UW-Madison or UCSD?

College Search & Selection
21

<p>Yea, cost isn't really an issue in my decision. Of course, its an important factor, but I can afford out of state tuition. My dad actually went to UW-Madison, so he would happily pay for the pricey tuition.</p>

<p>The funny thing is that my mother went to UCSD. So, bascially I am deciding between the schools of my parents. It wasn't intentional, but their schools just ended up being the best schools I got into.</p>

<p>"San Diego is called University of California Socially Dead": I don't feel like the social scene is the biggest factor because of the variety of students at UCSD. I definitely do party, but, similar to UCSD, my high school is known for its academics, and has a lot of students with no social lives whatsoever. I just find and hang out with the kids that like to have fun, and that's what I plan on doing if I attend UCSD. I agree that the social live is not very lively, but I can't imagine its nonexistent. I would probably befriend the students that went to UCSD for the education, but want to have fun too. </p>

<p>I talked about joining a frat because I have two friends that are currently freshman at UCSD, and they say that joining a frat is the best way to have fun. Otherwise, you'll have trouble finding a party.</p>

<p>I'm still trying to decide...I have to do a lot more research, and this discussion is really helping.</p>

22

<p>As far as UCSD's poli sci department goes, I want to offer my experiences as someone who did undergrad at UCLA and does grad here at UCSD.</p>

<p>UCSD has a fantastic graduate program in political science. I'd say it's actually probably a top 5 department, despite what US News says. They also have one of the best three programs in econometrics in US.</p>

<p>But does that matter? I don't know. I get small classes and one-on-one interaction with professors quite easily as a grad student. I don't know that undergrads are so lucky. Really, undergrad and grad are very different beasts. </p>

<p>I would suggest that you, seanspq, consider the idea that while the department here is great, you may change majors down the line anyway. Basing it on a major that you probably don't really know much about (poli sci isn't really like AP gov), may lead you to think it's something that it's not. But really, both are great schools, and you'll be fine at either one.</p>