OP here: You are all the BEST! Thank you so much for sharing your insight and experiences. So grateful!

Reveille is the oldest I think and is run down looking brutalist style buildings. I would avoid for that reason, looked like a depressing place to live, or even spend time.

Eighth college is brand new. One residence is up and running, others will be later this year. These are modern, multistory buildings, on one end of campus. Sixth college residences are just a few years old with similar tall modern buildings, very central. Seventh (on campus apts only - no dorms) are also pretty new, on the other end of campus. Muir is in older brutalist style buildings but is central. The higher floors in Muir, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth have ocean views.

Marshall is rebuilding some of their residences so a number of their students are currently relocated to other colleges.

Revelle is known for demanding GE requirements. Eleanor Roosevelt (ERC) has tough ones as well, including foreign language. The rest of the colleges have easier GEs.

There aren't really exclusive college traditions. All the colleges offer fun events which are open to everyone.

My DC was accepted last year and chose 6th - they have a relatively new setup for dorms and they are nicely located for classes. They also could get rid of many of their core requirements with APs. But in general, the core was a nice mix of classes that they would have liked anyway (or would also be taking as part of their major so weren't really extra - they were in a social sciences/humanities type track). A few courses were in the arts and they would have enjoyed those. In the end, they chose to attend elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got in last year - she was in Engineering so had Muir (isn't that the one near the Engineering school) as her first choice but got put into 7 (which is new). When we visited - she really didn't like how far away it was from the rest of the campus especially Engineering - a HUGE ravine in the way. We both liked 6 which is new too. One of her friends is in 6 now and likes it but has 14 suite mates with an adjoining suite so I think you need to be more social. Plus four beds in the room. Mine opted to go elsewhere.

So, look at the location and check out room configuration. College Confidential has a lot of going down the rabbit hole on this one!

Sorry - meant Warren as top choice as all around Engineering buildings!

My daughter got in last year - she was in Engineering so had Muir (isn't that the one near the Engineering school) as her first choice but got put into 7 (which is new). When we visited - she really didn't like how far away it was from the rest of the campus especially Engineering - a HUGE ravine in the way. We both liked 6 which is new too. One of her friends is in 6 now and likes it but has 14 suite mates with an adjoining suite so I think you need to be more social. Plus four beds in the room. Mine opted to go elsewhere.

So, look at the location and check out room configuration. College Confidential has a lot of going down the rabbit hole on this one!

Anonymous wrote:Different UCSD colleges reportedly have slightly different mandatory courses. Colleague’s DC picked one which required more science and later realized it was a big mistake - because he was NOT a STEM major. Look into those details also.

This is the biggest thing to research about the colleges. Which college’s requirements are most aligned with your child’s intended major.

Doesn't the sorting hat make the selection?

Anonymous wrote:I went to Thurgood Marshall back when it was Third College. Back then, Revelle was for science kids and Muir was the most fun. Third was very well rounded in terms of general ed., Warren had a short list of requirements but you needed either a major and two minors or to double major.

If your kid isn't a science major, pick 6th college, best dorms and food, centrally located, likely their APs (which I assume they have if they are applying) will fulfill a lot of general ed requirements.

Fellow Third student here. Lived in Camp Snoopy!

Warren is the preferred choice for engineering majors because the general ed requirements are slightly relaxed for them. I went to Warren College and wasn’t an engineering major. I appreciated how the general ed requirements made it easy to add a second major and a minor because I could count courses for major/minor study and general ed requirements.

Revelle has a more traditional humanities sequence that you’d find at a liberal arts college. It was considered one of the more demanding sequences and colleges.

Muir was basically the opposite of Revelle. Lots of flexibility to complete general ed requirements according to what the student is interested in.

Marshall would be good if your student is interested in social justice issues.

Roosevelt would be good if your student is interested in international affairs. Roosevelt has nice dorms (or had nice dorms when I was there).

Sixth would be good if your student is interested in the intersection of technology and art. Sixth was brand new when I was there.

I cannot speak to any colleges beyond Sixth as they didn’t exist when I was at UCSD. I loved my time there and really enjoyed the college system.

I went to Thurgood Marshall back when it was Third College. Back then, Revelle was for science kids and Muir was the most fun. Third was very well rounded in terms of general ed., Warren had a short list of requirements but you needed either a major and two minors or to double major.

If your kid isn't a science major, pick 6th college, best dorms and food, centrally located, likely their APs (which I assume they have if they are applying) will fulfill a lot of general ed requirements.

Different UCSD colleges reportedly have slightly different mandatory courses. Colleague’s DC picked one which required more science and later realized it was a big mistake - because he was NOT a STEM major. Look into those details also.

Anonymous wrote:MY DC is applying here and needs to rank the colleges. We have watched the videos from the school that provide an overview of the philosophy of each of the colleges, but we don't know anything about location (good or bad) or whether the newer colleges that don't have established traditions are as good an option? Does anyone have any experience or insight about these - primarily if there are any to avoid or any that are favorites?

A lot of familiarity with the campus and adjacent medical research facilities.

There truly are no bad choices - I wouldn't hesitate to feel safe and comfortable with a child in any of these settings.

That said, Revelle, Muir, and Warren are on the older side (50 years or older, I think), but probably favorites of many.

MY DC is applying here and needs to rank the colleges. We have watched the videos from the school that provide an overview of the philosophy of each of the colleges, but we don't know anything about location (good or bad) or whether the newer colleges that don't have established traditions are as good an option? Does anyone have any experience or insight about these - primarily if there are any to avoid or any that are favorites?