<p>Personally, I would my list of UCs goes as following:
1. UC Berkeley
2. UC San Diego
3. UCLA
4. UCSB</p>
<p>Claridge: Just curious, how come UCSD over UCLA?</p>
<p>Davis and Irvine are also very competitive and tough. Most of the UC's are. They're public schools, they don't baby you.</p>
<p>awakenedream: Interesting question that quite a few people have asked me recently. Personally, I'd prefer a smaller town (Berkeley, La Jolla) over that monster city known as LA. Secondly, my intended major in Bioenginering is only offered at Berkeley and SD. The only reason I have SB on my list is because it's a frickin' awesome place - and the Creative Studies Program rocks.</p>
<p>UClippers05 </p>
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<blockquote> <p>nice Gradstudent what was UCSD like how hard is it?<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>I was a poli sci major and from other posts, I think you are a science major so its hard to compare. I would say the sciences are extremely competitive at UCSD. I will say however that everyone has the most trouble your first or second year. The GEs are designed to be weed courses so be prepared to buckle down the first year or two. It is difficult to get As because they grade very strictly and they watch how many As they give out. Grades are monitored and if there str abnormal amount of As or Bs or whateve, the TAs get together and go over it. The writing courses are usually bad for all colleges but esp at Revelle, ERC and Marshall. After that, ppl usually do better in their upper divisions because thats more focused on their field. I enjoyed politics so the upper divs were not difficult at all for me. I would say UCSD students generally study pretty hard.</p>
<p>There is also the fact that a prestigeous school has an atmosphere of academia that pushes one to study harder. (Don't know about UCLA, they've got huge party population)</p>
<p>GradStudent,</p>
<p>I have been considering changing my major to Political Science at UCSD, but I am not sure what I would do with the degree. I am thinking of pursuing law as many people in Political Science are, but what other occupations are there?</p>
<p>If you don't mind me asking, where do you plan to go with your Political Science major?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Gradstudent do you know if UCI does that too, trying to limit the amount of As given? UCSD seems pretty hard but I am gonna take a shot at it. Whats the avg. gpa at UCSD?</p>
<p>If you are living in a dorm with people who think studying is figuring out which party to go to, eventually they will convince you that a 3.0 is a sign of genius. If you live in a dorm with people who have the library schedule memorized and know where all the best studying spots on campus are...you might find yourself feeling sorry for those people who got B's.</p>
<p>Schools aren't that extreme, but my point should be clear...a "harder" school may encourage us to find an academic strength and endurance that will help us through our lives. An easier school may make it easier to accept mediocracy. Grad schools and most employers know this. Accordingly a 3.76 at Cornell will usually trump a 4.0 at Chico State.</p>
<p>if you got into a really good school, it must mean they think you could make it there</p>
<p>A gentle reminder for many of you, college is a new start, a new opportunity to get a 4.0 before you apply to grad school in four or even ten years from now. Grad schools can be even more competitive than getting into a UC. Some schools whittle 7,000+ applicants down to less than 500 attending. Good schools usually come with good advice about getting into to another good school. That has been my experience.</p>
<p><em>bummmmmmp</em></p>
<p>I'm getting both sides of this argument. Can somebody add a poll or something to see what other ppl say lol jk?</p>
<p>Just look at your classmates in high school and which school their going too...</p>
<p>What type of student do you want to be assosicated with in college? Look at the ones that are going to UCD/UCI/UCSB and the ones that are going to UCSD/UCB/UCLA. Where do you think you would better fit in? It's more than just numbers and prestige.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I'm also having the same dilemma. However, mine is really between UCSB and UCSD or UCLA.</p>
<p>Gradstudent, do you know how poli. sci. is each of these schools?</p>
<p>fmstyle: no brainer, ucla. perfect school, i wish i got in, lol. great academics, great social life, great people, great school, great location, just everything.. polisci also strong too</p>
<p>Yeah, pick UCLA.</p>
<p>It's the 2nd best UC.</p>
<p>Perfect school? No. The biggest thing I dislike about UCLA is that it doesnt look historical. In fact, it's the most artificial looking campus.. not to say that that's bad because UCLA is the best maintained, and the interior of the buildings look nice.</p>
<p>Just to point out one example, the bells are recordings! Unlike at Berkeley where at every hour you're notified by the Campanile with real bells, at UCLA, the sounds are made by a microphone.</p>
<p>And most of the buildings are made of brick. </p>
<p>But, otherwise, UCLA is a close second after Berkeley.</p>
<p>Well, the argument against UCLA is to say that UCSB would get you a higher GPA, the classes are slightly easier, and going to UCSB is like being a big fish in a small pond instead of the opposite where it's more likely at UCLA.</p>
<p>And isn't the GPA and your graduate test score (whether it's the MCAT or the LSAT or the GRE) are the two most important factors, not the college you went to?</p>
<p>How would you respond to that?</p>
<p>bummmmmmmmmmmmp</p>
<p>If I were to plan on going to grad or med school, I would choose the college I would get a better GPA at. Less competition.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I would go to the university with the most prestige.</p>
<p>i would go to the college that sends more students to med school percentage wise regardless of easy or hard GPA...</p>