[akisame]

It's March 24, 2008, 11:37 PM here in San Jose.
I've been accepted into UCIrvine, UCLA, and UCSD: Muir.
My majors are Biological Studies, Biochemistry, and Biochemistry, respectively. (I think? Haha)

They're all really good schools.
And they all seem to be extremely beautiful.
And they're all down south, far far away from home.
(I'm still waiting for UCBerkeley's acceptance/rejection letter,
but I highly doubt I'd go there, even if accepted.)

My biggest concern at this point is the people.
What are the people like in each UC?
I've heard that UCLA people are shallow.
I've heard that UCSD people are too into their studies.
I've heard nothing about UCI people.

What's really up? I hope some of you college kids can help contribute so I can make a better decision.
The people I expect to meet at college are going to make a big difference in my decision.
I perform according to how well I get along with the people around me.
I've attempted working with people I couldn't really agree with, and I fail x1013068913068.

Please and thank you! (:

[kuku]

whoa whoa... chill out mate.


My advice is to visit them ALL.
I was down to 2 choices and went to both. I decided on the one I felt most comfortable with.

[pockified]

UCI: a huge asian population... so if you're comfortable with asians and you prefer being around them a lot... then it's not a bad choice. (: my friend who goes there really hated it first quarter, but she now she loves it more and more after she got to know more people. their system seems kind of different from UCSD's so i don't really know how academics work out. there seems to be a lack of a party scene there, if you seem to be into that kind of stuff. hahaha. but i don't really know whether that's true myself. just from what i hear. haha.

UCLA: you're going to meet a really big variety of people, that's most definitely. my friend knows a lot of quirky but brilliant people that go there. hahaha. but anyway, it's a HUGE campus with lots of people so if you're down with that, you should go for it. classes are definitely more competitive. expect your grades to drop much lower than what you usually expect in high school. don't know about the party scene though. heard they're very strict with some things.

UCSD: i go there, so i should know a little more about this university. first of all, there are six colleges, which makes it SO easy to meet people in your own college (or rather, the college where you reside in-- there are students from other colleges living in revelle). it's a suite-style rather than dormitory hall style, so even easier to get closer to your suitemates. academics aren't that hard, especially since you're in muir. your GEs are rather nonexistent. hahahahaha. if you try really hard, you might just graduate early if you're a non-science major. but since you're biochem major, you'll have to take the chem 6 series and perhaps the math 20 series. stuff like that. you just need to look up the recommended courses. overall, academics aren't as hard as UCLA as long as you study and keep up with things. party scene: UCSD = University of the Socially Dead. hahaha. no frat rows and such, so there are just smaller parties going on. you'll be able to find things to do here though. we're near SDSU and they seem to know how to throw a good party. oh, and--there are six colleges, and every year every college throws their own semi-formals and they're really fun. other than that, UCSD is a healthy medium of fun and studying, and you'll have fun here as long as you're outgoing and friendly. (:

hopefully there are people from UCI or UCLA that can tell you more about their own college because i feel like a walking advertisement for SD. hahaha. :x

[ladyatakari]

In regards to UCLA, I wouldn't really rely on the stereotype that it's shallow and base my decision off that. There is a large diversity here and if there are certain people you click with you will most likely find them if you look. If you want to party, there are partiers. If you want to study, there are studiers. If you want to do both, there are people who do both. I've met tons of awesome people and not so awesome people. But you'll get that everywhere. It depends on you but whatever type of people you click with I'm sure you'll find them here.

The campus is gorgeous but there is a lot of walking. The upside to that is that you get to avoid the freshman 15, most of the time hehe.

Westwood has plenty of yummy food places and if you want to shop or go to the beach it's only a bus ride away.

We also have dining halls and some mini restaurant things such as:
Crossroads - burgers/shakes/fries
Bruincafe - Sandwiches/coffee/tea/smoothies/cereal etc etc
Rendezvous - Mexican food and asian food
Puzzles - pizza/burgers/fries/haagen daez (sp?) ice cream

Mmm sleepy. PM me if you have questions or anything. But I really would recommend visiting each campus if you can. Kuku's right - you should pick whichever one you feel most comfortable in. I was kind of like that too - I got lucky though and picked a school I felt at home in once I got there. My final decision was between sd and la b/c berkeley was too far and irvine wayyy too close. I didn't get a chance to visit LA, but I did visit SD and I felt instantly that it wasn't the place for me. Maybe for grad school or something, but it wasn't an environment that I could imagine myself being in for undergrad. So very lucky with LA considering that I never visited. But yes, definitely visit each school if you can. The atmosphere brings a huge difference o.o

[akisame]

Ahh, thank you guys. As for UCI, who goes there? What's it like?
I need some people's input as I can't visit any of the colleges until late April. >_>

[ladyatakari]

Mmm...I have a couple of friends who go to UCI.

