University of California-San Diego Top Questions

I think the size of UCSD is totally fine. It is large, but that is what I was looking for. Since research is the focus of many of the professors, the classes can be quite difficult at times especially when the professor can't teach their way out of a paper bag. The location is beautiful, but La Jolla is a crappy place for a college. There is absolutely no campus community off the campus, which is unfortunate but bearable. There is no school spirit I think mostly because the students are there for their education and don't have the fabrication of school spirit on their agendas. UCSD has many experiences or programs that are diamonds in the rough. I am part of a very small major (Earth Sciences) that is taught by world class researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. I love my classes and most of the professors in my department. The greek community at UCSD is small but I have found it to be one of the most positive experiences of my college career if not my life. There are so many opportunities at UCSD that are just waiting for students to take them. It is the student that does not take it upon themselves to find their interests or niche that ends up absolutely hating UCSD.

Fun, great town, great fun people if you get involved.

i can't say ucsd is the best school or has the greatest teachers, but i must admit there are great things about the school that i've come to like and i've had excellent teachers. for one, there are three beaches right next to campus and another one if you care to take the extended trip. another, la jolla is obviously a college town. most of the eateries on campus are also relatively good in comparison to other campus (despite the obvious gauge in prices). and if you're feeling like paying with your own money, there's always the price center (subway, panda express, rubios, jamba juice, etc). the more excited teachers are here, the better instructors they make. i've sat in class and just been amazed by the amount of information given to me by professors, or by how much they knew. that's devotion. there are things that suck about ucsd too. there's a lack of individualism here. everything seems to be part of a franchise and sometimes you get tired of subway everyday. to do anything exciting, other than the beach, you need a car. and in addition to great teachers, i've met some pretty awful ones as well. construction here goes on forever. something new is always being built. and raccoons. they frighten the crap out of you at night. they're about the size of cats. also, being a revelle student, i can say our college is the worse in terms of ges. people rarely graduate within four years, and the majority of the students here have taken a fair amount of ap classes (and passed).

UC San Diego caters to both the students looking for a large research institution and those looking for a small liberal arts feel. There are a multitude of opportunities to get involved on either the large, campus-wide level or within the smaller six-college system level. It's the best of all possible scenarios.

I came from a really small high school in Southern California. I came to UCSD because of the large student population. We have somewhere around 30,000 students on campus, split into six colleges. If that break down isn't enough to give you a familial feeling, then turn to one of the many student organizations or Greek life. I'll be honest, when I was in high school, I was the last person you would have pegged to be in a sorority, but now I don't know where I would be or what I would be without that family here on campus. Students here can be as active as they want to be. The sky is the limit, but you have to be able to go out there and find your niche, or you will feel like one little speck in a huge universe. I guess that the best part about UCSD is that you can do anything you want to, literally. The options are out there, just waiting for you to find them.

The best thing about UCSD is its comfort and feeling like you are at home. It is so relaxing with the beautiful weather and nice beaches that are just walking distance. Having your friends near you and plenty of campus activities, it feels like you are at home and have a great community. I especially love the 6 college system because it makes it feel like a family in a much larger community. The only thing I would change about UCSD is the school spirit. If there is one thing that UCSD lacks its sports and school spirit. Being a huge sports fan, its kind of disappointing, but I still am able to cheer on my team and have the spirit. Its just kind of lame when no one else has the same spirit and asks why I wear UCSD gear.

UCSD is a best kept secret. The environment feels so humble compared to UCLA and UC Berkeley. I can honestly say that I felt like I was destined to go to UC San Diego...that I belong there...this was where I was meant to be. It is a huge campus with a huge population. Meeting people is not hard. You meet people through classes, orgs, and events. Because the population is so wide and diverse, there are many ways to find your place. If you feel like UCSD sucks, then you're probably still stuck in high school mode and can't let go. It's college...the best years of your life! Make the most of it!

