UCD or UCSD for psychology/biology

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

I live in the bay area. So the question is which school is better? What’s the environment like in UCSD? I’ve visited UCD a couple of times since my sister is an alumna there, but I haven’t had the chance to visit UCSD yet. How are the people like in these schools?
Or you can just point out something about their differences?

THANKS! :slight_smile:

And I got through by waitlist, if you guys were wondering. And I got into Muir College for UCSD.

2

and how does the six-college system at UCSD work out? would it be very isolated from other colleges?

3

I didn’t go to Davis, so I can’t speak for their program.

I double majored in biochemistry/bio and psychology at UCSD (Muir) and was very happy with the academic programs and opportunities for research/internship experience. UCSD, in my experience, is very laid back, but you’ll find people of all personalities there, just like you will at Davis. I liked the campus at UCSD better and the location, but that doesn’t mean that you will like it better. I made lots of good friends, but I’m sure you can make friends at either school.

What college you’re in doesn’t really matter that much. It changes your GE requirements, and you generally live in your college if you live on campus (but you don’t always). Other than that, it doesn’t really make a difference. You’ll be in classes from students from every college (except for your writing class, which is college-specific), you’ll have classes in lecture halls that are in every college, and you’ll be able to eat in dining halls in any of the college halls. You may also live in the dorms in a different college at some point. So it really doesn’t maker a difference. The colleges aren’t very isolated academically, socially, or geographically.

4

UCSD is suburban, UCD is pretty much rural. That said, UCD has a better college town–Davis beats La Jolla for students any day–but my friends at Davis complain that there’s not much to do other than eat at a restaurant or party. San Diego’s beaches and parks are ridiculously beautiful compared to anywhere, but especially compared to the flat farmland surrounding Davis.

Davis itself has a more exciting social scene, with bigger parties and Division I sports. UCSD has the parties, but you have to either search for them or go Greek.

Academically, UCSD is considered slightly stronger and better known overall. This becomes a wider gap when considering engineering, psychology, or biology, but a narrower one for agricultural & veterinary sciences and some other fields. UCSD also has more local opportunities for premedical students.

Both schools, while competitive, have a more laid-back feel than other UCs. UCSD is by the beach and Aggies are down to have fun. The tens of thousands of students at these schools come from all kinds of backgrounds, so you’ll be able to find loads of people you like either way. I believe that UCSD has a larger international community.

Some people love the six-college system, some people hate it, and most people recognize that it has its strengths and flaws.
Strengths:

  • more intimate student community is less overwhelming. You see familiar faces more frequently, which is nice
  • each neighborhood on campus develops its own personality. Adds diversity to the architecture, dining hall options, and market selection. It’s also nice to not have to walk too far
  • inter-college rivalries increase spirit; everyone gets loud for their college
  • six ResLife communities and college councils = way more organized events open to everyone. Revelle ResLife alone organizes 500 events/year, not even including the college councils, hall associations, and other college orgs. (Add in campuswide event boards and hundreds of student organizations, and there’s something going on every single day)
  • more personal support structure. I’ve had loads of chances to interact with the Revelle provost. Each college has its own academic and residential support communities, leading to more accurate advising and familiar administrators
    Flaws:
  • uneven GEs tank ERC/Revelle GPAs
  • overall campus spirit reduced: I’ll admit even I get louder for Revelle than for UCSD. It’s also harder to organize large rallies or protests.
  • disjointed appearance of campus
  • everything is really mf’ing far
    I have many close friends in Muir, despite living in Revelle. I see them often and also like to eat at the Muir dining hall. How isolated the colleges are all depends on how lazy you are