I really cannot make a firm decision. I’ve been accepted to both and I’ve visited both campuses. For ucsd, I’ve been moved to undeclared and in sixth college, so there is no guarantee of getting into computer science, unlike UCI. UCI has a whole school dedicated to computer science whereas ucsd’a CS program shares with the other engineering majors. I’ve heard that ucsd is more prestigious and will be better for jobs in the future but I’ve also heard that its social life is not the best.
The college I was accepted into for ucsd is the newest one, and has a reputation of being one of the worst. On my tour, they showed me the dorms at sixth and they are less elegant and spacious than other colleges. I have yet to see uci dorms.
My main concern is with the undeclared major at ucsd and whether or not UCI’s computer science program is actually better (I’ve read that it’s gaining momentum in ranks) than ucsd’s.
Is it worth going to a uc with more prestige when I am undeclared? Or will Irvine be just as good?
Are there any more pros/cons that might be helpful in deciding?
Please help any advice is welcome
Thanks in advance
Also, I am planning on joining a fraternity, but ucsd has no frat row near the campus. Don’t know how this will affect me though.
Stick with UCI. Even though I am a high school junior at the moment, I know how UCSD works with their undeclared and social aspects. First of all, it is fairly known that if you go undeclared and decide to switch to anything engineering- or impacted for that matter- (especially CS) it is going to be next to impossible due to the limited seating and competition for the major. You truly run the risk of not getting your major by your 3rd year of college. And judging from your preference, you seem as if you are leaning towards UCI due to UCSD’s lack of a frat row. Although I know that the social scene in UCSD is not as, how do you say, sociable, but it is far from “dead”. Good luck choosing a university!
The reason is you might not be admitted to CS at UCSD. I think limiting resources this year is real, UCSD is making plan internally to deal with this is all I can say.
My friends in college are telling me that they would choose ucsd over Irvine even through the risks of being undeclared. Their reasoning is that the program is much better at ucsd and that UCI just doesn’t bring as much to the table. They said that the higher rank at sd would help me out more later in life. It is still dead even for me though.
Well they are still in college. But I think UCSD is impacted so there is that risk. But honestly UCI is very good for Computer Science. Out of my kids friend who graduate from colleges the one that graduated from UCI are working at Google while others who went to higher ranking school like UCB have not done well. Perhaps they are too confident about the name of their college. Good luck in making decision.
If you really can’t figure out that your friends are full of hot air then follow their advice. Let their empty phrases be your guide and bet your future on them!
You can listen to adults with life experience or you can listen to teenagers who likely haven’t ever held down a full-time job. Which do you think have a better idea of how the world works?
It depends on your interest, cryptography is pretty strong at UCSD while game is better at UCI. For languages, UCSD teaches Java as the first language, while UCI teaches Python as first language.
I’m in the (almost) same position though I was admitted to UCSD CogSci major since at the time I was really unsure of the major to choose but for UCI I too was admitted directly to CS. However, I may try to change majors if I do really good on my computer specialization classes under cogsci. even though cs/ cs engineering is impacted & yes ucsd is very hard too since these UCs go by quarters. I am in the same spot as you since irvine know that i directly am into the school of cs & have sent me invites to their admitted students for that partic. major events. I’d say perhaps UCI is best for you since you don’t seem to like much of sixth college have you seen their general requirements? since they are what is the most important. From how you’re describing UCI it almost seems thats you’re best fit as in the social aspect but you do have to consider student body,class size,etc since social life may not be that huge part of an aspect when being a CS major at either uni. Also, as to where you get a job afterwards really depends on you, you’re the only one who can make this college experience+education worthwhile like networking esp. with alumni/professors etc. Both schools seem great though I have not gone (recently) to visit UCI/prospective students events.
UCSD CS major you cannot declare minor with other engineering majors. UCI you can. Also changing engineering major will be easier at UCI if you do not like CS.
I think UCSD accepted undeclared students to fill up unpopular majors. An advisor at UCSD told me a GPA with “B average will most likely not competitive enough” to grant CS major. So take your chance if you decide to go with UCSD, or you can join Math/CS major which requires a GPA 2.4. Math major is not an impacted major, but you need to find out what you want to do with that major after finish college.
So I did a bit of research about transferring to CS major from undeclared at UCSD, from what I’ve read, you need to take 4CS classes that’s recommended on the CSE website, off my head, it’s 8a, 8b or 11, 12, 20,15 and have at least high 3 GPA like 3.8 then you have a good chance of being accepted.
From what I been hearing getting into CS is near impossible (not saying you cant) you will probably end up as Math and Comp Sci at UCSD. UCI is a good school, why kill yourself for a 3.8-4.0 when UCI offered you a good deal. (my brothers in similar situation for Computer Engineering And Blizzard is really close to UCI
I’m in the same situation as you! It seems a lot of people are. I’m extremely glad that I’m not alone in making these difficult decisions.
Quikstats: UCB,UCLA(rej); UCSB(math),UCSC(math), UCSD(math), UCI(CS)
[Yeah I really do love mathematics hah, especially after taking 3 consecutive semesters in a row for math classes with the same teacher. I remember one student in that class told me she took him because “clarity helps.” Got that right LOL]
Come to UCI! I’d say the CS courses at UCI are pretty attractive and rigorous enough to be considered being taught at a “prestigious” UNI as well as be able to land a job afterwards. I also would like to mention again that this school is only about 50 years old with a unique variety of colleges. When comparing that to my community college that is only 40 years old, it’s pretty impressive.
I may just be blabbering now, but I really do see a long and progressive future for this school and I would love to be an alumni. I plan on completing my masters/phd at another UC preferably almost right after I receive my CS undergrad degree from UCI, so hope is never lost. UCB, UCLA, UCSD will be my next target schools
I’m really excited to finally transfer! Let us know where you decide to go, yeee!
I have the same situation as you but i am deciding between UCD and UCSD. I think UCI is not a bad choice for you. I understand that you might not like CS or not confident with it; therefore, you said you might want to change it later. If you are sure you will pursue engineering, all majors in Jacob’s school are impacted which means all are hard to get in. But if you are not sure, and you think ranking is more important, UCSD is a better choice.
any advice is welcome
& yes ucsd is very hard too since these UCs go by quarters. I am in the same spot as you since irvine know that i directly am into the school of cs & have sent me invites to their admitted students for that partic. major events. I’d say perhaps UCI is best for you since you don’t seem to like much of sixth college have you seen their general requirements? since they are what is the most important. From how you’re describing UCI it almost seems thats you’re best fit as in the social aspect but you do have to consider student body,class size,etc since social life may not be that huge part of an aspect when being a CS major at either uni. Also, as to where you get a job afterwards really depends on you, you’re the only one who can make this college experience+education worthwhile like networking esp. with alumni/professors etc. Both schools seem great though I have not gone (recently) to visit UCI/prospective students events.