@otoribashi: I was just pointing out that UC’s do not negotiate FA and using UCB’s Alumni scholarship as leverage for more aid at UCSD will not work. My understanding is that each school establishes their own criteria for merit based scholarships, so UCB probably has different standards than UCSD. UC’s do not claim to meet need and there is always some amount of money that each student/parents have to contribute even with an EFC of $0. Since UCB is giving you more aid?, then UCB seems like a more affordable option.
Just received the welcome letter today.
Just received it as well 
Congratulations everyone who got in!
@Gumbymom oh i see… unfortunately the net cost is the same for both schools, but cal seems to offer more scholarships that one could apply to… 
but i would prefer ucsd lol that’s why i wanted to see if it was possible to negotiate but i guess that only applies to private schools or non-UC’s. thank you for your response it was informative.
since im local, ucsd would be cheaper if i stayed home and commuted but the net price for both is assuming i live on campus (which i would prefer to do) but in the end ucsd would be cheaper then since i can just stay home if i cant afford on-campus housing.
@itskelvinn thank you!
UCSD’s welcome package looks stunning!
Just received the UCSD packet today as well!
SIR submitted, will be joining everyone this fall!
Also, I received UCSD grant, but I’m unsure what is related to?
Was it just me or was the welcome letter kind of cheesy? Either way, I wore the crown for two days straight
I thought the welcome packet was so cute. Highlight of my week
Anyone that has been accepted to Cal and is on the fence as to enrolling there or at UCSD? Not sure that for undergrad it makes a big difference down the road other than the unique opportunities each institution provides for their graduates. Interesting dilemma!!
@ald6191 yeah a couple of us on here are having the same dilemma! i def think it’s a matter of what unique opportunities each institution has… but it’s hard to know when we’re not students there and aren’t exposed to those things. it’s different than what you see on a department page. if you roam the school and see flyers that advertise a bunch of different opportunities for what you’re interested in, that would be a good thing. but it’s things like these that you can’t possibly know how to find online unless you know precisely what activity/event it is (which is usually announced on the flyer itself).
im leaning a lot on UCSD though. better climate, campus, environment, surroundings. beach! also, at least from their online presence/websites, i get the feeling that UCSD is sort of like a mini silicon valley, or at least trying to become one. and i don’t think they’ll fail. san diego/la jolla is a beautiful city, and i think that will attract many professors and professionals in the future who are wishing to live and/or settle down in that sort of environment.
@otoribashi i have lived in san diego 29 years and never thought I would end up attending UCSD. I used to play pick up basketball with students in 1988!
There is nothing wrong with UCSD, however, it is human nature to see something that is perceived to be more valuable as what one should pursue.
I applied to Cal on a lark, never imagining I would be admitted. Just today in my Int’l Relations class someone asked me if I got in at Cal, and I was hesitant to say yes. However, I was treated like a rockstar when the word traveled around the class. Amazing what one word does for your reputation!
Triton versus a Golden Bear???
Cal has a stronger reputation. It is ranked the #1 public school in the world and is considered a public ivy league or a “West Coast Ivy”.
UCSD is also a great Uni but if you had to choose from UCSD or Cal, it should be Cal. If it was UCLA vs Cal, I would say it would be a lot closer. But regardless, you pick what fits you best, that is the most important thing.
Best of luck
Hey guys. Just wanted to let you know that I appealed my decision into UCSD and it got overturned. So I am officially accepted into UCSD. My reasons for appeal were pretty stupid to be honest and I didn’t think I was gonna get in with the reason that I stated, but I figured why not? I put “I got into Cal; I should get into here as well” Good luck to all that appealed
That’s amazing, @itsromeosuckaa. Literally made me lol. Congratulations!
@itsromeosuckaa hahahahaha omg that’s so savage
LOL. That’s fantastic. Perfect appeal.
@itsromeosuckaa whaaaaat? That’s amazing! What did you put for step 1? Extraordinary achievement?