<p>So I didn't get into UCLA or UC Berkeley, but I did get into UCSD and UCI. However, I'm having trouble deciding on which school would be more of a benefit for me. In other words, which school should I send my SIR to? Especially the fact that I got Winter Quarter of 2008 for UCSD... that made my decision even harder. This means that I have to take extension classes during my summer and fall, and not have any housing on-campus, but off-campus. Doesn't that take away the college experience? Being in a dorm with a roommate you've never seen in your whole entire life? And what are the benefits of UCI? </p>
<p>Oh yeah, and my dream school was UC Berkeley. I don't know if I should appeal, because it specifically said that they discourage appeals unless if there was a significant change in my life or records that I must tell them about. Unfortunately, I don't really have much to say. So I really don't know if I should appeal to UC Berkeley, or let things be, and try to figure out whether I should send my SIR to UCSD or UCI. </p>
<p>UCSD is regarded as a better overall university. However, you could start UCI right away. I would personally choose UCSD, UCLA, or UC Berkeley over UCI or any other mid tier UC. But thats just my opinion. UCI is a wonderfull school, and is deffiantly up and coming. And living on campus at UCI would be nice. UCSD academically might be a bit tougher, with a bit more competition from students. UCSD is harder to get into as well and most people consider it more prestigious. I think the average admit into UCSD is around a 4.04 GPA and 1940 SAT, while the average admit into UCI has around a 3.89 GPA and a 1830 SAT. If living on campus and begining right away is important, go to UCI. If rankings/prestige is important, UCSD has the edge. I always felt that getting into UCSD, UCLA or UC Berkeley was quite an honor. However, UCI is a very good school. Have fun choosing. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Graduation & Retention Rank
UCSD: 32nd UCI: 39th
-% of Students expected to graduate in 6 years:
UCSD: 87% UCI: 79%
-% of students who do graduate in 6 years:
UCSD: 85% UCI: 80%</p>
<p>Faculty Resources Rank:
UCSD: 84th UCI: 63rd
-% of classes with 50+ students
UCSD: 30% UCI: 24%
-% of classes with <20 students
UCSD: 46% UCI: 45%
-Faculty/student ratio
UCSD: 19/1 UCI: 17/1</p>
<p>Student Selectivity Rank:
UCSD: 29th UCI: 38th
-Average SAT/ACT:
UCSD: 1150-1370 UCI: 1110-1310
-% of students ranking in top 10% of high school class
UCSD: 99% UCI: 98%
-% acceptance rate
UCSD: 44% UCI: 60%</p>
<p>As you likely already knew, the quantitative differences between these two schools are very, very narrow with slight edges in most categories to UCSD. You are probably also aware of the large numbers of transfers that UC Berkeley takes each year so if this is your dream campus, the dream is still alive. Good luck with UCSD or UCI and even more so if you decide to pursue a transfer to UCB.</p>
<p>ucchris, honestly, prestige matters to me a lot. i hate to admit it, but it's the truth. i can't help it. :(</p>
<p>and wow, that is A LOTTTT of info i did not know! it helped me a bit. thanks for the info! ummm i'm not sure what i want to major in yet, but i know for sure that i don't want to be in political science, literature, or any language. maybe somewhere between mathematics and sciences... not too sure WHICH sciences. =</p>
<p>and i've decided to not appeal to UCB. maybe UCLA. i'm still deciding. i have to call UCSD first. i'm just so confused...</p>
<p>It depends on what you want to study; but both UCSD and UCI are research oriented schools with heavy emphasis on sciences. Both are constantly building on their campuses and, as pointed out earlier, fairly similiar in stats. </p>
<p>Having said all that, a degree from UCSD has much more of an impact on a potential employer than a degree from UCI. Biotech firms and corporations like Aerojet are always on campus giving out applications; basically eager to offer a job, if not an internship, to UCSD students.</p>
<p>Also from a simple geographic viewpoint, Irvine is in the middle of nowhere and nothing all that exciting to do on the weekends. The campus is very busy because that's all there is to do. I don't have to tell you that UCSD is in La Jolla less than 5 minutes from the beach. Sure you have to take a quarter at a JC or whatever but so what? Would you rather spend 4 years in the middle of nowhere? I wouldn't...</p>
<p>You are probably also aware of the large numbers of transfers that UC Berkeley takes each year so if this is your dream campus, the dream is still alive.-
wait..are you saying that theres a good chance of being accepted to uc berkley from ucsd?
