<p>Is the social life at UCI as bad as people say? Are the people that nerdy? Is it so boring that you would go to SDSU instead?</p>
<p>In other words, where would you go?</p>
<p>I don't think that a boring social life at a top-notch school warrants going to an academically inferior, but socially exciting university.</p>
<p>I Do.........</p>
<p>Well, your priorities are screwed up.</p>
<p>Definitely UCI over SDSU. No doubt.</p>
<p>Irvine, no contest. We're not even talking a fair comparison here...</p>
<p>I chose SDSU over UCI. Best choice of my life.</p>
<p>from my one day, but very telling, experience at UCI...yes, the people are that nerdy and just driving around the school and seeing what's around, the social life is that bad. people can say "you have to make the effort to make it interesting"....but effort only goes so far when youre handed very few resources to do something.</p>
<p>i don't think it's wrong to let social life have a large bearing on your college decision...you'll be spending 4 years of your LIFE, not just years for studying, at your school of choice. not to mention if you're unhappy/bored there it'd be hard to do as well academically. academically, yeah, UCI might have the upper hand, but i wouldnt say that SDSU has poor standing. it's not like we're talking a substandard school here. just as an example, Princeton's rankings of top schools didnt rank SDSU, true...but neither did they rank UCI. considering the supposed "academic superiority" of UCI, it surprised me as well. but lets not get into rankings, im not a fan of them...</p>
<p>also, college is the first time for many students to be away from their parents and thus is a time for potentially huge growth as a person. if the social structure of the school isnt as conducive to this and instead focuses mostly on academic development, it would seem to me a sore loss of opportunity for growth. </p>
<p>maybe it's wrong nowadays to believe being a well-rounded person is at least as important as being an intelligent person...</p>
<p>Admittedly it was QUITE a few years ago, but I went to SDSU, hated it, transferred after a year. The school was too big, getting the classes I needed required waiting in lines for hours and the 300+ student lecture classes were, well, too big. The dorms were marginal at best, though I'm sure many of them have been remodeled by now. Yup, there were drunken parties most every night, so if that's "socially exciting"...</p>
<p>If I had to do it over again, I'd go to a much smaller school.</p>
<p>Well looks like actually enjoying your time at college is the unanimous choice, other than the guy from Philadelphia who most likely only knows that UCI=rank something higher than SDSU. </p>
<p>Go somewhere you'd actually want to spend the next 4 years. I know I'd never want to attend Berkeley now that I know more about it (more asians than any other nationality? no thanks, that's not my idea of an enjoyable 4 years). </p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and don't get too caught up in the rankings, but also make sure you won't be mad when you hear your school being associated with drunken parties rather than academic excellence (while not altogether true, the vast majority of the population is too ignorant to know any different, so you might as well accept it).</p>
<p>and mind you SoCal18, you dont have to limit yourself to UCI and SDSU as far as schools. one example...UCLA has excellent academics and an exciting social life, whether you like to party hard or not (i'm not a fan of it, to be honest)...Westwood looks like great place. that's the one regret (and to be sure, the ONLY regret :p) i have about choosing USC...Westwood as a college town.</p>
<p>This "guy from Philadelphia" knows that while rankings are somewhat subjective, #40 vs. 4th tier is a HUGE disparity; not one that can be justified by social life.</p>
<p>UBSB has the best social life among the UCs (and highest STD rate). Chico State is also a great party school. But, just don't just yourself to four year schools. IMO, the 'best' social life can be had at Santa Barbara City College; go for two years and transfer. (Of course, every year kids go there, spend 2-3 years in a drunken stupor, and fail to obtain even an AA.) </p>
<p>The ONLY academic reason one should pick SD is for its undergrad biz program.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments...</p>
<p>These aren't my only 2 schools, I'm just doing this to see where I would go between the 2 of them if they were my only options.</p>
<p>UCLA - Best overall school in the country, but I don't think I have a chance here.
UCSB - My favorite school. I can't think of any negative things about it.
UCSD - Campus and location are great, not worried about social life problem bc mexico, downtown san diego, and sdsu are a short drive away.
UCI/SDSU - I haven't seen both campuses, I guess I'll decide when I see them, but right now I'm thinking SDSU.</p>
<p>UCSC/Cal Poly/UCD are all okay, but I couldn't see myself at any of them.</p>
<p>Again thanks for the comments and keep this board going so I can hear other's opinions on these 2 schools.</p>
<p>I would definitely choose UCI over SDSU. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>SoCal18:</p>
<p>Many Golden Bears (not to mention pesky Trojans) would question your sanity upon hearing your first statement. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>btw: also consider Davis -- its provides an excellent college town atmosphere.</p>
<p>^ Davis...the college town is nice, but once that gets exhausted/you get tired of it, looking for something to do could be a challenge. it isn't exactly a hub or in the middle of activity.</p>
<p>i'm not sure if it was my school's programs or what...but almost everyone i knew in my classes who applied to UCLA got in. i also cant say it's easy to get in though because i also know people at other schools who got rejected. but basically, don't count yourself out yet. </p>
<p>UCSD...the social life doesnt truly exist until you have a car. i always thought social life at UCSD was popping until i learned some things a few months before choosing. La Jolla is a sleepy rich town with residents who couldnt give a hoot about the social life of the students, such as restricting construction of things as basic as movie theaters because they didnt want a huge influx of college students. downtown SD is about 12 miles away, enough said. almost everything in SD is connected by freeways and less so by city streets, a pain to those without a car, or even a pain to those with. that said, once you have a reliable means of transport, the city is your oyster. don't count on staying on campus for fun though, not to mention i hear it goes dead on weekends.</p>
<p>comparing UCI and SDSU is comparing polar opposites...and while i would definitely advise choosing where YOU feel you could be the happiest, mind you the comparison's a little too wide to give you a fair answer. and yeah, i hear SDSU's undergrad business is pretty good, i know lots of people going there for it. i couldnt say you'd be a shoo-in to Harvard business after leaving it, but i would doubt many would frown on you for going there.</p>
<p>since you were considering SDSU, maybe consider CSU Long Beach. it has more repute, has strong programs, and is relatively close to a lot of happening places (though a car might still be desired).</p>
<p>Well if you want to have a fun time in college dont go to UCI, trust me. I have many friends attending that school and i live about 10 minutes away. Irvine is very boring and there is absolutely nothing to do except go to the beach.</p>
<p>and just to let you know, i personally know about 12 people who turned down UCI for SDSU; including me</p>
<p>I'd like to know the same about these schools. I think UCI seems too dull and would choose SDSU, but can anyone argue that UCI is better. And can you do it without throwing in the usnews rankings bc that seems to be everyones arguement.</p>
<p>academically, UCI is great
but if you want a really good social life then this school is not for you, its not well balanced. and orange county is way overrated, to have fun you need alot of money here</p>