UCSD or Notre Dame? HELP!!

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

<p>Warning! Long comments/rants/admirations/sober/joy ahead... </p>

<p>I am torn between these two colleges. I'm basically entering as an undecided, but I'm leaning either towards engineering or music. I was admitted to UCSD Earl Warren Bioengineering, but I don't know if BioE is the path. I'm studying for the biology AP and I get the sense that I can't do biology for the rest of my life. However, I seem to be leaning towards general engineering over any other field except music. </p>

<p>Before I cover anything else, I would like to say that the campus weather, looks, and dorms don't really matter much to me. </p>

<p>So... </p>

<p>Academics</p>

<p>First, I wanted to address music. I do love music, but then again, I don't know if my absolute passion is in music. I was wondering about the strength of UCSD's music department. I'm a strong instrumentalist, but if I choose music, I would want to major in composition and conducting. In addition, how does UCSD fair with Notre Dame in terms of music? </p>

<p>Because I am still undecided, I want to take courses in both the engineering and music fields. I'm thinking about taking general engineering courses instead of specifically BioE my first year. As far as AP's, I got a 4 on chem, 4 on APUSH, 4 on Physics B, and 4 on English Language and composition. I'm working hard towards AP Calc BC, Biology, English Literature, and American Government. I'm probably also taking some music courses over the summer. Assuming that I do well on the AP's, do I have a chance in taking these "sampling courses?" Would the quarter system work for or against me? And finally, how does all of this compare with Notre Dame? </p>

<p>And finally, engineering. I know BioE is the forte of UCSD, but how about the other engineering departments against Notre Dame? Which school is more harsh in the grading scale? And how would you compare the workload for the two colleges (in chemical and bioengineering especially)?</p>

<p>Environment and Location</p>

<p>As far as location, how far away is Warren/Engineering from the rest of the buildings (especially music)? I'm probably not getting a car, so say, would it be convenient to bike between these buildings? </p>

<p>I know that environment shouldn't be such a great factor in any of these colleges. I'm asian american, and I would probably fit in to both ND and UCSD; Notre Dame has the family feel and UCSD has the "asian feel" (I guess :D). Additional opinions would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Factoring it all in with price</p>

<p>I'm from out of state, so I have to pay full first year. My dad lives in CA, so we'll be able to pay full tuition from soph on. I got $20,000 in financial aid (including loans) from Notre Dame, but I appealed. </p>

<p>Some final questions to consider...</p>

<p>I definitely want to go to graduate school. Which school would prepare me better in general? </p>

<p>Which came first... the chicken or the egg? </p>

<p>Thank you for your time and I hope I diddn't bore you all too much!</p>

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<p>If it was me, hands down Notre Dame, but it’s been my dream since I was like 6 to go there. Notre Dame is an amazing school with prestige, history ect.</p>

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<p>Did you go to Admit Days at both campus’?<br>
You can view the Admit Day lectures online on the UCSD website
[Admit</a> Day 2009 [UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering]](<a href=“http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/undergrad/admit_day/]Admit”>http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/undergrad/admit_day/)</p>

<p>This may answer some of your questions on the program.</p>

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<p>I know little about ND, but here are my thoughts:</p>

<p>UCSD has a crummy music program.
You’d do well to sample classes in multiple majors.
Bikes are convenient, but not necessary.
If your dad has paid CA taxes for the past few years, you are likely eligible for a one-year grace period to establish residency.
The egg came first.</p>

5

<p>the music buildings @ ucsd are utter crap compared to the rest of the campus. it is as if the administrators are sending the message that ucsd does not care about music.</p>

<p>they do have good music teachers though.</p>

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<p>It’s not crummy at all. I have friends majoring in music, and they are enjoying it very much.</p>

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<p>UCSD music center just reopened with renovations. I suggest you get your information straight before giving out false information.</p>

<p>The new music center is across the street from the 6th area.</p>

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<p>compared to the engineering buildings and economic buildings and all the other buildings… the music buildings are trash. i stick to what i say.</p>

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<p>^ fyi: [Music</a> Center Draws Curtain on New Era for Music Department, Campus](<a href=“http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/thisweek/2009/04/20_musiccenter.asp]Music”>Music Center Draws Curtain on New Era for Music Department, Campus)</p>

<p>Music Center Draws Curtain on New Era for Music Department, Campus</p>

<p>Ioana Patringenaru | April 20, 2009 </p>

<p>On a recent Tuesday morning, the sound of a piano soared in the Conrad Prebys Music Center, rising along the venue’s triangle-shaped, wood-paneled walls and ceiling. Graduate student William Fried was performing “Feux d’Artifice” by French master Claude Debussy.</p>

<p>He was one of a handful of students who got to test-drive the music center’s concert hall in March before its public opening in May. He said performing in the new space was thrilling. His excitement is shared by Rand Steiger, chair of UC San Diego’s music department. </p>

<p>"We’re moving into one of the best music facilities that any university has,” Steiger said. “And so it’s a place that will inspire the students to do everything they do better.”</p>

<p>He added he hopes the music center will become a destination in the heart of campus for the UCSD community and beyond. “It will give us a bridge to the public and welcome them in to share what we do," he said. </p>

<p>The building reflects the music department’s needs and goals, Steiger said. It includes a 400-seat concert hall and several other performance spaces, including a high-tech venue called a black-box theater. It also includes practice rooms, rehearsal rooms and recording studios.</p>

<p>“The collection of rooms in the building was really a reflection of the kinds of spaces that the faculty aspired to teach in, to do their research in, to create their music in,” Steiger said.</p>

<p>A 20-year project</p>

<p>The facility has been 20 years in the making . . . [Full article - link at top of page]</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the responses guys, but I am still REALLY undecided between these two. How hard is it to switch majors in UCSD? How are your opinions about the engineering grading curves/Average GPA/Workloads? </p>

<p>Most importantly, I’m attracted to UCSD because of the “depth” of education. I compared UCSD’s engineering/science curriculum with Notre Dame’s, and from my initial looks, UCSD wins hands down. However, does anyone know if this is true? How about UCSD compared to, say, Rice, Ivies etc? </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

11

<p>I dont know much about UCSD since I am entering this year… but from what I know, how hard it is to change majors depends on your current major to what you want to switch to.</p>

<p>IE-</p>

<p>Science to Science= easy because the sciences are impacted
Music to Science= Hard, you have to apply and be at the top of your class
Impacted to nonimpacted= easy, you just can
impacted to impacted in another type of studies (science to engineering)= hard</p>

<p>etc etc.</p>

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<p>music major here:</p>

<p>i love the program here. I’ve met some DAMN good musicians in it and the educators are just great. </p>

<p>UCSD just opened up with a new music building this quarter and it is fantastic.</p>

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<p>go to sd save $</p>