2012 transfer questions--housing, payment, classes?

Colleges & Universities University of California - San Diego
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<p>So I am hoping to transfer to UCSD for fall 2012 as a Political Sci-Int Relations major (also pre-med). I have a few questions about housing, payment, and scheduling. Any answers would be appreciated!</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It seems like living off-campus (even in a one-bedroom, alone) is cheaper than living on campus, in the transfer dorms, even with the cost of living added on. Are there any apartments that off-campus students commonly live? Any that are pet-friendly (one cat)? Also, I am not familiar at all with the San Diego area. What areas are nearby, and what sort of transportation is there to campus if you have to live semi far away?</p></li>
<li><p>I qualify for the Blue and Gold opportunity, and found a link for Englehorn Family Scholarships, but other than that I am totally in the dark on how to pay for college. I currently live at home and financial aid covers my classes, but I have no idea how to pay for rent/living expenses once I move 8 hours away to San Diego (my parents can’t afford to help out). If anyone can link scholarship opportunities or give helpful advice, that would be greatly appreciated. Working part-time will likely not be an option, due to the strenuous courseload I have to take with med school prereqs, major requirements, and general ed. Is it common for students to take out loans at UCSD? I feel like this is a last resort for me, and if possible I want to be completely covered by scholarships/grants, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Like I said, I am a political science major. However, I have to take BILD 1, 2, and 3 for med school, as well as some upper division biochemistry and biochemistry lab classes. I know biology majors are impacted at UCSD, so how difficult is it to get into these classes as a non-biology major?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you so much for your responses!!!</p>

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<p>Check this out:
[How</a> to Search for Off-Campus Housing](<a href=“http://students.ucsd.edu/campus-services/housing/offcampus/search.html]How”>http://students.ucsd.edu/campus-services/housing/offcampus/search.html)</p>

<p>On that webpage you can find a list of the apartments around the campus, along with estimated distances and price range. </p>

<p>And FYI regarding loans, one of my friends who is currently a graduate student in UCSD (she’s a pre-med btw, majored in Biology for the undergraduate degree in UCSD) has about $20,000 debt to pay off now. She has recieved a few financial support from her middle-income parents as well as adequate financial aid every year throughout her undergraduate years. However, she still had to use some loans even during those 4 years, but not the whole $20,000. Note that graduate students usually get less financial aid and pay more tuition. She’s just one example I know.</p>

<p>I am planning to use some loans too. I mean I have to. Otherwise I wouldn’t even be able to pay the rental for the third month of the first quarter with my savings while living in a room for $500-600 a month.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your response and the link! I found it very helpful :)</p>

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<p>For your questions about classes, getting into the classes are based off the number of credits you have and not what major you are. I’m currently a psychology major but was able to sign up for some upper div bio classes without a hitch. The ones I had problems with were just because I had less units than the other students enrolling in them :slight_smile: It’s definitely difficult to get into the bio labs, bio major or not…I couldn’t get into mammphys lab for next quarter.</p>