UCSD Admission
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The Facts

UCSD touts itself as “Oxford on the Pacific,” an apt name for a school that has modeled itself on the famed British university. The university is made up of six colleges, each with its own requirements, administration, and atmosphere. This characteristic of the university helps students at a large school to feel like they actually are attending a small college.

The university houses 18,795 undergraduates, with a student to faculty ratio of 19:1. In 2002, over 41,300 students applied, while only 17,092 were actually admitted. The class of 2004 had an average SAT score ranging from 1140 to 1350, and an ACT average score ranging from 26 to 29. Over 99% of admitted students were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class with an impressive average GPA of approximately 3.9. Like all California schools, admission is notoriously competitive, especially with the interest the school is drawing from many out of state students.

UCSD is known primarily as a research institution, and as a result, the school of science and engineering is a big draw for many students. Some of the most popular majors include biology, economics, psychology, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science and engineering. If you are a passionate technical whiz kid who also happens to like the sun, this is the school for you.

The Social Scene

UCSD is located in the beautiful resort town of La Jolla, however, it is very upscale and expensive, and doesn’t really cater to university students. The campus is appropriately upscale and lovely, and includes a sculpture garden and a library named for Theodore Geisel, the real Dr. Seuss. Most students prefer to spend their time off-campus at the beach, a popular spot for all kinds of social activities day and night, and because of the year long summer, it is hardly a seasonal occurrence.

The on-campus housing is pretty sparse, so many students are forced to seek housing elsewhere, which can be extremely expensive. As a result, most students own cars to they can find housing in cheaper areas farther away from campus and outside of La Jolla.

Unlike many of the other schools in California, UCSD is not known for being a party school, as the academics are tough and most students take their students pretty seriously. The administration and staff strictly enforces the campus’s dry policy, so there isn’t much drinking. Most students spend their time in the outdoors, taking part in popular activities like surfing or biking. There are a few Greek organizations, but there is no official “Greek Row,” so their influence on social lives are limited.

At UCSD, you will probably find a lot of surfer dudes and chicks who just happen to be studying pre-med. An odd, but intriguing combination, no?

What’s Good

“Pretty much every biotech recruiter in the country has UCSD down as their first stop. We have a new pharmacy school that also boosts our prestige.”

“The setting is so gorgeous, with the beaches and everything, that the lack of partying doesn’t really matter a whole lot.”

“The students and faculty are really laid back. There’s a whole kind of beachy atmosphere going on.”

What’s Bad

“There is a complete absence of school spirit. Everyone thinks that they have much better things to be doing, which is probably true.”

“The campus has a no-tolerance policy when it comes to alcohol, which make partying absolutely impossible.”

“Everyone tends to be really clean cut and moderate. There aren’t any ‘rebels’ around here, everyone is homogenized.”

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