<p>I have a dilemma. I don't know which one to choose, UCSD or UCSB.
Here are my pros and cons list</p>
<p>UCSB
Pros: Great environment, way more social, better college experience, has business/business management (my first choice in a major)
Cons: Lower ranked, small city (seems like theres not much to do/ not many internships?)</p>
<p>UCSD
Pros: Better ranked school, Bigger city (more job opportunities)
Cons: Doesn't have business, only Econ, Socially dead (or from what I hear), not as great of a college experience, Harder school, Triton Eye...</p>
<p>Don’t choose UCSD just because of its prestige (and honestly, it’s not up there in the UCLA/Cal tier; I don’t care what anyone says.) There is some truth to the “University of California, Socially Dead” stereotype. Visit on a weekend and you’ll know what I mean. I visited UCSD on a school day, and once classes got out it became extremely busy, but then it just became a ghost town again. Weekends are even worse. I visited UCSB during their Spring break and there were still people on the lawns socializing, playing frisbee, etc. I also know a freshman at UCSD who’s transferring to a Junior College because she hates it there. Just some things to keep in mind; is an extremely slight prestige boost worth giving up the true college experience? My advice is to go to UCSB.</p>
<p>By the way, I’m turning down UCSD for UCSB or Davis. I’m not just some bitter reject.</p>
<p>College is what you make it… I have close friends who love it there. They go out surfing and chilling.UCSB is known for University of Casual Sex and Beer. I really liked sd and people really exaggerate how boring it is… Its a really nice school.</p>
<p>There are a good number of options, but we don’t have anything comparable to the kind of business administration programs you’d find at Cal, Cal Poly, UCI, or UCR.</p>
<p>I chose SB over SD. The atmosphere here is soo much better and I felt like I would enjoy SB way more, and I’m happy with my decision. Yeah, UCSD is slightly better ranked, but it’s not gonna make much of a difference in the end; it’s not at the level of Berkley or LA. Your gpa is gonna be much more important than that negligible amount of difference in ranking.</p>
<p>Just look at all those cons you listed for UCSD…</p>
<p>Really? I loved davis’ atmosphere so much better than sb… It felt like it was more social focused and little academically focused. I went down to iv and it was just so packed with college kids and people were drunk at 1pm on a saturday. I just liked the davis community more and this goes same to SD. If youre a boring person youll have a boring time anywhere. You just have to find yourself and make things happen. Cause the academics are really nice at sd and the beach is close too.</p>
<p>We’re not talking about Davis, but I feel like is more of a commuter campus, and I don’t wanna be rude… But who wants to live in Davis? And people in IV are not drunk at 1pm, that’s ridiculous. Yeah the beach is pretty close at SD distance wise, but have you ever walked to the beach from that campus? I assure you it’s anything but convenient. The beach at SB the easiest access you’ll get.</p>
<p>are you serious? Not everyone wants to live by the beach. I lived in SoCal all my life and maybe people want to experience something new? I can say the exact same thing about SB. Who wants to live with a crowd of alcoholics? A group of college kids who take pride in their drinking parties. Davis may not appeal to everyone, but overall I felt Davis to be right for me. And it’s kind of downgrading when people assume UCSD is socially dead. The academics are amazing and everyone will have a good college experience. </p>
<p>I went to freebirds after spring insight and I was turned off by how many loud college kids were running around in little to no clothes. The frat guys were outside their balcony drinking without shirts and I didn’t see myself going there. And since you mention commuter school, SB is a commuter school if you take consider where majority of the student body lives. They choose to live in IV because the price for housing costs more than tuition. It really is a wonderful school, but when it came down to decision time I went with the one where it felt right for me. And it’s not fair for anyone to not even consider going to UCSD b/c it is “socially dead” </p>
<p>you’re stereotyping schools based on your favortism to SB. SB is a great school and they rank high in their engineering department, but SD shines in Biology and sciences. I know academics are one thing and it is good to consider the social aspect, but it really isn’t “DEAD” in San Diego. </p>
<p>TO OP: you should talk to some students who attend both SB and SD. Sorry I brought up Davis. Felt like I could relate to how I narrowed my choices. Good luck on your decision! & don’t send your SIR last minute!</p>
<p>I actually don’t. I’m just mocking how this post is on UCSB’s forum and people are downgrading UCSD for it’s stereotypes. When UCSB has it’s own stereotypes no one here brought out. Just trying to let @Nick know stereotypes are flawed.</p>
<p>“I can say the exact same thing about SB. Who wants to live with a crowd of alcoholics? A group of college kids who take pride in their drinking parties. And it’s kind of downgrading when people assume UCSD is socially dead.”</p>
<p>Aren’t you taking the role of those people who downgrade ucsd as you are downgrading ucsb? I drank more as a senior going to davis on the weekends than my two years here so far, so stereotypes are true to some point but yes people blow them out of proportion, just as you and the playboy’s top ten list did with ucsb</p>
<p>I don’t know if this is referring to me, but there are other reasons I am not considering it as well (I’m happy to share those with OP or anyone else if you’re interested.) I am likely choosing Davis over SB and SD, and I share your concern regarding the partying at UCSB. I just didn’t find UCSD to be a very welcoming and lively campus, whereas UCSB was very warm and alive. For me, that became one of the deciding factors.</p>
<p>I’ve seen previous posts where you mentioned that “everyone” in IV parties, that the school is more well known for it’s party atmosphere than it’s academic excellence, and some second hand info about stuff like the frat system and food. </p>
<p>And since this is the UCSB forum, and many current students and alumni love the school, you’re going to get a lot of support on the school here. Our insights will also probably be more complete than visiting prospective freshmen. Just some comments from a 2008 alum :)</p>
<p>are you guys really nitpicking everything? Look like I said before, “College is what you make out of it” If I offended any UCSB UCSD UCD kids I’m terribly sorry. I was just trying to prove a point that all stereotypes aren’t true and there’s no reason to cancel out school based on them. All of UC’s are pretty good at what they do and there’s no doubt you’ll find great education and social life in all of them. We should be happy there’s so many great colleges in our backyards.</p>