It's...asian. lol Lots and lots of asians. :]

The science library is very nice though. I'm quite jealous. Very very nice there. You will like that library. At least I like it, it's modern and there are many study rooms and tables. There are also areas that have glass windows to the floor and you can look outside and feel the sun coming in. Absolutely amazing, but it gets really hot fast if the weather is sunny that day.

And there's a lot of greenery too. Lots of it. o_o

There's a theater nearby, as well as an in and out and jack in the box. I think there's a lee's sandwiches there too and some other stuff. You have to cross the street for those. Food is kind of inconvenient b/c you have to pay for it. (er scratch that part my friend just informed me he got swiped o_o although I'm not sure how it works there) At UCLA you have a swiping system which is awesome b/c if you get premiere you can swipe other people in and the like if your family ever decides to visit.

Parking there is a pain from what I hear b/c my friends get parking far away from their classes.

The campus is a circle I believe so in the middle of the circle is greenery and the outside is buildings.

I think they're getting a bowling alley too and they have a large gym?

Correct me if I'm wrong someone. I'm just trying to recall things my friends told me.

The things I liked about UCI the few times I visited were the buildings and the greenery. .

If you're going for a pretty campus with lots of things to do nearby though - UCLA is your best bet. You can walk or bus anywhere, whereas at UCI and UCSD you kind of need a car, at least for UCI I'm pretty sure you do.

But for UCI - the people. Mmm...lots of my high school friends go there. They are mostly asian and are mostly majoring in the sciences. It's pretty competitive because my friend told me that out of all the asians he knows there (and he knows a lot of people) many are bio majors. Lots are going for prepharm and such, but you'll find that at LA too. I think it's just a taddd more visible at UCI b/c it's known as the university of chinese immigrants.

Anyone from UCI can correct me on any of this - this is just from my personal observation and recollections o_o

Hope that helps a little ;

[ladyatakari]

I don't know if you saw this thread - but I think it'll help give you a better overview of UCI :]

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=203810

[akisame]

Hmm.. so over the past few days, it's coming down to UCLA vs. UCSD. At the moment I'm caught directly in the middle of the two schools, and I am not leaning towards either one. I know I've sort of been bugging, but, any help? ?

[jjessiessong]

hey I am in the EXACT same position as you are! I got accepted to all three and rejected by Cal. I wasn't considering Cal in the first place since it's too far away.
I live in Irvine, btw!

What appealed to me about UCI is their Honors Program. I really loved it. But I feel like it's too close to home, so I am exploring some other options.
My parents don't really want me to go to SD. The prestige is just not as good as LA.

I am a pre-med/bio major too, which I think is very similar to yours. From what I've read the Bio ranking for the UCs is SD>Cal>LA>UCI.

SO.
I guess I am confused also. haha

[0oyokisuo0]

ucsd for the win. they have great biochem and all those science research programs. and ucsd definitely has the prettiest campus!

[akisame]

hey I am in the EXACT same position as you are! I got accepted to all three and rejected by Cal. I wasn't considering Cal in the first place since it's too far away.
I live in Irvine, btw!

What appealed to me about UCI is their Honors Program. I really loved it. But I feel like it's too close to home, so I am exploring some other options.
My parents don't really want me to go to SD. The prestige is just not as good as LA.

I am a pre-med/bio major too, which I think is very similar to yours. From what I've read the Bio ranking for the UCs is SD>Cal>LA>UCI.

SO.
I guess I am confused also. haha

Hahahha, wow. I got rejected by Cal in the end but it didn't bum me out at all. I live too close, anyway. San Joseeeeeee! Everyone who asks me about what college I'm going to automatically rule out UCI. They think that UCSD or UCLA will offer better opportunities academically. I guess they're right. It seems like the people at my school are treating UCI as the "reject" school. It's disheartening. What I'm most concerned about for college, when it comes to UCLA and UCSD, is the aesthetic appeal and the social scene. I'm so ready to have fun and use that freedom. (: But I don't know, I need input from people who go thereeeee.

[jjessiessong]

If you are in for the social scene, then choose LA!
From what I've heard SD is pretty rigid academic wise, but LA is more diverse.

[ladyatakari]

aesthetic appeal and social scene? fun and freedom? sounds like UCLA to me! ;D

gorgeous campus. fun people. westwood, beaches, shopping, museums, chinatown, little tokyo. all bus ride accessible.

bruin <3.

this will probably help more:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/univer...ia-los-angeles/

:]

[mrvengeance]

I'm kind of in the same position, although just between UCSD and UCI (LA rejected me...). Im really leaning to UCI though because i've lived in SD a long time and I'm ready for a little variety, and the UCI honors program is pretty tempting. Im wondering though, can anyone give me their opinions on the UCI dorms? They look like tiny prison cells in the photos I saw.

