University of California-San Diego Top Questions

UCSD is a huge campus, but I love how it is all one enclosed campus as opposed to other UC's like Cal or LA that are more within a city with streets, traffic, and hobos around. I think it makes campus much more safe feeling, although it is foresty with a lot of trees at night that can be kind of scary. Classes are just like any other UC, quite large lower division classes but you have smaller sections with around 30 students with TA's. and Upper division there are around 60 students or so, which isn't too bad to get to know your professors. La Jolla is a very rich, nice city. It's not so much a college town, but it is mostly UCSD students around the area. There is definitely no school pride, because there's no football team... sports isn't really a big thing here unless you're doing it. Overall I think UCSD is a good school, nice campus, academics, social life, events going on, and close proximity to so many places (LA, Irvine, downtown SD, Mexico, beautiful beaches) what's not to love?

I believe this school is amazing! I love how the school is divided into 6 different colleges because it gives you a better chance to get to know more people since the campus is huge! One thing I dislike very much at UCSD is the fact that all the departments are separated so you have to go to different buildings in order to get different problems fixed (i.e. payments, financial aid, academic advising, etc.). The biggest controversy on campus was about two years ago when a fraternity hosted a racially insensitive cookout; UCSD's reputation was hurt a little but only while we were in the limelight because of it. Now when someone hears you're from UCSD, they're very impressed. Unfortunately, our school pride is very weak...we have not football team by the way but basketball is pretty big here.

It's a relatively new campus with lots of extracirricular activities available for students. There's something for everyone as long as you're will to look for it. The beach is just down the cliffs with a beautiful campus environment. And don't be turned off by stories you might hear about Chemistry students ordering supplies through their lab to make and sell meth.

its not in a college town but it is a real community

I like UCSD for the location, personally. It's near the beach, great weather, good places to eat and socialize, especially if you're 21 or over. We do not have a lot of parties, but people make friends easily, and then you make your own fun with the people that you want to socialize with. When I tell people at I go to UCSD, they are often impressed because it is a good school academically, but also because they think I am lucky to live in such a prime spot in California. The one big social event at UCSD is the sungod festival, which has started to go downhill in the past year or so.

NO SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE! the 6 college system is great for getting to know people in your college but segregates others not in your college and makes it very difficult to interact with them because the campus is so spread out. also, a lack of good sports teams (other than water polo which plays DI) makes this campus very boring in terms of UCSD pride.

Large classes and segregated colleges eliminate school unity. The best thing about UCSD is that its RIGHT NEXT to the beach! My friends that look into UCSD seem to usually go to Stanford, berkeley, or the Ivy league. Best place to go is the beach! If you're looking for a party, UCSD I-house and the greek scene are the places to be. We have these awesome face trees in the eucalyptus forest: the singing tree and the talking tree... They look almost exactly like regular trees but they have speakers built into them (one plays music at night and the other talks)

Class sizes are a bit big, but without the cut-throat competition of some of the other, more prestigious UCs. There is also a big lack of school spirit. La Jolla is definitely not a college town, but there are still lots of fun things to do around town, especially if you like the beach. The college system is a little strange, but it is nice to live with people who tend to have similar interests and who take similar classes.

People don't realize how good a school UCSD is just because it isn't a big name school. we have some amazing professors and programs and some really dedicated and active student orgs. UCSD is very multicultural and we have a lot of activities and organizations to show it. La Jolla is a terrible town to have a college in. I wish athletics were better supported by the student body- we have some great teams but the student body just focuses on the fact we don't have a football team.

Sun God is probably the best annual event at UCSD: an entire day devoted to partying and ending in a huge concert with big name artists (Ludacris, T.I., My Chemical Romance, Damian Marley, etc.). UCSD is set in one of the most beautiful cities in the entire U.S. Upon turning 21, you will be in a city offering an amazing nightlife. Almost every concert tour stops in San Diego. A degree from UCSD will put you ahead of your competition in the job market, especially in San Diego.