UCSD vs Community College

@NotLonelyIsland did you hear back?

Sbp325, what is your objective? For your major especially, there is no academic reason to choose SC or UCLA over UCSD. Assuming you are planning to go on a conventional path for bio majors (e.g. job as a lab tech, med school, graduate school) you will do as well with a UCSD degree as with UCLA or USC. Actually, I can’t think of any track where it would really make a difference among these three schools–unless maybe you’re thinking of crossing over into a financial analyst field or something where it might help to get connected to USC’s business/alumni network. I would emphasize “might.” I think it’s also self-defeating to put your life on hold for a year or two in the hope that you will be able to transfer. If you need to save money, then I completely understand the option of going to CC for two years. But it doesn’t sound as if money is an issue for you. I think one of the real benefits of going to a four-year university as a freshman is throwing yourself in with all of the other freshmen who are in the same situation, having the first-year experiences, learning to adapt to a new situation and a new place. I say commit to UCSD, go there with the idea that you plan to graduate from there, and do your best to excel and make use of all the opportunities you will have there.

What don’t you like about UCSD?

@OhWhatsHerName I attended a very competitive/nerdy high school and have heard from so many people that UCSD is just like that. I wanted a change and a large social scene, something that is found at schools like UCLA Cal and USC. Also, dorms at UCSD are not very appealing.