<p>Muir: The dining hall is pretty good and healthy (which is rare for a college campus), the GE’s are really lax (the main reason Muir is popular), it’s pretty easy to get to most places on campus from Muir. Also, the buildings are tall so there are a lot of people in a small area, which lends to a tight-knit community. The dorms are set up so that it’s easy to meet people. You will live in a room that is in a suite, which has 10-12 people in it. Each floor has 4 suites (2 on each side). Each set of two floors is called a “house,” and each house has about 80 people in it along with a giant main lounge and study area. The layout’s really good because it allows a lot of people to come together. Most people I have met are pretty down-to-earth and although some suites and houses are more fun to be in than others, most people have a good time.</p>
<p>Comparisons: I don’t know how it compares to JHU’s neuroscience program. However, I can tell you that SD is a good school for neuroscience and the sciences in general.</p>
<p>Research: There are tons of pre-meds here. However, obviously not everyone can be pre-med so many people end up doing research. Fortunately, research is huge here, and there are many research opportunities for undergrads. If you make the effort, you can even land a position as a freshman. </p>
<p>OOS: I do not know the proportion of students. However, I know a fair amount of out-of-state students and they all seem to get along quite well with people from around here. Also, it seems like some of the most eccentric people have the most friends. To be honest, CA is having a severe budget crisis and the Regents are mismanaging tuition fees. As a consequence, the school will soon be closing some libraries (granted, only one of them is heavily used by undergrads) and tuition fees are expected to increase a little every year. As for plane tickets, if you fly Southwest it shouldn’t be TOO much of a financial problem. Also, if things get bad you can get a job on or off-campus.</p>
<p>Scholarships: There are Jacobs scholarships, which are awarded to engineering students and Chancellor’s scholarships, which are awarded to students of all majors. However, you cannot apply for either of them. However, here’s a huge list of other scholarships you can look at [UCSD</a> Scholarships for Entering Freshmen](<a href=“http://www.ucsd.edu/current-students/finances/financial-aid/types/scholarships/freshmen/index.html]UCSD”>Scholarships for Entering First-Year Students)</p>
<p>Admit Day: If you haven’t visited the campus before, I think it’s a good idea to attend Admit Day since choosing a college is such a big decision. You should explore the campus and go on a tour. Go on the general university tour and check out Price Center and RIMAC. Also, check out the specific events at Muir college. There you can check out a dorm, go to the “ask a student” information session and maybe take a walk to the Cliffs. There’s also a parent information session. </p>
<p>Beach: Some people go very often, and some people have only been there once before. It’s a pretty chill place where people go to surf and hangout. There are also many other beaches in the area that are quite popular for their bonfire pits. The Cliffs and the sunset are also stunningly beautiful if you’re into that.</p>