how good of a chance is there...?</p>
<p>yeah, that's true about irvine, ucsdtriton2010. yeah but i wanna be in the sciences... so that's what makes it harder for me to decide which college i SHOULD go to. so you think that i should go to winter quarter? </p>
<p>and noori...
"wait..are you saying that theres a good chance of being accepted to uc berkley from ucsd?
how good of a chance is there...?"</p>
<p>i don't get what you mean. what are you saying?</p>
<p>Yeah I think it's worth it. My friend from high school transferred in this past winter quarter and didn't have any problem adjusting. He lives 5 minutes off campus in nicer living situation than I am.</p>
<p>ucsdtriton-
I don't really think UCI is in the middle of nowhere at all. I just spent a long weekend in Newport (10 min from UCI) and I'd say the area is similar in many ways to La Jolla, but maybe a bit more suburban feeling..
beaches within easy reach are plentiful from UCI..esp Huntington Beach, one of the longest stretches of public beach in the state</p>
<p>what i meant was that ive heard from alot of pple that you have more of a chance at transfering into ucb or ucla from a community college, than if you tried to transfer from a school such as ucsd...and had the same stats, that is.
i know a couple of poeple whp went to community college for the first two years, enrolled in the honors program, pulled off good grades and got accepted to ucla...through some program called tap or something. I was thinking bout doing the same thing, because apparently that way theres a 90 percent chance of getting into ucla...and a decent chance of getting into berkley. but im not sure...im totally confused on whether i should just go to ucsd, and enter as a freshmen...or go to a jc and try to transfer into ucla as a junior...hm...some help plz</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Pick a major you want to transfer into that isn't at your current school. This then gives you the leverage of having a substantial reason to transfer. Pick a that major and once you transfer, switch your major again.</p></li>
<li><p>If you are from Norcal, you can say due to family commitments, you need to be closer to home for reason XXX.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Switching into a UC from a Community College is only slightly more advantageous than from UC to UC. Community Colleges, or Junior Colleges (JCs), because JC students are given priority over all other applicants. Next priority goes to other UC students and then incoming Freshmen. </p>
<p>As to UCI being in the middle of nowhere, it is compared to UCSD. UCI requires an automobile for sure to get anywhere remotely entertaining. Life on campus is very stricted to campus. Generally a commuter school as well.</p>
<p>about ucsd... i heard that it's harder to get a social life if you go to winter quarter. and doesn't that mean i have to take extension classes during the summer AND fall? do you think i should call the admissions office and ask them if they can put me in fall quarter because of financial issues (which is true, by the way)? i don't think i can afford to get an apartment and stuff... so i really don't know. do you think it's worth a try to call them and ask them about this?</p>
<p>and about UCB and UCLA, i gave up on it. i was just thinking, "maybe those schools aren't for me." =\ i don't want to transfer. i wanna get OUT of here. i seriously need my independence.</p>
<p>it doesn't matter about the asians. i'm asian too, so no big deal. and i want to be in the sciences, and i know that both irvine AND san diego are excellent at that. that's just what makes my decision harder.</p>
<p>i just don't know if it's worth all the money to go take classes at a community college during the fall (possible the summer) and spend money on off-campus housing. isn't that way too expensive? do you think it's too much trouble to go through all of that just for the prestige?</p>
<p>Ok, well UCSD is definitely better at sciences than UCI. It's ranked consistently higher than UCI and a degree from here means much more than one from UCI. I really don't think that this decision is that hard, especially since you are looking into a science major. The only reservation would be if your major is impacted. </p>
<p>As to finances, living off campus is actually cheaper than living on. Only loss is convenience.</p>
<p>Oh, and yes, it is worth the trouble for the prestige.</p>