<p>I have a bit of a dilemma. I need to SIR by Wednesday May 1, and am currently deciding between three schools: UC San Diego, UC Davis, and Santa Clara University. Can someone please help me out? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Here are the pros and cons of attending each school.</p>
<p>UC Davis:</p>
<p>-I live in Davis, so I would be right next to my parents if I needed anything (food, help with homework etc)
-I won a $13,000 scholarship towards one year of my tuition
-Many of my friends will be attending UC Davis
-I could possibly live at home to save more money
-Cons: I've lived in Davis my entire life and don't know if I would want to for another four years; the recent budget cuts at Davis have greatly affected class sizes (many lecture halls have 500+ students); I would not be able to play soccer there </p>
<p>UC San Diego:</p>
<p>-My brother currently goes there, so I would be close to him and he could help me out
-I could possibly play soccer for their team
-They have a wonderful pre-med program
-It's right next to the ocean and its a beautiful campus
-Cons: I would be far from home; as with UC Davis, I would be in big classes</p>
<p>Santa Clara University:</p>
<p>-It is fairly close to my house (about 2 hours)
-It's a private school, so I would get a great education
-The opportunities for internships are endless
-Small campus, huge dorms, great campus life
-Intimate relationships with professors
-Cons: it is about $6,000-$8,000 more for me to attend in comparison to a UC; I would not be able to play soccer there; I'm not sure how strong of an academic school it is</p>
<p>From the information you provided, I would say UCSD. You would have the family support you desire, possibly be able to play soccer competitively, you like the location, and the academics are great for what you want to do.</p>
<p>How important is soccer to you?
Who will be paying that additional $6,000 - $8,000 for Santa Clara? If it’s your family, can they afford it?</p>
<p>You mention pre-med. If that’s your plan, then you would be wise to take on as little debt as possible for your undergrad. If med school is in your future, undergrad debt is not your friend!</p>
<p>Soccer is fairly important to me but its not like I would die without it. My parents would be paying the extra $6,000-$8,000 and are happy to do so. They want me to go to Santa Clara because its a private school. I’m skeptical because I’m not sure how good of an academic school it is. I’ve also been wait listed at Pomona College and am still waiting to hear back from them. If I get in there, I’m for sure going. But for now, I need to SIR to one of these three schools.</p>
<p>Go to UCSD. Do something new with your life. I’m from San Diego and I chose Davis for this Fall to get out of my comfort zone and to experience living in a new place. The academics at both schools are nearly identical at the undergrad level imo. Scratch Santa Clara out. It doesn’t sound like something you want. Don’t live for your parents. Live for yourself. Good luck on your decision.</p>
<p>You could probably play club soccer at any of the schools if that is important. Have you already had a try-out w/ UCSD-is it a sure thing? Aside from soccer, it sounds like you are leaning toward UCSD.</p>
<p>Don’t believe the myth that simply because a university is private the education, personal attention and faculty quality will be similar to that found at a Swarthmore or Chicago.</p>
<p>I had a try out with the team in March and the coach invited me out for pre-season in July. Basically I train with the team for 2 weeks and he decides if he wants me or not. I’m leaning towards San Diego currently, but am definitely not ruling out the other two schools.</p>
<p>I’ve actually heard great things about Santa Clara . . . so don’t sell it short. Personal attention and teaching quality are excellent, even without the fancy name! If money is a non-issue, I’d choose it over Davis in a heartbeat. Add UCSD to the mix, though, and the decision gets more difficult . . .</p>
<p>No idea… I’m thinking UCSD and Davis. ~There is a sophomore girl pretty into the medical field and she is pretty confident that UC Davis is the school to go to. (She’s smart and is more planned out than I was as a sophomore, and I wouldn’t disagree from what I know about it).</p>
<p>If it wasn’t for the fact that it was medical, I’d prefer SD as a school in general.</p>
<p>Saving money is on you and your parents–and if you wish to do so, have a pretty solid plan and make sure the school has a good enough program. At least you’ll still have the college town at Davis, whereas if you go to Sacramento State (out of the question) its facing the challenges of a commuter school that is something in itself. And hopefully you’ll be an adult and get to act like one at home.</p>
<p>UCSD is uber competitive especially for premed. You won’t get the free tutoring that you would get at Davis.<br>
We’re from San Diego and I have a neighbor who is a professor and serves on the med school adcom at ucsd. </p>
<p>When I mentioned that my daughter was considering Santa Clara, my neighbor stated that they had just admitted a med school candidate who seemed extremely well-prepared. My dd eventually ended up at Davis because Santa Clara was too expensive but if you’re okay with that, then you should take advantage of that.
I just know too many of our local students who have stated how ultra cut-throat the programs are ad ucsd. My daughter likes Davis because the professors are really accessible during office hours.<br>
You realize that UCSD is not really right next to the beach right? It’s almost always overcast there and you can’t see it from the campus (like at santa barbara). If you prefer San Diego for the activities, then go for it.</p>