UCSD Information Help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

Alright, so I just got off the waitlist for UC San Diego. I got in with my intended major (Ecology, Behavior & Evolution) and am at Revelle College, my 3rd choice.

UC San Diego had been my dream school for a LONG time (Since about 7th grade) and I was both surprised and incredibly happy on being admitted. I love the academics, location, and scientific impact this school has and I am super happy to be admitted. This makes me even more happy since a shooting just happened at UCSB (Where I had to settle for due to May 1st deadline) and am happy I don’t have to go there. I’m just about ready to accept but I have a few questions about the school that I’d like to have answered. If you can answer any I’d appreciate the response.

  1. I've heard that UCSD is REALLY competitive. Like, "People-Don't-Give-You-Help-Since-You Might-Upset-The-Curve" competitive. I'm not talking about friendly-ness of students but more about cutthroat competition in classes. I'm not sure I'd like an environment where I constantly have to fight for every grade. Especially since I know I'll have problems with math and will probably need help with Revelle's crazy calculus requirements.
  2. Speaking of Revelle, does the increased GEs make it harder to graduate in 4 years? I plan on taking summer courses but is it as hard as it seems?
  3. I know that UCSD is known for studying and that classes are very rigorous, but is there time for anything else? I plan on keeping up my trumpet playing via a music minor in college and will keeping great grades interfere with my ability to do so? Are the academic classes that extremeley difficult that I will have to spend all of my time up in Geisel Library ?
  4. A music question: I know UCSD isn't the premier music university but does a Big Band (Like a jazz band) exist at UCSD? I know there are Jazz Combos, but what about a University Big Band? I didn't see it on the class list... Also, how do auditions happen for such groups if you're a non-major? (I'm going to declare a minor in music)
  5. MOST IMPORTANTLY! How are the research oppurtunities for Undergrads? Research is my primary focus for a career and for getting into Grad School, so how is it at UCSD? Do a lot of undergrads do research?
  6. In terms of dorms, how hard is it to get a double? I would REALLY prefer a double but does getting off the waitlist make it harder to get it? Also in terms of dorms, does UCSD have a policy on surfboards (I love to surf...)? Is there anywhere to store it or is it allowed in the dorms? Same with bikes; are there racks outside the dorms?
  7. And lastly, did you/are you enjoy(ing) your time at UCSD? Any final advice or ideas on the school?

Thanks so much for your help!

Best Regards,
Eldar 333

2

Congratulations and welcome to the Triton family! In order:

  1. UCSD is competitive, yeah, but not cutthroat. Everyone I know is always ready to help a friend out. Many professors actively encourage collaboration, and the general atmosphere is one of we’re-all-screwed-together.

  2. The Revelle GEs are not impossible. If you plan on taking summer courses you’ll probably be fine; additionally, if you get all the classes you want on time, you won’t have any issues. There are also ways to easily fulfill them through AP and community college credit.

  3. Classes are hard, but everyone finds time for at least one or two clubs.

  4. The UCSD Pep Band would be worth looking into. It’s not a premier university band by any means, but they have fun. I also have a friend involved in La Jolla Symphony, but I think that’s a larger commitment.

  5. UCSD is definitely a great place to be for undergraduate research. A large amount of the $1 billion spent on research (1st in the UC system, 5th in the nation) trickles down to the undergraduates, creating tons of opportunities in labs on campus. The School of Medicine and hospitals in the area also provide volunteer/employment opportunities, and La Jolla itself is a hub for biotechnology and biochemistry firms for internships.

  6. Off the waitlist, I think it’s very unlikely that you’ll get a double. Especially at Revelle, I wouldn’t count on it (sorry). The only surfboard policy is hell yeah. There are racks around all the Revelle residence halls, and parking shouldn’t be too much of an issue (although there were numerous thefts at the start of this year).

  7. I’ve enjoyed my time, yeah! I’d advise you to not underestimate the academics, and also to try to carry your enthusiasm right now into the school year. Hit up the beach whenever you can, take in the excitement at a basketball or water polo game. Explore campus all night and see what you can find going on in the Village. Meet people, meet exciting people, and make the most of the fact that you study at one of the world’s premier research universities while living in one of the most beautiful places in the country.

Congrats again, and welcome!

3

It wasn’t like this in my experience, nor do I know anyone who thought it was. The students I knew were always willing to help each other, and students would often study together. But even if it were like that, there are a lot of resources outside of your peers for help. Professor’s and TA’s have office hours for extra help, many classes have review sessions before exams, and there are tutoring centers on campus. Calculus in particular has a help room that is open nearly all day and staffed by grad students who can help you. You can get more info here: https://www.math.ucsd.edu/resources/calculus-tutoring/ Most professors also won’t curve against a class, so if everyone gets A’s, then every gets A’s. Only rarely will a professor curve so it’s more difficult to get an A if everyone does well. That’s much more the exception than the norm.

Also, Revelle doesn’t have a “crazy calculus requirement.” They just require the first year of calculus, which is pretty standard fair for most science majors. And you can take the easier calculus sequence since you’re a biology major. The biology major allows you to take MATH 11/11L (statistics) instead of the last quarter of calculus (MATH10C/20C), but you can still take the last quarter of calculus to fulfill both Revelle’s requirement and your major’s math requirement. And MATH 10C/20C is really the easiest course of the first year calculus sequence anyway, so it’s not that much of a burden to have to take that course anyway.

Check for yourself: plans.ucsd.edu
Or look at the requirements for your college (https://revelle.ucsd.edu/academics/general-education/index.html) and your major (http://biology.ucsd.edu/education/undergrad/maj-min/majors/ebe.html) and make yourself a four year plan. Don’t just sit around wondering.

Of course, there’s time to do other things. You spend much less time in class than you did in high school, and you will have a lot more “free time.” How you manage that free time is up to you. Sometimes, you will have to study, but you can always make time to do things that you want to do.

I don’t think so. All I know of is the Jazz ensembles (through the music department) and the pep band.

More info on ensembles and auditions: http://musicweb.ucsd.edu/ugrad/ensembles.php

There are lots of research opportunities. Many undergrads do research on a volunteer basis or for credit or pay. Many do research on campus, but there are also opportunities at nearby research facilities like Salk, Scripps Research Institute, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. There are also a lot of nearby bio labs that students intern for.

Revelle has mostly triples and some singles: http://housing.ucsd.edu/revelle.asp

Surf boards are fine as long as your roommates are cool with you keeping it in the room. There are bike racks all over.