I’ve been admitted to several schools but have narrowed it down to these three. My major is chemical engineering (undergrad)
UC Berkeley: best chemical engineering program, favorite location, full price 39k/yr no regents
USC: at least half tuition 30k/yr for national merit finalist, good engineering program, also a nice location
UCSD: Jacobs Scholar award (full ride, research benefits, stipend), close to home (originally wanted to go further away), I would most likely switch to biomedical or CSE because of the quality of the programs and research available. Warren college
Should I choose UCSD over Berkeley and SC because of the scholarship? My family is middle class with an EFC of around 30k (sister going to college next year, so it may go down).
My main priority would be getting a quality education but I am also concerned about the difference in social life for each campus. I’d love to hear some input on which school I should choose. Thanks!
Full ride at UCSD > full price at Berkeley
The social life will be fine at any of the 3.
UCSD isn’t called UC Socially Dead for no reason. If your family could easily afford the difference, I would say spread your wings and go to Berkeley.
But, you have to love Berkeley and be rich to turn down the scholarship at UCSD.
^There will plenty enough social life at UCSD… I think most of these silly over-generalizations are based on the flimsiest of evidence.
As a native Californian, UC graduate, and friend of several UCSD graduates, I have never heard of this. The campus is right along the beach. They will be plenty to do.
La Jolla isn’t a cheap, student oriented college town (if you can stand the bird poop stench). UCSD has a higher proportion of commuter students, and the OP is close to home. UCSD’s residential colleges divide the school. Lack of sports teams to foster school spirit has earned it the socially dead nickname.
Is it worth the extra $132000 to go to Berkeley? I would probably end up with a few thousand in loans to pay off.
$132,000 is a lot of money.
@amm559 The Jacobs Scholarship is a big deal. You basically get all the classes you want first, exclusive research opportunities, faculty mentors, and a top-notch engineering department for free. The difference in quality between Berkeley and UCSD, even without the other Jacobs benefits, is not worth $132,000.
UC Socially Dead is increasingly a myth. La Jolla is definitely not a cheap town, but it’s also one of the most beautiful locations in the country with awesome beaches. The moment you turn 21, Pacific Beach is yours and even before then, there are plenty of parties (even if not all-out ragers). School spirit is low, but a majority of the “commuters” actually live in University City adjacent to the school. Residential colleges also create a sense of intimacy in a large setting. If you want to “spread your wings”, might as well do so with a view of the ocean 
