<p>Straight to the point, this is probably the toughest decision for me. I have no idea which school to chose. These are my reasons.</p>
<p>UCSD
Pros- Higher academics, San Diego, more prestige?
Cons- didn't get into the major I want, and I heard it is socially dull.</p>
<p>UCSB
Pros- Got in for the major I want, I want the college experience
Cons- I heard it's less focused on academics and I don't know how a degree from UCSB would compare to UCSD. Though, for UCSB I did get in for mechanical engineering, and UCSD I got in undeclared so I am assuming it would be relatively improbable I could transfer into Aerospace/mechanical engineering there.</p>
<p>It would really really help to hear from some students or alumni of both schools. I will be the first person in my family to attend college and I don't want to make the wrong choice for myself.</p>
<p>Have you visited both schools?</p>
<p>Not yet, I am going during my spring break this upcoming week.</p>
<p>Good! I’m glad you will have the opportunity to see for yourself.<br>
Try to talk to an academic advisor while you are visiting at UCSD about your question about probable admissions into the majors that interest you.</p>
<p>What’s your major? Bio/Engineering, go to UCSD. Anything else, go to UCSB if you want a ‘better’ college experience.</p>
<p>I’m going to call monday to see how hard it would be to transfer into my major, Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering. I’m assuming very hard. I was already accepted to UCSB as a mechanical engineer though.</p>
<p>No one has anything else to say comparing UCSD and UCSB?</p>
<p>Here’s what I did: I took both schools and jotted down the upper-division pre-reqs I’m supposed to do for Sociology and Pre-Med. I looked up all the classes at UCSB…and UCSD and it looks like I’ll be doing less work t UCSD and the bio/chem teachers are A MILLION TIMES better judging by Rate my professor. You should make an outline of your courses and see what school fits you better. I heard you can always avoid the so called party scene at UCSB. Sometimes you can’t listen to what others say and have to go see the school for yourself. It’s better you do that. Some say UCSD is socially dull and some say they have the time of their lives there. It’s all up to you. I heard UCSB’s population of students is great and everyone’s so friendly and down to help you. And then there are some people who completely hate the whole social scene and can’t wait to get out of the school. Check out the two schools and you’ll for sure have your decision ready.</p>
<p>If you want to be an engineer, take UCSB. It is quite difficult to xfer into engineering at a UC; they will require you to take a set of classes including calculus and probably physics, and will have a GPA cutoff. They need room for all the CC xfers coming in, so they don’t take that many from the general student population. On the other hand if you go to UCSB you don’t run that gauntlet.</p>
<p>I’m currently a UCSB student and I have to say the engineering program here is great. The myth that UCSB is not academically challenging is wrong. The engineering program is highly competitive. However, if you attend UCSD as undeclared, you will have a tough time getting the classes you want. Undeclared is at the bottom of the list and at times, you cannot get the courses you want. I made the mistake of attending UCSB as an UNDECLARED major. They ran out of room in the computer engineering major so they enlisted me as so. I have to say, avoid being undeclared at any UC… it is REALLY rough.</p>
<p>Im a recent graduate with a BS in Computer Science from the College of Engineering at UCSB, and hopefully what I have to say will help you make a decision.</p>
<p>In short. Go to UCSB. </p>
<p>Yes I know I am obviously bias when it comes to this decision but just hear me out. When I was in this situation 4 years ago, I made the decision on what college to attend STRICTLY based on prestige of the university. I thought of nothing else (something that I realize now as being stupid). But boy am I glad I went to Santa Barbara. The one thing that you learn at UCSB above everything else (which also happens to be one of the most important things in life…) is PEOPLE skills. You learn to be social; this is EXTREMELY important in life ESPECIALLY if you plan on going into engineering. When it comes to interviewing for jobs, most engineers are awkward, can’t talk, etc. The ones that CAN truly shine and end up nailing those interviews and getting above the rest in terms of getting a great job. It goes beyond having a ‘great college experience’. At UCSB, as long as you keep on top of your work, its great to be able to easily have a social life with partying, constantly meeting people etc which in fact balances out the amount of work you have to put in while attending the college of engineering. I may not know much about UCSD, I am sure it is a great school too, but I can say NOTHING BUT THE BEST about UCSB and the time I spent during my 4 years there. It literally changed me as a person in every single positive way, and I have not once regretted my decision to go there. </p>
<p>Definitely visit both schools, but I highly recommend you think about the whole social aspect of college I have mentioned and how it can shape you as a person; good luck with the decision and have a great time wherever you go.</p>