<p>I’m having trouble deciding between UCSD (Muir college) and UCD. As of now I’m an undeclared life science major at both schools, though I’m interested in going into bioengineering or biotechnology. I’m also a little bit concerned about social life…I’m not much of a party person but I don’t mind chilling out once in a while or making a few friends here and there. </p>
<p>Also, are the people at either school friendly or ultracompetitive? All schools have a mix of both, but I don’t want to be surrounded by a bunch of arrogant people… </p>
<p>UCSD has a great bioengineering program, however, if you are not admitted into bioengineering or bioengineering:biotechnology it is impossible to transfer into them. That is what the admissions office at UCSD said. UCD is probably easier to switch around and the have a god bioE program also.</p>
<p>"I'm also a little bit concerned about social life...I'm not much of a party person but I don't mind chilling out once in a while or making a few friends here and there."</p>
<p>This is the attitude of most UCSD students. You won't hear parties, at least not from the warren res hal, but if you go out you can find a few in less than an hour esp. on thurs and fri.</p>
<p>I hear the bio courses (all the hard sciences for that matter) are competitive. All these kids trying to get into med school, I'm a philosophy major so I don't know. I can tell you the atmosphere is very friendly and most people make friends easily. UCSD even has a live journal- <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/ucsd/%5B/url%5D">http://community.livejournal.com/ucsd/</a> (none of that Rupert Murdoch myspace crap) and some people meet there before they even get to the university. Also I can tell you in my major (though it could be just a phenomenon localized to JUST this major) I know almost everybody. There are only about 50 of us.</p>
<p>As far as UCD vs UCSD, we have a beach, better architecture, more trees, very clean campus, good placement in grad schools, we pride ourselves on our bio research, San Diego is a global city (meaning it has the same characteristics of a city like Boston or Seattle).</p>
<p>They have a division I sports team, more acreage, more students, more diverse, farther north (makes it easier so snowboard).</p>
<p>UCD is also an incredibly clean campus. (I have seen them both) I would disagree with the better architecture. UCSD is very modern 70's style and UCD is filled with many new buildings with more current architecture. UCD is filled with trees as is UCSD. Any bioengineering or biotech major from UCD will have many opportunites with the Med school on campus. I think either is an excellent choice. UCD is a college town located in close proximity to Sacramento, a large city, and a little over an hour from San Francisco. A visit to each campus would probably help you decide what is right for you personally.</p>