The Sky is Falling

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

<p>I was waitlisted at Bowdoin College (my number one choice in Maine), and have appealed UC-Berkeley but I have to make a decision on where to send my SIR in the mean time (or for the long term if the Bowdoin/Berkeley outcome isn’t in my favor)</p>

<p>I have narrowed my list to UCSD, UCSB, and UCSC. I ultimately want to go into international business but want to major in foreign languages or an International Studies-type major…</p>

<p>I consider myself to be rather unique comparative to an average southern californian…</p>

<p>UCSB</p>

<p>Pros: Great location, stunning campus/awesome facilities, have my major (global studies), I like the bike accesibility, laid back, beautiful people, etc.</p>

<p>Cons: I am absolutely and utterly TERRIFIED by the student body as a whole…I have visited twice and I was pretty intimidated by the OC Bro and Chanel fashionista population and I don’t really consider myself a HUGE partier (though I do dabble in it) and I am definitely not a typical Socal-type kid…additionally I speak more or less coherently and I want to meet likeminded people! Can I get those people at UCSB??? That was not meant as a reproach but I’m genuinely curious…</p>

<p>UCSD</p>

<p>Pros: Stellar rep., strong academics, have my major (int’l studies), beautiful campus, intelligent and perhaps intellectually-inclined peers, love the college system</p>

<p>Cons: REVELLE College + tough courseload (and a myriad of classes that have have nothing to do with my prosp. major, lack of social life, I kind of wanted to get away (hence the desire to go to Bowdoin College, statistically the easternmost college in the US) + I don’t like heat very much (I’m from Orange County and am ready for a full range of seasons)</p>

<p>UCSC</p>

<p>Pros: IMPOSSIBLY BEAUTIFUL campus, laid back environment, love the college system, have the opportunity to join the honors program (on the condition that I choose a certain college), interesting + quirky student body, very accepting, close proximity to SF and Monterey area (my twin brother’s going to San Fran State)</p>

<p>Cons: shaky reputation, student body too weird?, I’m worried about the people who chose UCSC because that was their only option, grad school opportunities hindered?</p>

<p>I need to decide by May 1 (as all of you know) and I honestly cannot decide…I think primarily it’s between UCSB and UCSC…because Revelle at UCSD has really turned me off…</p>

<p>Any advice or guidance is appreciated and you can PM me if you’d like.</p>

2

<p>The president of the Regents Scholars society called me and I asked him about switching colleges, and he said that it can be done if you're persistent, especially if it's because of your major. If you want to major in International Studies, ERC would definitely be your best choice, and I think you would be able to switch. And the only lack of social life at UCSD is for people who don't seek it out. The lack of parties is also apparently due to the fact that a lot of people go down to Tijuana instead, since it's legal down there. In terms of graduate school, prestige apparently does not matter nearly as much as your GPA and clinical experience in whatever field you're in, so don't let that be a super major factor.</p>