University of California-San Diego Top Questions

Professors rarely know my name because all the lower division classes have 200 or more students. Class participation is not especially common, students are not that competitive. Students study a lot. I feel like the gen. ed requirements are way too intense, especially considering you don't even really get to choose which college you're in.

the events and classes that bring in the top achievers in their fields are the most interesting because it is living proof that the major goes somewhere. Especially great if the speakers are people we all can relate to because it makes the academics feel not so impossible. It is amazingly competitive and scary but i hope to make close contacts with future professors because i like the upper division courses better than any of the professors i have had so far.

i think the education is about learning for its own sake. if you work in a lab, you can start to know professors. i think that is one of the best things i did at ucsd. it was real hands on experience.

Professors don't know my name, it's really hard to get to know them. My favorite class was Asian American literature because I'm Asian American and I learned a lot about my culture and people. My least favorite was Muir 40 and 50. I think students study a lot. Class participation is not commmon, it's always the same people talking. Rarely do students have conversations outside of class. Students can be competitive. The most unique class I've taken is VisArt: Performance Art. I like my Comm. department, but there's always waitlist problems, and the frequency of each class being offered each quarter. I do feel like education here is geared toward learning.

Some professors know my name. I dont have a favoirte. every is too hard and consumes my life.

Classes here are pretty tough. Usually in most of the lower division courses I have taken, there are a least a couple hundred students in class and the only way a professor would know your name is if you made an effort to see them after or outside of lecture. I don't think I spend more time studying than my friends that go to SDSU, but there are students here who study a lot. I would say that each class requires about one to two hours of indirect homework per lecture. (What I mean by indirect is that it isn't graded so like readings etc...). I am a human development major and I am definitely thinking about applying to medical school. I love my major and the classes I have taken here have all taught me a lot and have been really interesting. I am an ERC student, and unfortunately for me, that college is more geared towards international studies and history majors, so for me the general education requirements have been annoying to fulfill; however, I do feel like I am getting a very well rounded education.

Some professors know my name. My favorite class has been the MMW series. I hated Calculus. Students are very competitive here.

Professors don't know your name if you're in one of the larger majors (like history or poli sci) but other majors, like writing and some engineering, contain more workshop style courses and they will get to know your name.

Yes, professors know my name. But that takes effort! Go to office hours, answer question in class, shoot an email. I'm a psychology and linguistics double major and I have nothing but the best things to say about the program. I hate that people think psychology is an "easy major" but if you challenge yourself and take rigorous classes you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you can achieve. I guess students study a lot? But I doubt that's all they ever do, maybe some, but aren't there bookworms everywhere? Class participation happens, and is encouraged. At least in the classes I have taken. I don't know about Science and Math majors, I hear interesting stories about the classes and professors... Intellectual conversations happen, but again you have to surround yourself with the right people. You will figure out who is like you and what they have to offer to your personal development. Plenty of newspapers, magazines and reading material to enhance your mind. The requirements here at UCSD vary on the colleges. I know about Revelle College, and I can honestly say that the wide breathe of requirements bolsters your resume for graduate school or professional careers. Many students opt out of the Humanities Program, which is a mistake. Humanities is a 5 quarter writing series that will influence the way you think of the Wester World, from Greek Civilization to modern day philosophy and arts. Just take it!

Only a few professors know my name. My favorite classes have been with a specific professor, Nitin Govil. He's an amazing guy and he pushes his students to excel. Even though his class is very challenging, he makes it possible for students to do well, guiding them with his lectures and offering help in and out of class. Studying rates vary at UCSD. Some study more than you could ever believe and some just don't study at all. I think it depends on the major and how you feel about academics. Class participation is the same way. In large classes, you're always going to have the kid who won't shut up with the occasional random student raising his or her hand. In smaller classes, it is more common for students to participate. Depending on the major, students can be EXTREMELY competitive. As a Communication major, it's only competitive to get into certain classes, not necessarily in the classes themselves. The most unique class I've taken is one on Science Fiction. I'm definitely not into all that stuff, but I found myself actually enjoying and learning a lot from and about the genre of film. The Communication department is very interesting, being that it is CommunicatioN, not CommunicationS. Our department is very theory based and doesn't offer the same type of practical experience that others do. Thus, the education from this department is definitely geared toward learning for its own sake, as opposed to getting a job.