Which University in California is better?

[r0kAng3l]

<p>From the universities in California listed below, which one is better? I'm looking at GWU, American, and Denver, yet the rest of the schools I'm looking at are in California. Can you tell me which one is better? And tell me why.. I'm looking at International Relations and my Plan B is Developmental Psychology</p>

<p>*UC Santa Barbara
*Pepperdine University
*University of Southern California-- grandfather went there
*UC San Diego
*San Diego State</p>

<p>I'm only applying to 3 of the above. Also, rank them please. I really have no clue of what school I should apply to in California. My parents are only letting me apply to 7 schools; my financial safety is NAU.</p>

[r0kAng3l]

<p>Oh, and also UCLA.</p>

[Metallika]

<p>Are you talking better as in, genuinely good in your program, highly ranked in your program(which might be the same thing as the previous one I guess...) , or more highly recognized overall?</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>IMO, you are foolish to pay OOS rates to attend a California public. The 'Zonas are fine schools, and if you can get into UCLA OOS, you would likely receive a full ride if you stayed instate.</p>

<p>Otherwise, USC for the money.</p>

[momfirst3]

<p>In my opinion....</p>

<p>UCLA, UCSD, USC, UCSB, Pepperdine, San Diego State</p>

[r0kAng3l]

<p>Genuinely good in my program. And that is why NAU is my safety financial aid. I HATE Arizona with a passion and I want to leave as soon as I can.</p>

[JohnAdams12]

<p>Two of your schools are in the top 20</p>

<p>If you are looking at UC schools, maybe you should include UC Berkeley, #9 below.</p>

<p>Inside</a> the Ivory Tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

<p>**Top International Relations Colleges 2009 Rankings</p>

<p>Undergraduate programs**</p>

<p>Rank School Percent
1 Harvard University 21
2 Princeton University 16
3 Yale University 12
4 Stanford University 12
5 Georgetown University 12
6 Columbia University 11
7 University of Chicago 7
8 Dartmouth College 5
9 University of California, Berkeley 4
10 Tufts University 3
10 University of Michigan 3
12 Duke University 3
13 Williams College 2
13 Cornell University 2
13 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2
16 Swarthmore College 2
17 Johns Hopkins University 2
*17 American University 2
19 University of California, San Diego 2 *
19 Brown University 2</p>

[r0kAng3l]

<p>Yeah, but I do not want to go into "reach" schools. I got a 24 ACT (first try), 3.8 GPA, 4.29 GPA, and top 2%. My ACT score is kind of slacking. I'm retaking, but I'm not too mad about my score (since it is still 72 percentile).</p>

[arcadefire1027]

<p>Better in what sense? I mean, my list would go:</p>

<p>1) UCLA
2) UCSB
3) USC
4) Pepperdine
5) San Diego State
6) UCSD</p>

<p>I think UCLA is the "best" overall college out of the ones listed. Best mix of academics, social life, athletics, etc. I feel like UCSB is the second "best" overall, since it still offers a very reputable degree in an insanely amazing place to spend four years. Every time I've been to UCSB I've had a great time. I rank San Diego State above UCSD, despite UCSD's higher "prestige". You be the judge for yourself. I rarely hear anything good about UCSD besides academics. Mostly complaining about social environment, etc. That means something to me, but if that's irrelevant to you, then consider UCSD because it's well respected.</p>

[JohnAdams12]

<p>Geesh, I thought that I had heard it all in the last few months on this website.</p>

<p>but this statement tops it all</p>

<p>
[quote]
from arcadefire:</p>

<p>I rarely hear anything good about UCSD besides academics.

[/quote]
</p>

[JohnAdams12]

<p>the following are the rankings of the International Relations, but for PHD programs</p>

<p>2009 rankings
Ph.D. programs
Rank School Percent </p>

<p>1 Harvard University 66
2 Princeton University 50
3 Stanford University 45
4 Columbia University 37
5 Yale University 26
6 University of Chicago 24
7 University of California, Berkeley 19
8 University of Michigan 16
9 University of California, San Diego 15 **
10 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 14
11 Cornell University 8
12 London School of Economics 8
13 Johns Hopkins University 7
13 Oxford University 7
15 Georgetown University 6
16 University of Rochester 5
**17 University of California, Los Angeles 4
17 New York University 4
19 Ohio State University 4
20 Cambridge University 3</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>rok:</p>

<p>you'll need a 30+ ACT to have any chance at Cal, UCLA, UCSD, USC. ALL are reach schools.</p>

[r0kAng3l]

<p>Well I already had UCSB sending me information about how I'd get scholarships if I went to their school, same with UCSD and San Diego.</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>^^rok: it's called marketing 101. To be eligible for a scholarship at a UC, you'll need test scores in the 2250+ range. To even be eligible for money at SB, you'll need to clear 2100+. A mid-20's ACT will not even earn you an acceptance to those schools, much less cash.</p>

<p>Note, of course, that UC scholarships are only a few bucks, even for instate residents. (No free rides like in Arizona.) Like I said earlier, you are foolish to consider California publics from OOS. If you need financial aid, you would be wasting your money to even apply.</p>

[momfirst3]

<p>I have to say I agree. You definitely need to raise your test scores to get in OOS.</p>