[akisame]

I heard UCSD has better dorms than UCLA. Can anyone confirm that? I got into Muir, btw, in case anyone needed any specifics.

[tsukemene123]

UCI--I go there, couldn't be happier. Madly in love. Student housing is amazing. CAMPUS IS THE MOST GORGEOUS ONE BY FAR!!!

UCLA--My friends go there, and they love it too. Visited a lot of times; it's very nice but very hilly with a lot of stairs, haha. Huge campus, have to leave a bit early to get to class. Some of the dorms suuuuuuuuck.

UCSD--Hate to say it, but all of my friends who go there don't really like it. They say it's boring and not what they expected. But to each his/her own. Experiences differ from person to person.

About the people, I don't think it would be wise or helpful to generalize. Each school has around 40,000+ students I think, and it would be impossible to make a sweeping statement that describes everyone there.

In terms of what you're majoring in, all have veryyyy good biosci programs. A degree from UCLA will probably look the best, though, sorry to say, because people tend to rank UCs (LA/Berkeley, SD, Davis or Irvine, SB, SC, Riverside, Merced). It's pretty unfortunate because each definitely has its strong points (i.e. Irvine has an AMAZING comparative literature program).

And in terms of the party scene... As I said, I go to Irvine, and I can always find a party when I need one... Thursdays are fun.

[juicy_788]

UCSD KNOWS HOW TO GET DOWN
dont matter where you are, if u know how to get down the party always follows. yes there arent as many places to go to in sd than la, but ppl are always throwing parties in dorms, apts. some party all week. your choice. (yes its against the rules to have alcohol and ppl get caught, but its no biggie) ppl always come from/go to uci, ucla, ucsb, sdsu to party

very chill atmosphere, great academic program.
has the best med/science programs (above ucla)

BASICALLY, you can party/slack-off for a couple quarters, even up till 2nd/3rd year and still be able to catch up gpa wise. (usually ppl have trouble adjusting for their fresh/soph years, so gpa is LOW for the first year, maybe second year if u really struggle) BUT you have just the right amount of leeway time to bring it back up.
very ace-able school. classes are easy enough for you to do well in, but hard enough to make you learn/work for it. (but that doesn't mean there aren't classes that're unbelievably hard)

i say just the right amount of competition amongst students.
you can study till wednesday and party thursday - saturday, rest sunday. whatever fits your schedule

no traffic, and clean air always a plus

from what ppl tell me, uci is an easier school but academically not challenging enough. ucla is a good school, but can be too challenging or competitive.
ucsd is in between. classes might be similar to ucla, but there's a wider academic spectrum. ppl not as smart usually give u a good curve, so it's easier to get 'A's than ucla.
best offer academically, no?

[sayuri43]

UCI bio majors are nerds! Trust me, I am one.
UCI is a great campus though :] we have a good bio program and lots of research possibilities open to us. There are parties and stuff, but I mean, Irvine is most definitely not... a "party school". uh, what else can I say about Irvine. Well, the campus is nice and small, and now we have lots of places to eat :] There's a lot of places to go and study, hang out, rest, etc. The science library is really nice and big and there are lots of places to study... lots of tables, rooms, etc.

As for the people, I mean, they're all asian, but that doesn't mean there isn't a variety in personalities. There are people who study all the time and live at the science library... and then there are others who don't study at all and are truly taking advantage of the "college experience". It's really up to who you talk to. But as a bio major, you're more likely to meet the nerd type... lots of pre-med, pre-pharm, pre-dental people here.

..................as if a whole school could be shallow! That's just silly.

[akisame]

Okay, one of my biggest concerns right now is..

FOOD AND DORMS.

Haha it's not a great basis, but I'm just curious now. I'm really leaning towards UCSD as a BioChem major and all. And yeah. I heard there are like 4 hospitals near UCSD? That would be really useful. Aaaand. That Pharmacy School. Hummm.. Thank guys for all the help, btw (:

[hungrycollegeboy]

^At UCI if you dorm, the food is "buffet" style, all-you-can-eat
People tend to gain weight

UCI has a crapload of asian people.
I go there, i should know .

1. Campus is pretty
2. Many housing options
3. Campus is in a shape of a circle, so it's kinda hard to get lost.
4. There's A LOT of hills, meaning that it takes a a lot of energy to get to class sometimes
5. A crapload of freshmen bio majors, might get filtered
6. University Town Center is nearby
7. Newport beach is close