UCSD or UCR? (GE's, time and money)

dyno0919
Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:45:48 +0000

If you only want to go to UCSD because of the hype, then don’t go. End of discussion. If, after taking away all financial considerations and GE requirements, you would rather go to UCSD, then there is still an argument to be made for SD.

First off, you’re way too hung up on GEs wasting time and money. They hardly waste time, and often they are worth it. UCSD’s GEs across the board, excluding Revelle, really aren’t excessive by any means and 90% of the ones you take are interesting classes, especially if you like science. Also, you don’t pay per class at any university with tuition, so saying that GEs waste money is an invalid argument. They just don’t. With APs and a little bit of hard work, you could graduate easily in 4, maybe 3 years. Don’t get hung up on the turn-offs at ERC. You made it into a biology major! That’s extremely difficult to get into at UCSD, and UCSD has one of the highest ranked biology, and medical, programs in the nation!

At UCSD, remember you’ll have tons of nearby things to do to relieve stress. Classes shouldn’t be incredibly difficult, and no matter where you go med school is going to be extremely stressful. At UCR, there really isn’t anything to do.

I still don’t really understand why UCR is going to cost a lot less either? You would live off campus, sure, but you are still a financial burden on your parents, and with gas nearing $4.30 a gallon, 60 miles everyday isn’t going to be cheap, especially next year; I guarantee gas is going to be more expensive. UCR, overall, is $32,000 a year, at least for me. UCSD, for me, is $29,000. (I got these off of my financial aid package statements.) If you could explain more clearly why UCR will be way cheaper, maybe I could help a little bit.

Also, living 30 miles off campus will be very hard on you. Maybe someone else who has firsthand experience on here can help explain it better. You just won’t have access to everything you need on-campus. It will be a huge stress trying to schedule your classes and, in the end, just trying to get to them. Especially with a commute from Fontana to Riverside, where traffic is just, well, random. Trust me, I know living on campus is expensive, but you want to try to avoid it at all costs. I just don’t see living 30 miles off campus working very well. This isn’t an argument for UCSD, by the way. I’m simply just trying to explain that spending a couple more thousand may be worth it in the end.

If you can get a job, that changes everything. If you’re worried about burdening your parents, you really should get a job. That is the most responsible thing to do. Regardless of where you go, you could end up being a lot happier if you get a job and live on-campus. You might even be able to work at UCR or UCSD and cut your room and board in half.

That’s the end of my rant haha :P.