<p>so i was accepted to both UC Davis and UC Irvine and i'm having SO much trouble choosing!
On one hand, i like Irvine is closer to home (los angeles) BUT i like that Davis has more of a college feel.
Plus, i just want a school that is academically strong and fun. I feel like Davis is a bit more prestigious, but IMO it's not that big of a deal.
PS my major is environmental science. :) </p>
<p>Both schools have plenty to offer a prospective environmental science major although UC Davis has a more comprehensive program. It sounds like you prefer the environment of UC Davis but your main concern is getting home. Fortunately a huge number of Davis students come from the LA metro area meaning that it is quite easy to get a ride down to SoCal during the major breaks provided you pitch in for gas. </p>
<p>Davis.</p>
<p>@whenhen , thank you for that answer. It helped a lot:)
@BrownParent lol short and sweet.
Ahhh! Idk, i have a tough choice ahead of me :(</p>
<p>My older son is a current freshman at UCD in Environmental Science and Management. He chose the UCD over UCI and SLO since he found the curriculum better suited to his area of interest plus he liked the flexibility of the program. He loves the friendliness of the campus and the small town feel. He is finding the program very challenging along with the quarter system but there are an enormous amount of opportunities such as volunteer and paid internships even for freshman. He flies home during his breaks via Sacramento to Ontario. His roommate often takes the Greyhound home to SoCal. As @whenhen pointed out you could easily find a ride home. Have you visited?? My son visited twice last year and that sealed the deal. If possible, try to go up April 12 for Picnic Day. Good Luck with your decision.</p>
<p>@Gumbymom no i haven’t visited, but i’m planning to. And about flying home, i just can’t afford it. My family is pretty low income, and i don’t have a job. So if i do go to Davis, i won’t be able to visit often.</p>
<p>Nonsense. You can rideshare. If you are that low income than your COA should be covered and you’d have an extra 20 bucks for that. Do you have workstudy? If not, maybe you can find a 10 or 15 hour/week job to help.</p>
<p>UC Davis has one of the top environmental science programs in the US, and it’s more prestigious overall. I think you will fit right in at UC Davis.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are on the right track. Davis will provide plenty of fun, learning and growth opportunities and a dramatic change of scenery. </p>
<p>As a fellow SoCal resident (San Diego! :] ) and a current sophomore at UC Davis I can completely relate to what you are saying and this will probably be the best response on this discussion, I cannot tell you how important it is to leave your home and experience an entirely different environment. I was accepted to UC San Diego (only a 20 minute drive from my house), but I chose UC Davis because not only did it just click when I stepped on campus, but I knew that if I was away from home I would discover myself (cliche, but true).</p>
<p>I think you have not done enough research on UC Davis. If you are an environmental science major (and definitely know you will be staying with that major), then UC Davis IS the school for you. It is one of, if not THE BEST universities for environmental related studies (this is coming from a Managerial Economics major, haha!).</p>
<p>I really hope you do not let being close to home impact your decision because in doing so you are setting a limitation on yourself: that you cannot live without being close to home. College is a time for adventure and learning take a leap and challenge your comfort zone. In fact, I have realized that in being farther away from home (only visiting home about every two and a half months), I have a much greater appreciation for it. I pride myself that I challenged my comfort zone and am EXTREMELY HAPPY at Davis. </p>
<p>You say you like Davis because it is a college town and you say you like Irvine because it is close to home. In these descriptions you already chose which college you will attend. You did not say you actually liked Irvine, just its proximity to where you (at this present time, really want to be near). But, in describing Davis you directly mentioned a characteristic it had, not that your house would be closer.</p>
<p>The quarter system goes by so quickly that going home will hardly be on your mind at UC Davis (except for finals week!). My roommates all live at most 1 hour away from Davis, and they go home about 2-3 times each quarter (not that often) so I think as a Senior in high school and home is all you have known you are attached to it (as I was in high school). However, I challenge you to challenge yourself.</p>
<p>If you feel that you need that close support system, then by all means, attend UC Irvine. However, at UC Davis I have made my own support system (friends, club involvement, etc.). Pick UC Davis!!! Also, if you pick UC Davis, be sure to join Rotaract (college version of Interact/Rotaract).</p>
<p>I wish you much luck in your decision, but remember. UC Davis has cows! :)</p>
<p>Thank you to all of you! you’ve all been a great help. After a lot of thinking, i’m fairly certain i will be attending UC Davis. and @TheTallTree, thank you. Your detailed post helped A LOT. All i’m waiting for is to see what kind of financial aid Irvine is offering me because Davis is offered me a pretty stellar award, but i’ll know myself and i’ll more than likely pick Davis. 
</p>
<p>@ghostbustermeli I am very happy I could help! Especially with this being my first post on here! 
Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions about UC Davis or college in general! Gotta help my fellow SoCal people out!</p>
<p>Hi I was wondering if you or anyone else knew if either UC Davis or UC Irvine has a better program for Public Health? </p>