sdkdol

Never do that. Not even if the marine bio major is slightly better at UCSD (which I don't think it is). As much as employers/grad adcoms try to be fair, they're still going to look at Stanford as a major plus and UCSD as... above average.

Princess'Dad

I am a Stanford grad and previously on admission committee (30+ years ago).

Without a doubt, Stanford is one of the best undergrad schools around. Harvard and Yale do not compete in my mind. With exception of labs, all courses are taught by faculty - not TAs.

That being said, I had Linus Pauling for a chemistry teacher. He was great in discussion of how he fed his daughter the "wrong information" - she was dating Watson and Watson used the data to get the Nobel Prize. (confirmed by Watson in the double helix). However, Linus was a TERRIBLE teacher. His comment was "I wrote the book, read it and we will discuss questions", otherwise there were no lectures. I had multiple teachers like that (In fact, 6 had or later had Nobels).

Ravelle College at UCSD is probably the best in the UC system (even better than UCLA). It is as well known (esp in california) as Stanford and some employees respect it MORE (some believe Stanford has grade inflation).

Go see both and ignore people here, find out which you will be happier at. It will not affect your future.

elisaxbanana

^Ravelle? Revelle college? How come that's the one EVERYONE told me to put absolutely last on my choices (including my own sister who goes to UCSD..)

To the OP omg omg tell me you chose Stanford!

I clicked onto this thread also thinking...you've got to be kidding me.

The thing is, even if your heart is set on Marine Biology, I would suggest that you go to a school that is more prestigious with smaller classes and professors/research opportunities are more vast because you might change your major in the middle (that's what usually happens)..

but it's past 5/1 so there's no point debating now. lol.

Princess'Dad

elisabanana
Probably because Revelle is the hardest of all the colleges and is where the science nerds go. It is the only one that try to give a Renasance education.

lillyambers

Ok, I picked Stanford. I hope I picked the right choice. So is Stanford really a prestigious school and is well known? Does it carry the same prestige as Harvard and Yale?

guitars101

UCSD is very well known for biology and medicine. I would pick UCSD. A friend of my son's turned down Dartmouth for UCSD because of their medical program. It's outstanding!

mercruz

Yes, Stanford is as well known as HYP<b>S</b>M...
@ guitars101: UCSD may be well known for biology/medicine but it is still ranked 38th by USNews as compared to 4th? hmm, prestige much?

piccolojunior

They should rename it to HSPMY...or SHPMY...but yeah stanford >>> UCSD. I actually know someone who rejected stanford for a medical scholars program at San Diego State, but since that =/= UCSD then stanford FTW.

mercruz

I wonder about the life that some of those medical scholars have...

DukeBlueDevils

if you go to ucsd over stanford you will receive a certificate in the mail indicating that you are officially mentally challenged...lol duh it's a no brainer.

yahooo

... Are you not from the U.S. or something?

lillyambers

^ No I am just ignorant. To be honest, I never really was into schools.

DukeBlueDevils

this is what ****es me off about college admissions...thousands of well qualified applicants are denied to their dream schools to make room for people like this who are absolutely clueless. seriously you must live with your head up your ass to not know whether stanford is better than ucsd/if stanford is a prestigious school.

lillyambers

true, i may be absolutely clueless, but i wouldn't get in if i was not qualified. i don't think being aware of school prestige is necessary in contributing one's talents to a university. i worked extremely hard in high school and feel that i do deserve my acceptance

DukeBlueDevils

guess what so did the other 20,000 kids who were denied...so why should you deserve it more than them?