<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I’m looking for advice and information:</p>
<p>I am a high school senior from So Cal, and I am beginning to hear from the colleges I applied to. The ones I am still waiting to hear from are Ivy Leauges (e.g. Cornell, Princeton) and I am not at all likely to get accepted by them. Of the ones I have gotten into so far, from my top two choices are UC San Diego and University of Washington(Seattle). So my final decision will very probably be between UW and UCSD.</p>
<p>Major/area of study:</p>
<p>As a career, I think I want to go into Computational Chemistry because it combines quantum physics, chemistry, and computer science(all subjects I love obsessively). If I did not do this, I would either go into theoretical physics or some kind of computer modeling with physics. I love analyzing things on a theoretical, mathematical level but I love programming as an outlet for creative problem solving so I would prefer a career that does both.</p>
<p>I have 3 main concerns:</p>
<ol>
<li>How important are the US News Rankings? UCSD generally ranks higher than UW, but at this level does it make much of a difference? Would choosing UW over UCSD hurt my career prospects, or graduate education prospects? I want to maybe pursue a graduate degree at a more prestigious school so how do these schools compare academically?</li>
</ol>
<p>FYI- (UW ranks #42 national, #10 for public schools, #26 for engineering, #26 for Chemistry, #7 for computer science, #27 for math, # 19 for physics. UCSD on the other hand ranks #37 national, #8 for public schools, #14 for engineering, #21 for Chemistry, #14 for Computer Science, #20 for Math, and #14 for physics.)</p>
<ol>
<li>Which location would I enjoy more?</li>
</ol>
<p>I haven’t spent a lot of time in either city but from my initial impressions they both seem pretty cool. San Diego is close to home, which is nice for the parents but I like my independence and do not get homesick ever, so as long as I am residing on or near the same planet as my folks, it doesn’t matter to me how close or far I am from them. I have been living in an uneducated, working class, area of the mountains, with lots of ignorant and uncultured people, most of whom tend offer little intellectual stimulation. There is nothing wrong with this, but its not my cup of tea. I am not very intelligent myself, but I really enjoy intelligent conversation and people, so I am craving a little more culture and brains in my surroundings. Seattle appeals a lot to me though I haven’t seen much of it. It seems laid back, sophisticated, cultured, and forward thinking. It is also in a very beautiful area of the country. Also, I love the climate in the northwest near the coast, lots of green and rain and not to hot during the summer. But San Diego is a nice place also. In this category I am really leaning toward Seattle; it really seems like my personality and pace. Also, I am into backpacking and nature. Both locations have plenty of opportunities for this but Seattle seems like a nice change of location since I have done so much in So Cal. </p>
<ol>
<li>How do the costs of living compare?</li>
</ol>
<p>I will say right off the bat I tend to be a tightwad on myself except in social situations. For example, if I am out all day alone, I will not buy myself any food even if I am ravenous, because I can eat much cheaper at home. I hate to spend money, unless I am buying something worthwhile that I will use for a long time, in which case I gladly invest in a higher quality item, after careful consideration. I’d like to keep my necessary living expenses to a minimum. One disadvantage is with UW I’d be paying out of state tuition (30k) the first year, until I qualified as a resident of Washington state. So anyway how do the two locals compare in cost of living?</p>
<p>Anyway, I will greatly appreciate any information or advice anyone can offer, that might help me in my decision. I hope I have articulated my concerns and questions with sufficient clarity; writing is not my strong point (unless you count writing code), so apologies for the wall of text. I would have made it shorter but I didn’t have the time.</p>
<p>Thank you,
Max Christian Groenendyk</p>