University of California-San Diego Top Questions

there is no college town here which i think really makes a difference on the social life of ucsd. the campus is empty on the weekends. im excited to see price center expand because i have begun to use it for socializing and it is gets very crowded, so making it bigger will attract more students.

Its a great school--but its not a top tier.

I wish UCSD was in more of a college town. I think that would make UCSD more social. Also, if there was an area off campus that all college students could live or a frat row. I think frat rows at other schools make college life more social because it's known to be a guaranteed good time there.

I love the multiple college system. We're a big university altogether, but each individual college has its own smaller community. (Muir college is the best, by the way.) Also, the people here are super chill. We don't have the competitive tension that many other universities do. I've met and continue to meet the most amazing people here.

La jolla is definitely not a college town. THere is an older population and also if you are looking to go party or barhopping...you had better be 21, have a fake ID, be willing to drive far, or have friends that can offer there house, or have older friends. Most students complain about the lack of school spirit and unity. We don't have a footbal team. i spend most of my time at the library. Best thing about UCSD is its abundance of opportunities, on campus and off.

I'd change the parking access. I think the school is just right in size (some may think it's big, but I love it). People think I'm a genius when I tell them I come from UCSD (I don't like that reaction). I spend most of my time at work in my lab (okay, so that fits the stereotype, but I still do a lot of other things). What college town? I think they do what they can, but it's more scattered than I'd like it to be. Construction. In research and science, yes. Everything else, not so much (which is sad because the music department is WONDERFUL). Our library looks like a spaceship (but it's supposed to be the tree of knowledge). Sungod Festival!!!!!!! PARKING!!!!! and the shuttle service.

Best thing about UCSD = FOOD! I'd change the parking situation...it's very hard to find any. Just the right size! People are impressed when I say I go here =) I spend my time everywhere - i love it! College town - plenty of places off campus to go to, downtown, mission valley, pacific beach, downtown la jolla, the beach, the movies are just down the street, but you either have to have a car or man up and take the bus. la jolla is safe so people shouldn't feel stuck on campus at all. UCSD administration - I don't know too much about it so I can't say... Recent controversy - raising tuition! No good. There's a lot of school pride at games, everyone is wearing UCSD sweatshirts and other paraphanelia, people are proud to say they go here! Unusual - our library looks liek a spaceship but it's really supposed to be based on the tree of knowledge... I'll always remember my orientation - I realized I was at such a huge school when all the freshmen of my college stood on the lawn...and that's only the warren freshmen! Most people complain about not being able to get the classes they want/need, including me! =(

I LOVE the weather, the people, everything.

The best thing about UCSD is the location. Within walking distance to major beaches and near the heart of lively San Diego, there is always something to do and to see whether on campus or not. However, I would change the architecture of the main buildings. Many of the different colleges within the university are haphazardly positioned, and none of the designs match from one place to the other. Muir College, in fact, has some of the ugliest buildings I’ve ever seen—ten story buildings made of concrete that tries to look like wood. It’s all wrong. The campus itself is actually pretty large—I think it’s about a 3 mile journey on the campus loop, which only covers the west side. However, the six-college system helps out a lot. I like to think of it as Hogwarts, where everyone is sorted into different colleges/houses and although they share classes with the entire school, they are separated by their housing and dining facilities as well as what it expected from them (in this case, general education and graduation requirements). This system breaks the campus into smaller pieces so that you are more connected to your living environment and the people in it, but it does make school spirit less of a priority; it even deters school spirit all together, in my opinion. UCSD’s administration is nothing special, and they treat the student body with as much respect as can be garnered by a board of high-paid officials who aim to please everybody and who fail miserably. There is always the student body complains about: high tuition, lack of vegetarian options, not enough parking, strict campus security, and useless expenses made. The most controversial subjects to crop up recently has been the administration’s failed attempt to rewrite many free speech policies for the campus, which received a lot of outcry from the students as well as ACLU, who denounced the new policies as undemocratic and unfit for a college campus. Depending on who I’m speaking with, when people discover that I attend UCSD they are either immediately impressed or empathetic. “Oh, you attend a UC? That’s amazing. You must be really smart!” Or else it’s, “San Diego? Isn’t that a party school?/Isn’t that the research school?” A lot of people get us confused with San Diego State, which is more widely known for its rigorous social life than ours to say the least.

The best things about UCSD are the weather and the two year housing contract. The dorms are fantastic and the beach is very close and accessible. I would like it if there was a football team to boost school spirit. The school size is large, but it feels smaller due to the six colleges. People did not react well due to the bad social stereotypes. I spend most of my time outside, in coffee shops, in class, in my apartment, and at the beach. There is no college-town feel. The administration is ok, but there is room for more improvement, especially dealing with student needs. The best experience is at Sun God, the best UCSD party/concert.