UCI vs UCSD??

College Search & Selection
1

So I’ve been thinking a lot and I’m totally indecisive. I got into both UCSD and UCI with environmental engineering. I live in San Diego, so UCSD would be closer but I’ve always wanted to go farther away. I’d be pretty much getting the same financial aid at both so I’ve been debating back and forth and I’d like some feedback…

UCSD Pros:

  • Great engineering department
  • Familiarity, I’ve done a ton of overnight programs here so I know where everything is
  • Prestige

UCSD Cons:

  • Closer to home
  • I got into ERC as my college, and it has the second most GEs. That would make being an engineering major super difficult for me. I’d have to probably take a fifth year to graduate. It’s really hard to switch out of colleges there.

UCI Pros:

  • Farther away from home. I’ve always wanted the college experience where I got to move away from home.
  • Not as many unnecessary GEs. I’d graduate faster. I also wouldn’t be wasting my time in necessary classes.
  • More chance for me to branch out and maybe minor. If I went to UCSD, I’d be stuck with engineering because the GE’s + what’s required for my major wouldn’t allow much breathing room.

UCI Cons:

  • Not as prestigious as UCSD
  • Not as nice of a campus as UCSD

Should I give up the prestige and rigor of UCSD for a better college experience at UCI? I really wanna get out there and experience more but I don’t know if I’m missing out on too much not going on UCSD. If I could get some opinions that’d help a lot. I’m always super indecisive and this is horrible haha. I also got into Cal Poly Pomona, SDSU and CSU San Marcos if I should pick any of those.

2

I’d choose UCSD. In my opinion, UCI doesn’t have much enticements to pull you away from San Diego. Yes, UCI would be farther, but it still has a significant commuter campus feel. What are you going to explore in Irvine? South Coast Plaza and cookie cutter master planned housing developments?

3

If you can prove that your college will delay your graduation compared to another college, then you may be able to switch (but you still have to take ERC’s writing sequence). UCSD wants students to graduate on time and they don’t want you to stay longer just because of your GEs. What may make it more difficult to petition is that there is a 4 year plan for graduating as an environmental engineering major in ERC (http://plans.ucsd.edu/roosevelt), but that plan includes summer classes and a couple quarters where you have to take a heavier load.