Running Out of Time... UCI vs UCSD vs UCSB

lkg4answers
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 15:03:33 +0000

I agree with @PadreDeTres. Eliminate UCSD.

Are you a surfer and/or do you go to the beach frequently now? If not then it will quickly become a non factor at UCSD and UCSB.

You will be pleasantly surprised how quickly you will make friends at UCSB. If you can swing the cost, I think UCSB sounds like the perfect college experience for you. It is far enough away from home that you won’t come home every weekend but close enough that you can come home for family events that are important to you. There are a lot of OC students at UCSB and it is easy to find someone who wants to carpool.

You are not the only 17 or 18 year old leaving home for the first time at UCI or UCSB (or UCSD). The dorms, dining halls, advising, etc. know that freshmen will be homesick. They know that freshmen are going to go through social adjustments while trying to attend classes. The real question is, after the first quarter, will you feel as if you didn’t “go away” to college because UCI is too close to home?

Answering your questions:

1. Prestige between UCI, UCSB and UCD is insignificant when applying to grad schools. Even if you had the exact same GPA out of the three, your test scores, extracurricular activities (leadership as well as demonstrated interest), essays and letters of recommendations will mean more than the name of the school.

1. No but don't wait too much longer. Technical issues can happen and you don't want to be without a school on May 2.

2. Honestly, this is pretty rare. Not that it isn't doable but once you get acclimated to a school, you'll stop thinking about the others.

3. Don't know - This is an important thing to look into.

4. Yes, happy and successful will matter more than depressed and unsuccessful.

Good luck.