<p>I think we can agree that Irvine and La Jolla are not the greatest college towns but have good schools despite that.</p>
<p>A fair statement, however I would like to hear you reasoning and perhaps some superior alternatives as I think La Jolla is an excellent location for a university and despite my personal feelings regarding Irvine and its neighbors it has all the elements for a great college town as well.</p>
<p>Both are farely suburban upper-middle class. They don't go out of their way to make things easy for college students. For instance the city of La Jolla would not allow there to be a frat row on campus and to get good cheap food you have to often times go out of La Jolla to Coti's etc. I'm not saying it's a bad town, just not the most conducive to the college environment. Now, It is right by the beach and you can always go into the real San Diego and there's lots to do. So although it isn't a great "college town" there is still a lot to do in the area and a great place to go to college. Irvine is pretty much the same way IMO, although it is a little farther from the beach and not quite as upper-class as La Jolla. You can always drive to LA or other parts of OC or of course make your own fun in Irvine, which is what I tend to do. I enjoy going to UCI as most people do, but not particularly because of the town of Irvine.</p>
<p>I belive you are rather mistaken on what makes a good college town. 1. yes upper middle class is a good thing. While CSULB is a good school, I must ask does it have to be in an area where I'm afraid to walk around at night. 2. Although cheap food and frat houses are an INCREDIBLY essential part of the college experience perhaps accessible, affordable, public transportation, quality medical services, safety, and quality of local law enforcement should be a little more important than proximity to a frat house. Plus lets not downplay UCSD or UCI's proximity to their local downtown areas. If you can't have a fun night in downtown San Diego, I'm sorry, you're not trying very hard. The same goes for Irvine. There are to many Theatres, pool hauls, bowling alleys, night clubs, skate parks, amusment parks, beaches, boardwalks, harbors, resturants, arcades, cofee houses, casinos, bike trails, rock climbing, hiking, ect. Please name the activity you enjoy that you can't find within a 15 minuet drive from UCI and I'll tell you where it is.</p>
<p>True college towns have more of an identity with the university like Davis or something and have more things to do for students without having to drive and stuff. So neither La Jolla nor Irvine are TRUE traditional college towns but that doesn't mean they are bad. And for the most part of your last post you just agreed with me cause I said there is a lot to do not that far away anyway. I'm not hating on the towns, just saying that they aren't traditional college towns, not that they are bad places to go to college.</p>
<p>Personally, I think Irvine is a very beautiful area with the perfect climate. The place is clean and very fitting for a school of higher learning.</p>
<p>Two words that comes to my mind about Irvine? It's clean and classy.</p>
<p>I think the problem we're having is that we are using the same terminology to describe two different things. I also believe you are mistaking an east coast college town for a "traditional" college town. A traditional east coast University, we can use the example of Harvard, is typically settled in an area that does not require driving to access the surrounding town. Now this is also true of many east coast cities that do not have universities, it is not a feature particular to a "college town." So what we are actually seeing in our argument is a difference in geographic cultures, rather than actual tendencies of college towns. Here in California however, with the exception of possibly San Francisco, we don't have cities that do not require private transportation to get around easily. This is due, in part, to the tendency of our cities to be more spread out and not offer near the level of public transportation access or completness (no I dont think that's a real word.) So I think this is where our disagreement lies.</p>
<p>Possibly. Also it's not just the driving/transportation, it's that the universities are relatively new and haven't built up the same tradition I guess. Presents a different feel. Not that they are bad but I'm just saying. I'd rather go to one of those schools without a hundred+ years of tradition than most of the schools that are old anyway.</p>
<p>Okay, to argue about something so totally subjective as "location" or "environment" is stupid. The original poster will decide that on his own.</p>
<p>The only tie-breaker here is academics, which UCSD wins by a mile. UCSD is well known for its bio, engineering, economics, poli sci, and others. Bio is most definitely what UCSD is most famous for.</p>
<p>Don't even get started about research and UCSD.</p>
<p>Meh...for undergrad I doubt it matters that much...I know plenty of people at uci who came here over ucsd...but whatev. Boy do we love prestige debates on CC tho.</p>
<p>I also was accepted to UCSD (revelle) and UCI -> bio
WHY!!!! did i NOT look up GE requirements for revelle before i signed up X_X 6 courses for humanities!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!</p>
<p>I currently live 15 minute drive away from UCSD, and i've already sent my statement of intent to register. But in the back of my mind, i just doubt my ability to succeed in college..at home. will i survive 6 humanities courses..
At UCI, i'd get the full college experience, independence, dorm, dorm food....
But then, i tend to over idealize things, only to crash later on.</p>
<p>UCSD is a very good school...my uncle went there (after 2 year community college) and going to UCI would be 'lower' and the bio/research is very good. But to me, it seems like college life is, wake up, drive to school, go home, study, eat, sleep. What if UCSD turns out to be my highschool, boring experience???
There are soo many whatif's
Ok, i think i'm done ranting.
BTW i'd go to the UCSD and UCI admit days to find out what each has to offer.</p>
<p>UCSD and UCI offer the same opportunities. One isnt "better" for engineering or biology or whatever. Just pick which one you like based on the location or something.</p>
<p>yea, I agree with spellingbead. Undergrad opportunities are nearly equal in all the UCs. UCI and even UCLA are going to offer roughly the same education. So, it really just depends on whether or not you like the overall impression on the campus or the prestige factor (rules in UCSD's favor).
UCSD is not going to be a boring experience, if you are willing to make it a "fun" experience. And the HUM series (i'm going to revelle also) is not going to be all that bad or boring. Sure, it's going to be a lot of work and reading, but it's going to make you a more educated person, no doubt. Be excited! See you in the fall, tuan.</p>
<p>^ is it really true that ucsd prestige is better than uci?</p>
<p>^ Yes. 10char.</p>
<p>jmilton: To an extent, but really any UC below LA isn't considered all that prestigious. Go with the campus you like better. The academics are very similar.</p>
<p>so is all of a sudden ucsd is "presigious"?</p>
<p>^ It's tough to get into for a reason, ain't it?</p>
<p>^ is it tough to get in?</p>
<p>Well I dunno about you, but I'd consider any school whose average GPA of accepted applicants is above a 4.0 to be "tough to get in".</p>
<p>But that's just me.</p>