<p>UCSD has often been called an ‘egg-head’ school - from the beginning, I think, UCSD’s administration pushed for a very academically demanding atmosphere because they didn’t want it to become Beach-Bunny Central.</p>
<p>The administrators there tried to make sure that SD wouldn’t become party central, with it being near the beach, and closer to it than SDSU, which is a party school. Maybe they went a little too far. ; ) And undoubtedly these perceptions of the two San Diego schools kept perpetuating, assuring that SD and SDSU will be at opposite poles wrt social life. I’ve heard stories about how the students at SD would rather be inside studying or playing video games, instead of being outside at the bluffs or the beach on those incredible cloudless, windless days which would be rarer near the beach. </p>
<p>There have been stories about how SD was always the toughest grading UC. That’s undoubtedly lessened now, but it’s still a very tough grading school. The average gpa for graduating seniors there is ~ 3.13 for students who are the most about the study grind of all UC students as Dunn alluded (or may have). For UCLA it’s ~ 3.24 and for Cal it’s ~ 3.28, and not to say those two aren’t ultra-competitive either. And these figures are undoubtedly changing all the time.</p>
<p>But there was a natural disinclination for SD to become a party school like SB because of its locale. The main thing as Dunn alluded, being that La Jolla is essentially a retirement community, and the area wouldn’t have much night life or much going on past 10. </p>
<p>For SB, the area of IV which abuts SB is indeed party central. The average age of an IV resident has to be at most 23, and the area is I think ~ 1 square mile of run-down apts and dwelling places, to which Jim Rome, UCSB alumnus/sports commentator, refers to as “the ghetto by the sea.” IV has a combination of SB and SBCC students, the latter of whom generally hope to xfer to SB. SBCC btw is an incredible campus, much nicer than SB.</p>
<p>Then you have SC (Santa Cruz) which is undoubtedly somewhere in between SD and SB wrt conviviality quotient. All three are essentially near the shore. SC’s an entirely different mindset in itself.</p>
<p>Well, at Santa Cruz it is a party when they commune with the trees. But at least they never forget to invite all the furry little animals too. Or even the non-furry ones, like the banana slugs (still one of my top 5 mascots).</p>
<p>That is really interesting stuff about UCSD. Thanks for the insight!</p>
<p>… and defend the school’s honor wrt partying and having a good time.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are definitely some.</p>
<p>A few corrections:</p>
<p>1) Jim Rome actually referred to IV as, “Isla Vista…where the ghetto meets the sea,” as someone corrected me. </p>
<p>That reference and the one I stated earlier is fairly common with “[insert city/town’s name]… where the ghetto…”</p>
<p>2) I was being facetious when I referred to La Jolla as “essentially a retirement community.”</p>
<p>There are retirement “villages” in LJ, and a lot of older people, but it is very much a family-oriented town. I just meant this to contrast the definite younger IV crowd. And of course LJ would be harsh on revelers, crack down on them, etc, if it did happen, which is happening in beach communities that were once reveler friendly.</p>
<p>Living in San Diego and knowing a lot of UCSD students, it’s not a party school. Kids go to parties at SDSU more often than at their own campus. People are shy and afraid to talk to each other. I’d definitely recommend Santa Barbara and Dartmouth if you have the grades.</p>
<p>anywhere else?</p>
<p>Tulane, Univ Conn, MIT (believe it or not!!)</p>
<p>Almost everyone at MIT does drugs or drink –> true fact.</p>
<p>uconn parties hard. anywhere else?</p>
<p>UT-Austin is strong across the board and Austin is one of the ultimate college cities.</p>
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<p>Hahahahaha I like this!</p>
<p>Oh yeah, party yeah!!</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>anyone???</p>
<p>hahahahahah i just saw this. soooo true</p>