UCSD is a good school. When people find out that you graduated from UCSD they are generally impressed. Many people who attend this school do not have a problem moving on after they graduate from the University. There is a lot to do at the school and many places to visit near the campus. The beach is only a mile or two away, so even if you don't have a car you are able to hang out there. One thing I would say is that the public transportation system in San Diego is not too impressive.

The best and worst thing about UCSD is their college system. We are a university broken up into 6 colleges that have nothing to do with major, what you're studying, etc. Each incoming student is a assigned to a college and based on their assignment determines where they live on campus and the general education programs they follow. It's like how Disneyland is broken up into different 'Lands' but all together they make up the Magic Kingdom. The college system is the best thing that could have happened to my college experience. It broke up our huge university into a small community where you really do recognize people that are part of your community. Each college offers specific leadership, service, and extra curricular activities to its students as well as a wide range of academic services. To me, this worked out as a great way to feel connected to such a big university. If UCSD didn't have the college system, I know my time in college wouldn't be half as good. The one drawback I can see to the college system is that I feel like it takes aways a little bit from the pride we all share for our university. It isn't uncommon for people to have more pride for their college than for our university as a whole.

There isn't a lot of school pride, and since our school is new, we kind of take the shadow of UCLA and UC Berkeley, but our school is really fun and full of very smart people. They push us a little bit harder than other schools because they want to climb higher in the rankings, so our school keeps getting better and better. I think the school is a good size, people wise, but there is a lot of walking. I wish there was more information available on the six colleges, because I think, which one you pick greatly effects how much fun you have. The type of people are different in each one. Muir, people are really laid back and have a great location on campus. Revelle, everyone complains about how difficult the GE's are, but if you are a Science major they aren't that bad. Normally the most academic people are in Revelle. Marshall, seems pretty laid back and people are nice. Warren, people recomend this if you are an Engineering major, because the GE's fit the best. Roosevelt, also has a lot of GE's, but is good for non science majors, there are a lot of girls in this college. Sixth, is the newest, and unnamed at the moment- and it's writing program is a little silly and has a weird location on campus, but it has decent GE's. But if you are a transfer student none of that matters. It's all for the first part of your undergrad.

The best thing about UCSD is the campus. You have to see it to believe it. The area is INCREDIBLE. I live in Revelle, which I think is the prettiest part of the massive campus. There are so many trees and old buildings, it feels like an Ivy League school, but with the amazing California weather year-round and great beaches within walking distance. If I could change one thing about the school, it would be the quality of the TAs. Most of the professors I've had so far have been good, but I've yet to have a good TA which helps a LOT when it comes to your grade. For me personally, the campus is just the right size. The way it's divided into six colleges rocks, it really helps keep everything organized. There's really no college town since UCSD is located in La Jolla... which is full of rich old people. But all the basics are within bussing distance. There's a great outdoor mall with good prices, and a more upscale mall just a little further away. One thing I REALLY wish UCSD had was a football team and the school pride that would come with it. Too many people at UCSD are here JUST to study and don't seem involved enough in our fabulous school. UCSD gets a reputation for being socially dead, but your experience is what you make of it. If you WANT to spend all day and night studying in CLICS, then by all means do so. But I've found that most of the people who do that drive themselves crazy and aren't the well-rounded people that will get them anywhere in life.

people think of UCSD as a very good school, "oh, you must be smart". I spend most of my time in my dorm or in a classroom. La Jolla is pretty calm and I like the suburban feel. Administration? I don't notice what they really do. Controversy...none that I can think of. There is some school pride but you can wear your other college sweatshirts and not get killed.

love it great weather and academics impressed in dorms not really a college town fine admin controversy? not too much pride unusual=cool art

