<p>Hi parents!
I'm really new to this forum, but could use some help. I posted this thread on the University of California system general site, but didn't know if any parents would see it. So, I'm posting it here, too.
My son has received Regents Scholar/Honors offers to both UC Irvine and UC San Diego. He's also been accepted to UCLA (no aid) and Rice (no aid). There are a few other private colleges, but again ... no aid, and with a daughter a year behind, we're looking at two in college at the same time, plus graduate school (yikes!).
So I think it will eventually come down to the Final 4: Irvine, San Diego, UCLA and Rice.
I'm reaching out for any objective opinions on the three UC schools, or Rice. He's a bio major, with a possible pre-med track.
We never got a chance to visit any of the UC schools, but a friend of his returned from a weekend visit to UCLA and UCSD, and felt UCLA was a much better choice than UCSD for him. "Too many nerdy Asians" at Revelle College. Ironically, he (and we) is Asian!
A concern about UCLA, other than having to pay full-fare, is its size. Son was worried about being able to get the classes he wants in order to graduate in four years. With the Regents/Honors at UCI and UCSD, you get priority registration, not to mention guaranteed housing, and an honorarium ($$$).
With UCLA, you get all the other intangibles: a great, challenging institution in a vibrant atmosphere. With UCI and UCSD, it seems to be more heavily geared toward academics (which is fine), but not as much out-of-class activities.
With Rice (he's visiting this weekend), you get a strong academic environment, but it's a bit farther than the UC schools from home in Hawaii.
All of the schools have wonderful research opportunities, and great campuses, from what I've gathered. There's the fine reputation of Rice and UCLA, but our college counselor says UCI and UCSD are also solid institutions -- and did I mention the honorarium (!!). So, it's not exactly a level playing field.
Can anyone share more insight into any of these schools? I'm just trying to gather as much information so that we can make a sound decision once commitment day comes around. And the clock (or is it my heart?) is ticking...</p>
<p>Welcome tdad. The three UC's vs. Rice - so different. What appeals to your S? Small, large? Intimate classes or large lecture halls? I suspect he'll have an answer after his Rice visit. Research opportunities at Rice may be accessible earlier since he'll know his professors well. All three UC's have extremely small % of out-of-state students (UCLA's is the largest proportion at around 5%). Rice has geographic diversity. UCI has a higher % of commuter students than the other two. UCSD is well-respected for its sciences, particularly biology and pre-med programs. UCSD is "quieter" than UCLA. UCLA is, well, UCLA (I feel an 8-clap coming on as an old alum). Class sizes at all three UC's are HUGE during the first couple of years.</p>
<p>For the circumstances you've provided, I'd be seriously looking at UCSD with Regents/Honors/housing/$$. If you can swing the $$, Rice would be great for the academic criteria you listed and for the close-knit community.</p>
<p>From a value perspective, Regents at UCSD is the deal! Wonderful pre-med and sciences in general, very respected, a great education. However, Sd is not the most fun or social school. Most kids live off campus and commute. There isn't the sports draw and La Jolla is sedate.</p>
<p>Honestly, I'd throw UCI out of the equasion. Not nearly as good as UCSD and has all the same social problems if not more.</p>
<p>I'm guessing UCLA and Rice will cost you about the same being OOS, and they are as different as schools come. Without priority, however, you should anticipate 5 years which will make LA more. In that case I'd personally be inclined to go to the smaller, more nurturing school.</p>
<p>In the end, for me it would be between UCSD and Rice.</p>
<p>The Regents is worth a lot at the UCs because of priority registration and housing, as you mentioned. UCSD is perfect for his field - and not all the asians are nerdy, I'm sure! (actually, from a parent's viewpoint, how would this be a bad thing??) I think your concerns about UCLA are warranted - I remember my niece on the phone every semester all day long on registration day, usually coming away with half of what she wanted.
UCI is academically strong, but so many of the kids' homes are nearby. On weekends, everyone scatters all over Newport Beach, Irvine and Costa Mesa, leaving little social life on campus.
