UCB vs. UCI vs. UCSD vs. UCSB (Which UC Should I Commit to?)

Student Lounge International Students
1

After being accepted to 4/5 of the UCs that I applied to, I am having a very difficult time choosing between them. Of course I had to be waitlisted to my dream school, UCLA, but it’s okay! My dilemma is that I can envision myself as a student at each school. I am majoring in Public Health/Sociology and based on my research and personal desires, I haven’t been able to accumulate as much information that I’ve been able to take into consideration. Tuition wouldn’t be an issue because I am an in-state resident. Unfortunately I don’'t think that I’ll be visiting UCSB, but I will be visiting UCSD and Irvine next week.

UC Berkeley

Pros: #1 public university, great sociology and public health programs (a PH professor congratulated me in a phone call by telling me that I was one of the top PH applicants), close to home (20-30 minutes away), I feel at home
Cons: predominant stress culture, close to home (I kind of want to move away), students can be viewed as numbers and aren’t provided as much support/resources (emphasis on ‘can’)

UC Irvine

Pros: Great public health program, stress culture isn’t as bad,
Cons: need more info

UC San Diego

Pros: amazing professors, nice school
Cons: Very STEM based (I’m afraid that there won’t be as many opportunities for me), further from home, “socially dead”

UC Santa Barbara

Pros: nice campus, best sociology program,
Cons: party school?? (don’t mind parties/social life, but don’t want it to consume me)

For the most part, I really don’t know too much about any of the schools, including Berkeley, even though I’ve honed into Cal’s pros and cons…If anyone would give me any feedback/insight, whether it be negative or positive, I’d appreciate it!

P.S. I am opting in for UCLA’s waitlist, so anyone is welcome to drop some info in this thread as well. Just in case :wink: Thanks!

2

I’ll let someone else talk about those particular academic programs, but if you like the atmosphere and environment of Berkeley, you won’t find that energy at UCI or UCSD in my opinion. If you’ve already had a prof in your major call you, all the better. Berkeley is its own world, so 20-30 minutes from home shouldn’t be a problem. Berkeley is a love it or hate it place, so if you love it that would be an easy choice for me.

There are plenty of kids at UCSB that don’t have a party problem, so you should be able to fit in there. I have a kid there who is that way and thriving academically. I really like that school and the kids seem the happiest there of the 4 you’ve been accepted to. I will admit to not liking the UCI campus, so you can ignore me on that one. Good luck with the UCLA waitlist, that’s a great one too.