It’s nearing the SIR deadline and I’m still super conflicted between UCSB and UCSD. I know both schools are fantastic and that they have the virtually the same acceptance rate and very similar rankings. They are both amazing places to live! 
I am an honors student at SB so I’m wondering how much attention I should give to that. I’ve been admitted to ERC for SD and I was wondering how that college compares to the other five.
UCSB: Psych major
UCSD: Cog sci major
Thanks in advance!
Did you visit both campuses? Did you spend time in Isla Vista? Did you have a preference? Honors is big deal in terms of priority registration, however they’re really different school environments and I would choose the best fit for you! Good luck to you!
I have only visited UCSB but I hope to visit UCSD soon if I can’t decide. Can you describe the two environments? Thanks
Hi! I think visiting both will really help and there will likely be one that “feels right”. I’m a UCSB grad and absolutely loved my time there. My husband is also a UCSB grad (psychology major with honors like yourself, and ended up getting an MBA and works in business). I can speak more to UCSB, although my best friend was at UCSD so I’ve spent a ton of time on both campuses. I transferred to UCSB my sophomore year (from USC) and fell in love with SB during a freshman year visit to see friends. The student body was so nice and everyone seemed happy and enjoying themselves-- completely different vibe than USC. I loved that UCSB was in a college town. Year 2-4 most students live in Isla Vista— a completely walkable/bikeable community full of fun eateries, live music, a beach, etc. The school spirit is also fantastic, and the soccer and basketball games were a blast. It was an amazing place to go to school and I’m never surprised that it’s consistently ranked in the top 10 for “happiest students”. My husband received his MBA from USC (a school known for its alumni network), and we’ve found the Gaucho network to be every bit as strong. UCSD is a really great school and my friend made good friends and enjoyed her time there. A key difference was that SB is located in a college town, and students at SD tend to commute from surrounding areas to school in years 2-4. Her experience was that many students (including herself) would commute to campus for class and then commute home, so her “community” felt small. The sporting events were mostly empty, and she found the school spirit and “Triton Pride” to be lacking. She visited me often and there were strong differences between the communities. She did enjoy her time at SD and I’d go into your visit with an open mind. It’s an exciting time for you and I wish you the best of luck!
UCSD Eleanor Roosevelt College (ERC) has a lot of extraneous GE requirements that you should review carefully before you commit. It could require extra time or unreasonable course loads to graduate. Honors designation at UCSB, in my mind at least, ought to be a deciding factor. Getting priority registration for classes is a big advantage. (I’m a UCSD alum.) Great choices, good luck!
Visit UCSD so you can make an informed decision. You owe it to yourself, especially if you did not absolutely love UCSB when you visited.