Best Thing: Living minutes from the beach and the one of the best surfs in California, and being awesomely close to MEXICO. One Thing I'd Change: The RSOs on the prowl 24/7. School Size: If you have to walk, the campus is HUGE. But it's nice because its not congested. UCSD Reaction: If people know about UCSD and its academic reputation, then I usually get positive reactions. But those are few and far between because UCSD isn't as well known as other UCs (maybe because we don't have prominent sports teams?). Time Spent on Campus: I'm usually sleeping. Or going to the bookstore, its like a mini shopping center. Great place to spend my parents money on "school supplies." College Town or Not: La Jolla is kind of an uppity town. The only fast food in town in McDonalds, due to a city ban on fast food. But minutes away in Pacific Beach or Downtown, the people are way more receptive to college students and the atmosphere is awesome. UCSD Admin: I don't really care either way about the administration. They are kind of strict I suppose when it comes to ResLife. The RSOs will hassle you all night and day. Two thumbs down for them. Controversy: I live in Marshall college, so it was the DOC controversy. Long story, you have to ask someone in person, or read the school newspaper, The Guardian. School Pride: NOOO! We don't have a football team, which usually gears school pride. There is minimal support for other athletic teams, but its usually the friends of the players... Unusual UCSD: People think that students are bookworms here, but you'd be surprised at the amount of parties that occur well into finals. Memorable Experience: Seeing T.I. at SUNGOD. Frequent Complaints: Too many asians. Not enough diversity. No football team. RSOs everywhere. Nerdy.

I think UCSD's campus is a lot bigger than other college campuses. I mean, I like the variety that each college brings to the university, but it's not very convenient if you happen to wake up late for class one day. I do love our food selection though - since we have so many colleges, we have a lot of dining options as well. Also, I think the campus is designed in a great way that allows students to meet new people in their own college through orientation activities, and then having a greater range of people to hang out with once you start classes.

The best thing about UCSD is definitely how relaxed the atmosphere is (well, at least in the Muir dorms anyway). The people are mostly friendly and sociable, and of course the LOCATION is amazing. I'd change the way the dining halls charge for food. As it stands, they expect you to eat 9 dollars a day, which is not nearly enough for three, hell even TWO meals a day. The school is fairly large, but the size is perfect. When I tell people I go to UCSD, they're impressed and they say I've "made it". I usually spend a lot of time in the dorms, since there's so much going on in them that you don't usually have to go out too often to talk to your buddies. La Jolla isn't much of a college town, it's mainly just old white rich retirees. It's a beautiful place though. Although I do not have too much experience with the UCSD administration, I will say that the security officers (RSOs and CSOs) tend to vary between friendly and relaxed to uptight and pompous.

The one thing I would change would be to have a football team. Sports at other schools and at UCSD when we have big basketball games are really unifying as a campus and bring people out. It's one of the few times that I feel like campus is really alive.

The concerts are the best. I'd change the size -- UCSD is just too big. There's no way for professors to get to know you personally and for you to feel more comfortable with a difficult class. I usually get the usually "wow" with wide eyes when I tell people I go to UCSD because of how hard it is to get into nowadays. UCSD is situated in La Jolla, which is a richy rich town. There are things to do and free public transportation to get there, but I would advise you bring a car or become friends with someone who has one. Compared to other colleges I've attended, UCSD's administration isn't bad -- it's organized and all internet-based. There isn't a lot of school pride, I think because we don't have a football team (which is probably a huge blow to the sports fans).

the location of the school - the setup of the campus so that it's not so hard to get from one end of campus to another (especially when you're living on campus) - just right - they are always very impressed/proud of me - at class or in geisel to study/kill time between classes - college town mostly - it works as far as handling all of its students, but some of the organization skills as far as each individual college goes is not as good as it can be - bomb threats - school pride comes along when other schools are brought into the picture or when annual events (triton night/spirit week) comes around, but otherwise.. people just sport the sweatshirts/clothing cuz they like to - its a lot more art-innovated than it comes off to be - my hard classes - for engineering students, it'd be the constant homework and hard tests that are administered.

good studying environment school spirit too large oh you party like crazy huh?! in my apartment what college town?! idk hazing in fraternities/sororities no school pride at all! not that im aware of. waking up in the hospital from overdrinking... haha LAME/DRY CAMPUS