I'm a CA native, and UCSD is one of my son's top choices for applying next year. Great weather, great academics, great price, and if you can get a Regent's, some special perks, as well. With guaranteed housing for four years in their college system, which is fairly personal as public universities go, it could be a very pleasant undergrad experience and he would emerge with a respected degree. If your son plans on staying on the west coast/Hawaii, I think it would be every bit as valued as a Rice degree. I also think the social life is there if you want it, and extra curriculars and clubs are in plentiful supply as well.</p>
<p>my son has a Regents + offer at UCSD as well as Regents at UCB, UCD & UCLA, and (at the moment) isn't considering Cal or UCLA ; currently it's between UCSD & Yale or Dartmouth. great to have choices i know, but difficult nevertheless. i seriously had no grey/white hair before this process began... </p>
<p>your son's choices seem equally worthy. fwiw, i would agree w/ zagat: rice or ucsd! if he chooses ucsd, maybe our kids should talk...</p>
<p>Just got back from a long walk/jog ... needed to get my mind off this college process.
Just wanted to say thanks for such thoughtful, considerate, informative responses.
We've had a difficult time as rookies, and will be more prepared next year when my daughter goes through this. My son has been all over the map (he's stressing, too): small, private school one week, large public school the next. It was tough enough removing his dream school from the list, but it's so much more manageable with three (maybe four, with UCLA making a late comeback) schools rather than 9.
Anyway, I'm just so impressed with what's shared on this board. There is so much genuine understanding of how stressful this college process can be.
Thanks again: Maize&Blue, zagat, A.S.A.P and klc.</p>
<p>I agree that, of the choices, UCI would be fourth. </p>
<p>I can see arguments pro/con the other three and in terms of academic experience, I don't see a huge advantage of any over the others. At which point make your decision on comfort zone and dollars. I like the total package at UCLA--academics/location/recreational options--but that UCSD Regents is hard to ignore. I think highly of Rice but would think more highly if it weren't located in Houston.</p>
<p>My son is a BME major at UCSD. The program is everything it's cracked up to be! Wish he had a regents! These kids have phenomenal internship and job opportunities in San Diego, which, next to Hawaii, is a great place to live! Much luck to your son!</p>
<p>umm. does your son surf? When we visited UCSD, we met a senior who was graduating with 4 majors - bio, bio-something, classics, and I believe math. I asked him why he was at UCSD, and he said 'to surf'. He was a pretty impressive young man.
social life at UCSD is pretty tame - lots of students drive home to LA for the weekend. If your son surfs though, it supposedly has very good surfing (but probably not at the level of hawaii)
I agree with other posters - UCSD seems to be a good option for your son if he is leaning towards a large university.
one last thought, the college system at UCSD is one way to provide smaller communities for the students.</p>
<p>Couple of thoughts:</p>
<p>1) Unless money is a real consideration and you live in OC where kid could come home on weekends, UCI is last
2) All states publics have bureacracy (it builds character?), but the Regents can help in that regard
3) Most publics (including UC's) are cut-throat in pre-med (little teamwork, sharing, and, of course, rumors of lab sabotage). For any such program, I would send my kid to a private school, with honor code (yes, cheating will still exist, but hopefully not as much).
4) Many kids who are pre-med wash out in Orgo Chem and, may change their major 2-3 times....since SD is so much bio-sci, UCLA (and Rice?) would have a broader curriculum from which to choose (SD + I are trying to focus more on humanities, but they ain't there yet....)
5) As a Cal resident, I've been to Houston many times and stayed near Rice's campus, and even worked out with their track team -- found the students quite engaging with this old runner; I'm assuming you are a Cal resident, and Houston is only a 3 hour flight to most parts of the state so travel would be simple
6) Go to the CB website and fast forward a year where you will have TWO kids in college and run the numbers for 2007 - you might find your efc has changed significantly for the last three years.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>BlueB</p>
<p>In addition to surfing, UCSD offers hang-gliding at the nearby cliffs. ;-)</p>
<p>not to mention Black's Beach below the cliffs!</p>
<p>Although most visitors to Black's discover little except that tattooing on the middle to post-middle-aged body is not a pretty sight.</p>
<p>I know what you mean...where on the hemispheric map Alaska is now sagging down to even with Baja California.</p>
<p>LOL! When I was at UCSD (in the Dark Ages) the guys in German tutorial, which was held in Tioga, would be mesmerized by hang gliders hovering over Blacks!</p>