 residents for two years. It’s a process, but it doesn’t have to be a pain.</p>
<p>Now for some tips:
- Bring help. The more people you have, the faster the process.
- Plan to drop your stuff off in your dorm, then take a break! Check out the beach, go to Target, head to the mall. Trying to keep your car in a loading zone in order to unpack is no good. Tickets are bad news.
- Bring 30% less stuff than you think you’ll need. Over packing your room will be miserable. You may realize you and your roommate have the same stuff. Also, winter break is close and you can bring more stuff then if you need it.
- Seriously evaluate your need for items like a mini fridge, microwave, etc.
- Talk to your roommate about what they plan to bring (you will get this info ahead of time)
- Keep all of your keys and cards with you during move-in and do not leave your apartment open and unattended. (You should get your ID during orientation)</p>
<p>Also, this is not the time to try and sneak in a beer pong table or other unsanctioned items. Every RA and parent is there. If you want to have these things, try for a weekend or something. Not that any of you ever would. </p>
<p>A note to parents: This process is hard. No way around it. Please do your best to let your student navigate this for themselves. Print out an extra parking pass just in case, but let them begin their experience. If you have concerns, ask a Resident Dean. </p>
<p>A note about roommates: Most colleges have a trial period with no room changes for a week or two. Give it time. Talk to your RA. Try not to let first impressions on move in day be your reason to get off to a bad start. Most people get along quite well! </p>
<p>What are some options in terms of financial aid for out of state students? I wasn’t keeping task of my deadlines and failed to submit a FAFSA before the March 2 deadline. If I complete the FAFSA as of now, would there be options to pay for UCSD’s tuition or any other expenses? How about on/off campus jobs? The cost per year at this school isn’t too friendly for my middle class family, let alone any middle class family. </p>
<p>Thank you @TritonAlum</p>
<p>@JD1327
I wasn’t out of state so I can’t speak to this personally. Here’s what I can tell you: fill out the FAFSA even though you’re late. Continue to fill it out every year. Be safe and fill it out even the year you plan to graduate. This is your golden ticket for aid. Like right now, because you’re on the internet and it takes time :)</p>
<p>Next, call the financial aid office. They can be helpful over the phone, but sometimes the wait is long. Call as soon as they open in the morning, or mid-hour because students are more likely to be in class. Avoid Friday afternoons because people are already in weekend mode. You also have to wait over a weekend which is tedious. You may need to wait until you have submitted your SIR or received an ID number. They’ll let you know what they need. Be as polite as possible, almost overkill it with pleases and thank you’s (this applies to most offices at all campuses, especially parking offices). They may ask you to fill out an appeal, which shouldn’t be intimidating. Ask them what to write specifically and ask follow up questions. Have your parents proof read it. A lot of new students miss the deadline, it just gives priority funds to those who met the deadline. If you ever have issues paying for school, be up front and honest with financial aid and they will give you options.</p>
<p>There are 2 kinds of on campus jobs for students: work study (a grant from school to work) and non-work study. When you are registered for school, you can access these listings in PortTriton. On campus jobs are helpful because they usually have the same breaks as school and let you have a flexible schedule for finals.
Off campus jobs are doable and there’s great public transit. There’s a mall nearby if you want retail, a Ralph’s, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s if you want grocery, and a multitude of restaurants. There’s even a Petsmart with pet sitting if you’re an animal lover.</p>
<p>Paying for college is hard, but it shouldn’t be impossible for anyone. You will have to be diligent, make deadlines, and seek out opportunities. This is a good place to start: <a href=“Costs & Financial Aid”>http://admissions.ucsd.edu/finances/index.html</a></p>
<p>Edit: typos. Sorry, I’m answering these on my phone.</p>
<p>Thank you once again for your insightful advice! Really appreciate it.</p>
<p>@TritonAlum,
My friend and I are planning on dorming with each other in a triple (Muir). How would we go about this? Do we just put down each other’s ID # or whatever in the housing application?; will we also be able to get another room mate through the housing app? I’m a little confused on how it will work, especially since we would like a triple with each other + a “random” room mate.</p>
<p>And could you give me a range of how much club membership fees generally cost?</p>
<p>I know UCSD has some awesome engineering and science programs.
I got in for Chemical Engineering, do you have think that they have a good program there for that?</p>
<p>@krickadoodle It may not be possible to room with your friend and one other “random” person. For the most up to date and accurate information always check your college or departments webpage or give them a call. Talking to other students about their experiences is excellent, but at the end of the day, things change year to year. </p>
<p>Back to your question. From this website: <a href=“http://muir.ucsd.edu/reslife/room/room_assign.html:”>http://muir.ucsd.edu/reslife/room/room_assign.html:</a> “Any roommate request must be mutual, and we will not house two individuals requesting to live with each other with a third unknown roommate.” meaning you need to find another buddy! Orientation is a great time for this, or Facebook. I know you’re excited to get all this settled, but it’s still really early for campus housing because they need to settle the previous year’s students also. Even though orientation seems really far away, it is very informative for the application. If you just don’t want to wait, go through the website and/or call the Muir Residential Life Office (this is different than the advising office). In my personal experience, it was an easy process to select housing as long as I had asked my questions before the due date. When it comes to housing, early is better so ask ahead :)</p>
<p>And I’ll just add your club thing here. Most of the clubs (which UCSD calls orgs) I was in or had friends in were free, but then I joined Alternative Breaks and that got pretty pricey because we were traveling internationally. There are dues with Greek organizations and some Honor Societies. I don’t recall exactly how much I paid, but I usually got whatever that amount was back in fundraising. There’s a really well centralized office for all the registered orgs at UCSD called One Stop where everything is managed and they can do all the leg work for you if you aren’t sure what to join. Here’s the link to that <a href=“Get Involved with Student Orgs (keep?)”>https://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/involvement/organizations/index.html</a> and below “Join an org” the second bullet point will show you all the registered orgs. You can see if they have a website or Facebook or contact person to inquire about dues. </p>
<p>@TJ2014 I was not an engineer so I cannot say much about the program that you won’t find online. However, from every bit of information I have heard over the years, the Jacobs School is one of the best, the 12th-14th (depending on who you ask) best to be exact. If this is a field you are truly interested in, do a little research and see just what kind of opportunities you have at UCSD. I doubt you’ll be disappointed in what the school has to offer.</p>