<p>Reputation is not a hype really, a college builds reputation based on the opportunitie it creates. It is like why would someone spend for Stanford rather than a local college. Whether the student choses to avail of these opportunities is upto the student.</p>
<p>UCR and UCSD in the same sentence is invalid. Please try again.</p>
<p>If you only want to go to UCSD because of the hype, then don’t go. End of discussion. If, after taking away all financial considerations and GE requirements, you would rather go to UCSD, then there is still an argument to be made for SD.</p>
<p>First off, you’re way too hung up on GEs wasting time and money. They hardly waste time, and often they are worth it. UCSD’s GEs across the board, excluding Revelle, really aren’t excessive by any means and 90% of the ones you take are interesting classes, especially if you like science. Also, you don’t pay per class at any university with tuition, so saying that GEs waste money is an invalid argument. They just don’t. With APs and a little bit of hard work, you could graduate easily in 4, maybe 3 years. Don’t get hung up on the turn-offs at ERC. You made it into a biology major! That’s extremely difficult to get into at UCSD, and UCSD has one of the highest ranked biology, and medical, programs in the nation!</p>
<p>At UCSD, remember you’ll have tons of nearby things to do to relieve stress. Classes shouldn’t be incredibly difficult, and no matter where you go med school is going to be extremely stressful. At UCR, there really isn’t anything to do.</p>
<p>I still don’t really understand why UCR is going to cost a lot less either? You would live off campus, sure, but you are still a financial burden on your parents, and with gas nearing $4.30 a gallon, 60 miles everyday isn’t going to be cheap, especially next year; I guarantee gas is going to be more expensive. UCR, overall, is $32,000 a year, at least for me. UCSD, for me, is $29,000. (I got these off of my financial aid package statements.) If you could explain more clearly why UCR will be way cheaper, maybe I could help a little bit.</p>
<p>Also, living 30 miles off campus will be very hard on you. Maybe someone else who has firsthand experience on here can help explain it better. You just won’t have access to everything you need on-campus. It will be a huge stress trying to schedule your classes and, in the end, just trying to get to them. Especially with a commute from Fontana to Riverside, where traffic is just, well, random. Trust me, I know living on campus is expensive, but you want to try to avoid it at all costs. I just don’t see living 30 miles off campus working very well. This isn’t an argument for UCSD, by the way. I’m simply just trying to explain that spending a couple more thousand may be worth it in the end. </p>
<p>If you can get a job, that changes everything. If you’re worried about burdening your parents, you really should get a job. That is the most responsible thing to do. Regardless of where you go, you could end up being a lot happier if you get a job and live on-campus. You might even be able to work at UCR or UCSD and cut your room and board in half.</p>
<p>That’s the end of my rant haha :P.</p>
<p>Adding on to the gas argument:
Take the cheapest gas price around you. Divide that by your car’s mileage, then multiply that number by the 60 miles it will take you. That’s how much it will cost EVERY DAY. The only way commuting ever makes sense is when you attend a community college or are able to schedule your classes on the same day. That way you travel less, and it doesn’t cost as much. If you plan on scheduling all of your classes at UCR for 2 or 3 days every week, then that is going to be more stressful then having your classes laid out nicely throughout the week at UCSD. Just something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Assuming my car gets its top mileage, gas is around $4.25, there are 32 weeks in an academic year, and I schedule classes for 3 times a week, the cost for the year, just in gas, would still be $1440. That’s the most stressful schedule you could possibly make. Assuming a more realistic mileage for my car, gas is still $4.25 (which I still forecast is going to be a pipe dream by next year), there are 32 weeks in an academic year, and my classes are 5 times a week, the total cost is $2720. Gas is expensive, remember that. Granted, my car gets between 12 and 17 mpg (I calculated the second one with 15 mpg), it’s going to be extremely expensive next year regardless of your vehicle.</p>
<p>I really just intended to do my ge and pre reqs and then go to med school…I really got no $ at ucsd, and either way, my parents would still be providing for me. At ucr, at least i have $, and im in honors. Plus, i have a good 3-4 friends commuting and we can carpool no problem. If I went to ucsd, dorm payments would take up my moms whole paycheck…she’d be working only for me. We wanted a condo or apartment, but they are crazy expensive…</p>
<p>After comparing ge requirements too, I get more for my work at ucr. 12 units of english became 4. I’d have time to do those other pre reqs for med I still need to do–physics, bio, etc. I didn’t take em this year.</p>
<p>At ucsd, mmw is required no matter what so I’d be lagging.</p>
<p>Sure there’s a rep, but that’s all I see for me at ucsd right now at ERC.</p>
<p>Like dorming is no option at all…and if i did get a condo near ucsd, theres still utilities…</p>
<p>Truth be told, I’m still considering ucsd, but hardly. If ucla takes me, I’ll go. If not, probably ucr…i’ll just try again for ucsd when we’re in a better state…</p>
<p>Sounds like you’ve made up your mind. The carpooling will be really nice. Congrats on making it into both man congratulations :D! You’ll have fun at UCR, undergrad really doesn’t matter if you plan on going to med school!</p>
<p>Yeah I know myself and mmw and regional specialization just isn’t for me…</p>
<p>I mean my uncle went to muir and my dad CC.</p>
<p>My dads salary is 2x my uncle.</p>
<p>So its what I make of it.
I’ll go into UCLA or UCR doing my best.
I’m gonna do all I can >:)</p>
<p>I’m a firm believer in the “Everything happens for a reason” saying. I also believe that no matter where anyone goes to college, the people who are meant to shine will shine, regardless of if they go to CC or Harvard. Just like you said, college is what you make of it. Work hard and make sure you do as much as you can at UCR. Stick out and any grad school would be happy to have you.</p>
<p>30 miles away isn’t that bad of a commute at all…check to see if a bus route goes from there to ucr…you could drive half way and then take the bus in a park&ride parking lot…make sure to bunch your classes into 2-3 days a week if possible</p>