UCSD or Another UC Campus for an Exchange Semester?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
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Hi, I’m an international student hopefully making it through the preliminary selection at my home university to attend UC. If I want to apply, I need to fill out three campus preferences, however, being international I cannot visit prior to sending in the application. I’ve read the campus atmospheres are really different so I was hoping someone could help :slight_smile:

My current number one (based purely on rankings/academics and location) is Berkeley, followed by UCLA and then UCSD. I recently met someone attending UCSB and they really loved that so I’m kind of keeping that one in mind too.

The UC system seems really great to study, however, some things that worry me are the cutthroat environment and curved grading I read about. I’m an all right student (3.0 GPA alongside five committees, one board function and a pretty active (student association) social life the past 2.5 years) and willing to work hard but reading about sabotaging peers was just mind-boggling and I’m not sure I want to be in that kind of environment. Another thing that worries me is housing and getting into the classes I want since I’ve heard local students are prioritized over exchange students.

The environment I am in now is a 12,000 student university in a small town where everyone has at least one mutual other friend. It’s quiet but there’s lots to do if you take initiative and the teachers will always help you (after class) and we’re (almost) always on first-name basis. I’m a biotechnology major looking for a place to take upper-class biology classes, preferably micro-, cellular and genetic biology. I want to learn new things but also have time to experience the culture, see places and be socially active (very cliche, I know). I want to move to a more urban area than the 40,000-person town I am in now which is what attracts me to LA and the Bay. I like a chill friendly atmosphere and easy-going people who work hard but also know how to have fun and attend the occasional party. I also don’t have a car so a place where a car is not necessary would be great (although otherwise I’ll just have to befriend people who do have cars haha) and cycling is not life-threatening.

Based on this do you have any suggestions for my applications? I know all campuses will provide a great experience but I’m curious as to what you think based on the above. Sorry for the long story and thanks in advance!

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UCSD isn’t really cut throat. Everyone kind of just minds their own business. Haven’t heard anything about UCLA being cut throat either, but I’ve heard that UC Berkeley is. Can’t vouch for that since I don’t attend that school. Anywhere you go will probably have parties and people to meet. If you want a social life, you have to seek it out wherever you go. People who say a college is socially dead are themselves socially dead.
Perhaps I say this with bias as a UCSD student, but our school is notable for the biology department. I’d research more on it to further weigh your options.

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You are going to one semester (quarter?) I’d concentrate more on what you want to do while you are in the US. Is there a particular program you want to experience? Are there places you want to visit? Are you going to be spending all your time on campus or do you want to go to the theater, to sporting events, to the beach? Do you want to travel to other US cities while you are here? UCSB is beautiful, but it is remote. UCSC? Beach town, funky. UCSD? Different type of beach town, major airport to get to other cities, to LA, to Mexico.

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Hi, thanks for the replies! I’m quite goof with (putting in effort for) making friends and am planning on joining a few clubs/intramurals etc. I want to go off-campus to see things but what I want to visit probably depends on the campus I’m admitted to. For example, I’ll probably look into visiting Mexico if going to UCSD but Yosemite/SF when going to Berkeley or Joshua Tree NP when going to UCLA. Everything quite close by though, no nationwide traveling. How’s going places without a car/renting a car at 21?