UCSD vs Macalester [economics]

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1

Admitted by UCSD, Macalester, and Edinburgh.

I am undergraduate majoring in economics from Asia (with American PR and greencard) who applied to the United Kingdom and the United States. Finished my middle school and 9th grade in Irvine and went back to my country. I’d like to get into a better American school (such as an IVY) for my graduate program. My purpose is to stay in the U.S. so I am not really considering Edinburgh now. I find that UCSD and Macalester are all atractive. Furthermore, moving to a safer and more pleasant environment (more comfortable housing, more delicious food, and more interesting things to do alone) are important considerations. Very socially awkward, so no party schools are acceptable. Not cost-sensitive at all. Which one would be a better option? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

UCSD

Pros: Close to the ocean, Rich community with great housing, Diverse food choices, Top public university in the USA, More famaliar with California’s environment, 3 close friends are also in CA (none for others)

Cons: A little bit concerned about safety here (The crime data here is not low), Low rating on niche (3.6), Reviews are polarized (Can be awesome or awful), I am in Warren so there are more GEs.

Macalester

Pros: Rich commnunity, fantastic location,

Very safe, People here are connected better, Less walking (is that really a pro), More opportunities around, In Minnesota, Prestigious in the USA

Cons: The dormate is randomized, They force you to eat their horrible cafeteria for first semester, The campus is too small, Not prestigious enough worldwide (my parents don’t want me to go here since this)

Edinburgh:
Pro: Plenty of urban acvities, speticular city, safe, famous
Con: Not in U.S. and not prior to choose, lots of things about the school are unknown.

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I really like Macalester, but it doesn’t sound as if the things I like about it are important to you, and it doesn’t sound as if you like it that much better than your parents do.

You should commit to UCSD. I don’t think any of your concerns are deal-killers. When the time comes to move off campus, it sounds as if you’ll have no problem spending more to live in the safest possible neighborhood; other than that, I don’t think crime should be any more of a concern here than in other US cities, including MSP. Warren GE’s are not onerous. Social life is what you make it, and many of the people who think it’s awful at UCSD are the people who would like “party schools” that you would not like. You would like to end up in California, and you have close friends there, which can be important when your family is overseas.

This doesn’t seem like a hard choice. I do think Macalester is a school that’s worthy of being chosen over UCSD for some students, but those students aren’t you. And if you were really going to choose Edinburgh, you’d know more about it by now. You’re a Triton - congrats.

P.S. “Ivy” isn’t an acronym - it just refers to the leafy vines on the walls of these old universities, and by extension to the athletic conference they belong to.

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First, congrats on three very good choices.

What graduate program and where?

For a PhD in the USA, Macalester is the best of the three. For a professional masters outside the USA, UCSD. For a PhD outside the USA or a professional masters in the USA, no difference, though maybe an edge for UCSD.

However, Macalester is a Liberal Arts College. LACs are amazing places for certain types of students, but some students find them to be too small. My kid’s LAC was smaller than her high school.

Classes are smaller and more personal, and some students like the interactive experience. It can be great to have a lively discussion every class. However, it also means that you really need to be “on” for the entire class. Attending a lecture with a couple hundred other students allows you to pay as much attention as you feel you are able to, and non-attendance is far less of an issue. For a PhD, you will need recommendations from your professors. On one hand, at a LAC like Macalester, it is easier, because of the small classrooms, and because faculty are focussing on teaching undergraduates and doing research with undergraduate participation. On the other hand, at large universities, you are one of hundreds, and you really need to make and maintain that connection, and faculty are not always interested in undergraduate working with them. However, the fact that you reach out, that you take the time and make the effort, already puts you a few steps ahead. So the amount you have to accomplish for a glowing LoR is actually less than at a LAC.

On the plus side, LACs have a reputation for producing graduates who make very good PhD students. The percent of LAC students who end up with PhDs is far higher than among students of research universities. On the other hand, UCSD is up and coming with a growing reputation in many fields.

One more important thing the few people mention is that Liberal Arts Colleges have a lot more writing. Essays and written answers dominate the tests and homework. You likely will not have more than a handful of multiple choice tests throughout your four years there. They really write a LOT of essays, and, with small classes, the professors read every one pretty closely. That is definitely something to consider.

In short, both are excellent schools, but they are very different types of schools.

While I, again, would recommend Macalester, you really need to dig a bit more into what Liberal Arts Colleges are, and figure out whether this would be a place where you would thrive.

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Perhaps you may want to look at faculty rosters and course offerings to see which offers more of interest to you within economics.

5

Great housing? I think you’re only guaranteed housing for two years at UCSD, but you need to check. UCSD has always lacked housing. They’ve been trying to keep up by constantly building dorms but you’re only guaranteed so much time on campus.

Be prepared to move off campus for your junior and senior years. I hope you have a car or can afford to Uber everywhere. I also hope you have an unlimited budget for housing because the La Jolla area and University City area are very expensive with rents.

Yes the trolley does go to campus now, and so do the buses, but there are limits to where the public transportation will take you. You will spend a lot of time waiting.

Yes UCSD does have a “label” but remember, it’s a state public university. If you’re socially awkward, and you’re going to need to get recs, from professors, it will be a challenge.
There will be more vocal voices competing for attention, for the professors’ time.

If you plan on doing things alone in the area,I would not recommend that. The San Diego area is a very beautiful place, but things do happen. People tend to let their guard down and they can’t. It has become a very “large” city, and there is crime and a huge homeless population (They also come from other cities for the weather ).

So plan accordingly.

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UCSD is a top school for economics. La Jolla is beautiful and not unsafe. I’m a UCSD Econ grad. One of my professors eventually won a Nobel prize in economics, and another teaches at Harvard now. You’d be well prepared for a top grad school there.

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Both are great schools.

UCSD is a very large school - so don’t expect to get a lot of personal attention and you will really have to make your own opportunities. Note that recommendations from professors are very important to grad schools. La Jolla is lovely - note that housing and entertainment will be very very expensive there.

At Macalester, you would be with students who come from all over the US and the world. Honestly, the food is totally fine - and there are wonderful restaurants within a 5 minute walk of campus. Having them choose a roommate for you, I think, is a good think because everyone is in the same boat. It stops people from forming too many cliques before school even starts, or choosing based on superficialities, like how attractive or wealthy someone is. Note that through cross-registration, Mac allows you to take classes at 5 nearby colleges plus U of M. Econ at Mac is also one of its strengths.

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I’ve read all of you guys’ replies carefully. Thank you very much.

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