<p>Hey guys. Most of you probably think this topic is a joke. For many of you, SDSU shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as UCSD. I understand that... </p>
<p>However... </p>
<p>I plan to major in English/Communications. From what I've heard and read, UC San Diego is a strong school in the maths and sciences. I also heard that many people have bland personalities and are all about studying, studying, studying. Don't get me wrong, I'm an academic student and I know studying is important. Nevertheless, I've heard that San Diego State has a more friendly atmosphere and, even though it is a "party school," it all depends on what you make of the situation. I've also been told that San Diego State is just as strong in the humanities/communications, which makes me learn toward that school. </p>
<p>One final factor that I'm considering is the fact that UCSD doesn't have an "English major." Instead, they have a similar "Literature" major. But, I'm not really interested in literature per se, I like to focus on language and writing. For that reason, I feel like SDSU may be better for me because I can major in Communications and minor in English. That way, I won't have to focus so much on comparative literature. </p>
<p>So, what advice can you guys give me? What school would probably fit me best for an English and Communications major?</p>
<p>when trying to apply to grad schools and just overall graduating from UCSD is far far far far far far far far afar far better than sdsu.... sdsu isnt even ranked in the top 365 by princeton reviefw</p>
<p>I would go to SDSU. SDSU is the best school in California, behind UCSB, UCLA, and Pepperdine.</p>
<p>SDSU will provide for a great college experience......parties and athletics are great at SDSU. College is way too important to waste on a school just bc its academics are stronger. Big deal! If you are smart and accomplished you will be able to get into grad school or find a great job as a grad from SDSU.</p>
<p>I would go with SDSU, bc college is more than academics, but it's your choice</p>
<p>I would go to SDSU. SDSU is the best school in California, behind UCSB, UCLA, and Pepperdine.</p>
<p>so you think Berkeley is worse that Sdsu
so you think USC is worse than SDSU
so you think UCSD is worse that SDSU
so you think Loyola Marymount is worse than SDSU
So you think USD is worse than SDSU
so you think Cal tech is worse than SDSU</p>
<p>SDSU is a decent school....one of the best State schools in CA, but it isn't even close to being one of the top 10 schools in California. It's obviously behind the likes of:</p>
<p>I am one to believe the US News rankings and people's prestige perceptions are bad indicators of how academically challenging a school is.</p>
<p>However, for SDSU, you just have to look at the numbers.</p>
<p>SDSU has a 46% of its students actually graduating. UCSD is 83%, almost twice the percentage.</p>
<p>SDSU has only 23% of its classes at 20 students or fewer. UCSD? 47%...that actually IS twice the percentage rate.</p>
<p>Aside from being better known and better recognized for being a part of the UC system, UCSD simply offers a better overall education. Regardless of departments, I would just go with UCSD. It will make your life a lot easier.</p>
<p>Oh and since it was up for discussion earlier, Stanford, Cal Tech, Berkeley, UCLA, Pomona College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, Santa Clara University, Davis, Irvine, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and possibly even San Jose State are all noticeably better schools than SDSU. Not that SDSU isn't worth attending...any college degree is better than no college degree, and SDSU is definitely "on the map" for employers, so to speak. But if you have to choose between attending any of those other schools and SDSU, I would strongly reccommend considering those other options.</p>
<p>confused_student, however convincing your data is, it might be skewed and can be intrepreted differently.</p>
<p>46 percent actually graduating...yeah thats the class of like 1998....SDSU has changed lots since then....tons of money has been poured into the school. The average GPA of students have jumped almost .5 and the average SAT scores have gone up 100+ pts. Not too mention the amount of applications have increased from like 18,000 to 55,000.</p>
<p>between the class of 99 and 00...4 year grad rates have improved 100 percent (10 to 20 percent). By the time my class of 04' goes through....I bet the grad rates will be on par with that of a UC. Also can you please cite those class statistics, because that data might be skewed in favor of UCSD, where there are more "LAB" based classrooms, which should have significantly less people. Most of my classes have been around 25 or 30 people. Truthfully, I don't think there is much difference between 20 and 25..perhaps if you gave us a statistic that states the percentage of people in classes with 35 or more, I would be more inclined to commend the statistic.</p>
