<p>Hi guys,
I'm wondering from UCSD students if they notice any real difference at UCSD at the presence of a 6 college system vs. a standard large university? I know UCSD seems like a half way hybrid between the Oxbridge college system and the large American university, but does it provide any advantages? If so what are they? I say this because UCSD's colleges are not separate entities like Oxbridge colleges that have their own endowments etc. What do the students of UCSD think? Gimmicky or effective? What can be done better to make the college system better at UCSD?</p>
<p>I’d say there are essentially no differences between UCSD and other universities and therefore think the college system is more gimmicky than anything. What could be done better is guaranteeing that everybody in each college gets the same number of GEs. That alone makes them frustrating to some. They determine where you live on campus but that is NO DIFFERENT than any other university where students live in different parts of the campus. I just think the whole system is arbitrary. That doesn’t mean that it is “bad”, but it just means that it’s really no different than any other university when it comes down to it.</p>
<p>That’s just my opinion. I realize that there are some people that think the college system is a big deal but I will happily defend my position against theirs. No hate, but just saying.</p>
<p>Some people say “it splits up the class!” which is what I think was intended (to prevent massive student unions or something?)</p>
<p>However, I’ve always liked the 6 college system even as a revelle student. It just gives you something to talk about…at a party : “hi I’m frosting nice to meet you. Oh you go to muir? I go to revelle! Do you know etcetcetc? She went to my highschool. Oh you live next to her? I’ll come visit you next time I see her!” </p>
<p>It’s also just nice because the 6 colleges are locations. If I were to say, it’s such a long walk from Argo hall to Brennan" not everyone knows where I’m talking about. But if I said “it’s such a long walk from revelle to warren” everyone knows that.</p>
<p>^That’s no different than any other university though.</p>
<p>Example: UC Davis</p>
<p>“Oh you live in Segundo? I live in Tercero! Do you know etcetcetc? She went to my highschool. Oh you live next to her? I’ll come visit you next time I see her!” </p>
<p>Example: UC Irvine</p>
<p>“Oh you live in Mesa Court? I live in Middle Earth! Do you know etcetcetc? She went to my highschool. Oh you live next to her? I’ll come visit you next time I see her!” </p>
<p>And I don’t really see how it splits up the class either. You don’t live next to every student on campus just like any other university. And you take classes with everybody else just like any other university. Also, the colleges are arbitrary to personality and major. There are people of every major and personality in each college so there is nothing really distinct about them.</p>
<p>I would say that the six college system is a little gimmicky in that what college you get into doesn’t completely “make” your college experience–unless of course, you don’t research the GEs at all before you submit your ranking for what college you want to get into. Which admittedly, a lot of people do, and then later go on to complain about all the unnecessary GEs they have to take. Personally the six college system did play a part in my choosing UCSD, because I thought it would give me a “small college experience” while attending a large university. Um, yeah. I was wrong. But I would say that as a freshman it helped to be living near other people who were also taking the same GE writing class, because they out of everyone else tend to be your first friends since they do live with you, aside from people you meet in organizations and clubs. </p>
<p>I second $KingsElite$ in that the GEs should be evened out between colleges. I know a Lit major who is sort of “stuck” doing Revelle’s intensive GEs when her major obviously doesn’t require much math or science. However, she’s doing a minor in Chemistry so it ultimately ended up working for her a little more than if she wasn’t interested in science at all. So the important thing is that although your college doesn’t necessarily determine your college experience, it’s crucial that you research those GEs and take that ranking on your application seriously, because you could save yourself some extra classes.</p>
<p>It’s great exercise walking from one to the other.</p>
<p>I agree that it’s gimmicky but since UCSD is so large in size, it helps to develop smaller communities. It also helps establish a bit more friendly competition and pride in which college you’re from that wouldnt be made in other colleges based on which building you live in. Its not too helpful, but definitely more of an advantage than disadvantage in my opinion.</p>
<p>I agree with KingsElite and the last two posts. It doesn’t make a huge difference (gimmicky) but it can be something to bond over and it does affect your college experience both academically and socially, especially when it comes to on-campus housing your first year(s) when your suite-/room-/hall mates are almost exclusively from your college. It’s pretty easy to have the bulk of your friends be from one college if you met most of them from living together. I also agree the GE inequity is really annoying because it can throw you off as a [insert] major when someone with the exact same major in another college has way fewer requirements. That would be the only thing about the system that bugs me. Otherwise, it’s a pretty harmless, at times nice little thing about the UCSD undergrad experience. :)</p>
<p>@AndrewL</p>
<p>The friendly competition is about the only benefit I see to it. Not that it means much but I’ll agree with you there.</p>
<p>@92faim</p>
<p>I don’t disagree that you will socialize with people in your college especially in your first year. The only thing I was saying was that it isn’t any different than any other university. For example at UC Davis, first years can live in either Segundo, Tercero, or Cuarto (if I’m not mistaken). They’re all separate parts of campus just like the colleges so inevitably you’ll meet a lot of people living in those areas for the same reason. I just don’t see any benefit to that over another university. It’s pretty neutral to me.</p>
<p>@g0ld3n</p>
<p>I don’t mean to talk about the college system pessimistically, I just find it the same as other universities. If you want to come to UCSD then that’s fantastic I don’t see the college system making UCSD any better or worse.</p>
<p>Example: UC San Diego
“Oh, you went to UC San Diego?” “Yes, I was in Muir College.” “So you studied in both colleges? Awesome! I am hiring you!”</p>