<p>Hi, I have to choose either UIUC or UCSD for psychology major. I'm an international student from Vancouver.I don't know which one to pick for both have pros and cons. here are some of my thoughts on each uni: </p>
<p>UIUC: </p>
<p>-tremendous school spirit
-only 2 hours away from chicago, citylife
-typical college experience?
-but.. i read that illinois state owes quite a bit to the uni.. so I'm nervous about my tuition and how it will affect my studies. (apparently illinois state is in the worst situation in america)
-I've grown up in gloomy weather in vancouver. thus another 4 years of harsh weather... especially when I'm vulnerable to the cold :(
-I wonder how strong the alumni networking is..
-how stellar is the undergraduate program? not graduate?
-All I hear about UIUC is how great engineering program is, but I think i'd get quite annoyed seeing engineering majors over-representing the student population ( i might be wrong)
- i'm worried of being more of a number than a student at this big university. I assume, this would probably mean that it's harder to get to know professors...
-brother will be going to michigan state university. closer</p>
<p>UCSD: </p>
<p>-best weather!!
-very well known for biology (?) this helps because I'm also interested in that field.
-I got accepted to the Marshall College where academic requirements aren't that hard. manageable i hope.
-don't have to take 2nd language. ( i can't bear to learn mando :( i suck )
-beach is a walking distance away!
-I'm afraid San Diego will be quite a dead town (i heard lots of old people).. I'm not very into drinking nor partying (although I enjoy it at times) but I want to be in a stimulating environment with lots of opportunities.
-California is in a great $ crisis, I heard $400 million cuts for university, thus affecting the tuition fee, as well as classes. In one article, I read that students may take 6 years to complete undergraduate instead of 4.5 years (norm)
-quarter system, thus quick paced classes.
-easier access to korean food!
-my BEST friend since gr.8 got into the same school,and she prob will attend ucsd</p>
<p>overall, I want to have a very stimulating experience for undergrad. As for psychology major, both universities rank about the same for the major... and I'd have to pay about the same amount of money for tuition/ other expenses.. (UCSD a bit more $ by 4,000) Please offer some suggestions. it would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>ps. i'd like to know how engaged the professors are at UCSD. are mostly profs too concentrated on their grad students/ research than undergrad students?</p>
<p>Both are heavy research institutions regardless of major.</p>
<p>Both are approximately the same size.</p>
<p>UIUC is ultimately going to be MUCH cheaper since the cost of living at Urbana-Champaign is MUCH less.</p>
<p>Chicago is not all that close. It’s a 2 hour train ride for $40 per direction or a 3 hour bus ride for around $20/direction.</p>
<p>UIUC is known for excelling at a lot of social sciences, not just engineering (though engineering is their forte at the undergraduate and graduate level).</p>
<p>I can’t comment how accessible professors are at UIUC for undergraduates, but I’d posit that it’d be not much different than other large public schools (i.e., UCSD).</p>
<p>San Diego isn’t overrun by old people. There is a disproportionate amount of people retiring in SD, La Jolla, Del Mar, etc., but it’s not like the AARP moved in or anything. You’ll hardly notice.</p>
<p>They’re both really big research institutions and likely have many opportunities. If you take the initiative you can definitely find many great opportunities both socially and professionally. Every weekend there’s some kind of dance, concert, ethnic festival, movie screening to go to if you’re interested. However, if school spirit is one of your MAIN criteria UCSD might not be what you’re looking for. Don’t get me wrong, most people like the school. It’s just that SD doesn’t have a football team, so they’re not jumping up and down screaming “UCSD!” Most people here are pretty calm, friendly and laid-back. The social scene for the most part consists of hanging out with small groups of friends (which is what I personally prefer).</p>
<p>If you want to do engineering here it might take you longer, but not necessarily. You might have to take more classes than most people per quarter, but that goes for any school. The budget cuts have led to some fee hikes and libraries being closed down, but they haven’t affected academics too much yet.</p>
<p>And all professors have office hours during which you can talk to and develop relationships with them. I personally know a handful of people who did this successfully.</p>
<p>Anyways, choose wherever feels right for you and good luck wherever you choose to go!</p>
<p>justmyview, sounds like you’re a current UCSD student?
I just visited UCSD on a Saturday and it was a ghost town. and I’ve heard plenty of rumors about the complete lack of social life. obviously college is academically driven but I’m really looking for that balance of academic and social. on paper UCSD looks great but is the social scene really as bare as is rumored? I’m also considering UC Santa Barbara which doesn’t look as good on paper but I love the campus and of course it has a rep for great social life. I’m wondering if I could get your better sense of UCSD than I’m picturing?</p>
<p>crazynatiinbj , I’m the same way in that I rarely drink and I just want the opportunities to go out and have a good time. are they there at UCSD?</p>
<p>@oyama, @justmyview: thank you so much for the objective insight !! I’m still weighing both options and it seems to be still at 50: 50 </p>
<p>@acer1212: I hope so… I’d actually like to know that myself! </p>
<p>@kinselite : I’ve never been to niether downtown San Diego nor Chicago so I wouldn’t know very well how exciting each city is. but knowing that chicago is the 3rd largest city in states, i assumed it’d be much more invigorating than San Diego. Please correct if I have the wrong impression!</p>
<p>This is personal anecdote, and it comes from someone who went to UCSD for undergraduate and now a school right outside Chicago for graduate school: I personally like Chicago a lot more.</p>
<p>It’s certainly not for everyone – think of New York with a Midwest mellow to it. Some people really don’t like the fast hustle and bustle of the city. It sometimes feels lacking of emotion and character. San Diego has the feel and nightlife of a metropolitan, but has the charm of a smaller city in comparison to Chicago. People have preferences, but you have to figure your own out yourself.</p>
<p>What the hell is going on here? Chicago is a amazing city, don’t get me wrong, but UIUC is in the middle of Illinois and literally more than 2 hours away from Chicago. It’s not like you’ll be there all the time. We might as well be comparing Chicago to LA.</p>
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