<p>The original OP clearly is looking in San Diego (for good reason) and wants to know whether or not they should go to UCSD or SDSU. So to answer the original question:</p>
<p>SDSU has a greater focus on writing...rhetoric etc. The comm program is top notch. The quality of life (IMO) is better at SDSU, if you enjoy throwing back some drinks on the weekend.</p>
<p>Disregard those who simply think that one college is superior to another based only on stupid ranking systems. Whether or not a college is right for a specific person is a completely subjective decision, and the only way to give an adequate answer is to list the many defining factors between various institutions and let people decide which are more important to them.</p>
<p>It's much more important to grow, develop, and define your interests and goals in college than to be miserable for four years all because a certain grad school may or may not value one school more than another. By attending a college that you dislike, regardless of how "good" it is, will negatively impact your grades and place a limit on how quickly you're able to learn.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like SDSU is where you want to be - if hanging out and studying a biology book is not your idea of fun for a weekend, then you'll be miserable with many people who do enjoy it. Just keep in mind that you'll need to distinguish yourself academically at SDSU so it doesn't look like you weren't intelligent enough to go to a better school.</p>
<p>By the way, I would never consider going to Berkeley for undergrad, and thus to me SDSU is better than Berkeley. It doesn't matter if you like huge institutions with a focus on graduate programs, a very large percentage of asians (I have nothing against asians, but I would venture a guess that many of them are the hardcore academic types that add nothing to my college experience other than more competition), or the location - I do not.</p>
<p>"I would go to SDSU. SDSU is the best school in California, behind UCSB, UCLA, and Pepperdine."</p>
<p>hahahahaha hillarious.
You seemed to have forgotten about:
Stanford
Cal-Tech
UC Berkeley
UCSD
USC
Claremont McKenna
Pomona
Scripps
UCI
UC Davis
Etc...... Come on bro, atleast make a valid argument that isnt ridiculous. I love SDSU, i think its an awesome place. But come on, better than UCSD? They are not even thought of on the same academic level. Applicants who apply to UCSD usually wouldnt consider SDSU, unless they were set on attending college in San Diego, in which they would also consider USD. Nothing against SDSU, but lets be real. To the poster, if you feel like you like SDSU better, i recommend you go there. If you get excellent grades and work hard, you will find yourself competitive for grad school. You dont want to be somewhere for 4-5 years that you will not like. I was a UCSD undergraduate, and they social life can be tough. But it is what you make it. Once you turn 21, being 10 minutes from downtown and 5 minutes from pacific beach offers plenty of night life and social opportunities. Also, UCSD's location in terms of beauty is tough to beat. It is a beautiful campus.</p>
<p>disregard usd and pepperdine as they are no where near the overall caliber or prestige of the other schools listed, but good in their own right</p>
<p>i think i disagree with that stament...
maybe not with ucla or ucb or the claremont colleges or stanford but def better than half of the other school sin california</p>
<p>If your perception of college experience is 90% social life based on partying and drinking, then yes, SDSU is by far an elite school for that.</p>
<p>If you want to talk about pure academics and solid reputation behind your degree, then UCSD is by far the better school. If you are looking into a bachelors degree that is more career based (non academic major like Sports Management, Music Therapy vs something like Economics/Biophysics) then SDSU will serve you fine, especially if you do not plan on further education. If you plan on majoring in a science/engineering/economics then UCSD is by far superior. Students there have a stronger track record getting into elite graduate schools (MIT, Stanford, UCB, the Ivies) than SDSU. </p>
<p>If you want the best of party life and academics why not go to Michigan? It only takes a year to establish residency anyways.</p>