Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCSD, San Diego State, University of San Diego. Our DD is interested in studying journalism (at least for now) and is trying to discern between the 3. Any perspective on what each school is known for and what kind of students are happy where? PS: I should note our family is Jewish. Would USD be a bad choice if not Catholic?

I'm surprised you can't research this yourself.

Don’t be an a$$. If nothing to offer, move on.

Anonymous wrote:UCSD, San Diego State, University of San Diego. Our DD is interested in studying journalism (at least for now) and is trying to discern between the 3. Any perspective on what each school is known for and what kind of students are happy where? PS: I should note our family is Jewish. Would USD be a bad choice if not Catholic?

I'm surprised you can't research this yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember when UCSD was considered the third best UC school (behind Berkeley and LA), but Irvine and Santa Barbara have really come up in the world. I think a big part of that is San Diego is really provincial (I say this as a person who lived there for years) and is a place where people come for the sun and weather. Most students live off campus in small group homes (more accurately hovels) in places like Ocean Beach since La Jolla is one of the most expensive and closed communities in the US, so there is not much school spirit or community. There are a lot of complaints about a lack of class space causing students to take 6 years to graduate, but some of this is due to students who want to hang out in San Diego.

As others mentioned, San Diego State is a party school and has a more defined school community.

USD is very different (obviously smaller and private). I found that people though well of it in San Diego because a lot of alumni work in the area. I would not go there as a minority student.

UCSD is behind Irvine and Santa Barbara now?

They’re are so similar in terms of competitiveness. UCSB used to be easy to get into, and it’s now much more difficult. I think Irvine & SD are more similar. SB is more traditional campus with social togetherness and spirit.

Anonymous wrote:So what is the California equivalent to GMU and UMBC? Cal State-Stanislaus?

Schools in the Cal State system would be the equivalent. There are 23 schools in the Cal State system.

Anonymous wrote:I remember when UCSD was considered the third best UC school (behind Berkeley and LA), but Irvine and Santa Barbara have really come up in the world. I think a big part of that is San Diego is really provincial (I say this as a person who lived there for years) and is a place where people come for the sun and weather. Most students live off campus in small group homes (more accurately hovels) in places like Ocean Beach since La Jolla is one of the most expensive and closed communities in the US, so there is not much school spirit or community. There are a lot of complaints about a lack of class space causing students to take 6 years to graduate, but some of this is due to students who want to hang out in San Diego.

As others mentioned, San Diego State is a party school and has a more defined school community.

USD is very different (obviously smaller and private). I found that people though well of it in San Diego because a lot of alumni work in the area. I would not go there as a minority student.

UCSD is behind Irvine and Santa Barbara now?

I remember when UCSD was considered the third best UC school (behind Berkeley and LA), but Irvine and Santa Barbara have really come up in the world. I think a big part of that is San Diego is really provincial (I say this as a person who lived there for years) and is a place where people come for the sun and weather. Most students live off campus in small group homes (more accurately hovels) in places like Ocean Beach since La Jolla is one of the most expensive and closed communities in the US, so there is not much school spirit or community. There are a lot of complaints about a lack of class space causing students to take 6 years to graduate, but some of this is due to students who want to hang out in San Diego.

As others mentioned, San Diego State is a party school and has a more defined school community.

USD is very different (obviously smaller and private). I found that people though well of it in San Diego because a lot of alumni work in the area. I would not go there as a minority student.

Anonymous wrote:So what is the California equivalent to GMU and UMBC? Cal State-Stanislaus?

Among UC schools? UC Santa Cruz?

So what is the California equivalent to GMU and UMBC? Cal State-Stanislaus?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCSD grad, CA native here. Lots of misinformation in this thread. The UC system ranks higher than the Cal State system. USD is a lovely private Jesuit school. As for the poster saying the UCSD campus is ugly, I have fond memories of watching the La Jolla cliffs hangliders from my classes in Muir as well as walking through eucalyptus groves on my way to the iconic library. Former friends and classmates went on to be stars in their fields... some doctors, some lawyers, some bio chem researchers, others part of San Diego’s rise in technology (Paul Jacobs / Qualcomm ring a bell?). It’s a great school but realize that recent changes have made it harder to get in to the UC schools from out of state.

+2 to all of the above. Another UCSD grad and CA native now living in DC. To call UCSD the equivalent of GMU is ridiculous.

And another UCSD student here who transferred to UMD to finish her degree. The level of academics/students was much higher at UCSD than at UMD. Also, UCSD is on the quarter system, which makes it more intense. UCSD has an exchange program with Dartmouth - those Dartmouth kids would come out in the winter to escape the snow at what they thought was an "easy state school" and they'd get their butts kicked academically. Over and over again I'd hear how much harder UCSD was than the Ivy school.

If your kid wants to do journalism, though, SDSU might be the better choice, as they have a solid journalism program. If your kid wants to stay in San Diego, they'll do just as well going to SDSU or USD as they would going to UCSD.

Anonymous wrote:UCSD grad, CA native here. Lots of misinformation in this thread. The UC system ranks higher than the Cal State system. USD is a lovely private Jesuit school. As for the poster saying the UCSD campus is ugly, I have fond memories of watching the La Jolla cliffs hangliders from my classes in Muir as well as walking through eucalyptus groves on my way to the iconic library. Former friends and classmates went on to be stars in their fields... some doctors, some lawyers, some bio chem researchers, others part of San Diego’s rise in technology (Paul Jacobs / Qualcomm ring a bell?). It’s a great school but realize that recent changes have made it harder to get in to the UC schools from out of state.

+2 to all of the above. Another UCSD grad and CA native now living in DC. To call UCSD the equivalent of GMU is ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would UCSD compare with UMD and UVA?

It is the UMBC / George Mason of California.

That said, CA is so so different from the dmv. You have the whole JC/ cal state/ UC system. Berkeley is the UVA/ UMD but it is so overcrowded and impossible to get into the classes you need to graduate. Not everyone can pay for a third year at UCB after two years of JC. The people I knew who went to UCSD were extremely hardworking, ambitious first gen children of immigrant pa who wanted to be scientists/doctors and cure cancer kind of people.

This is not even remotely true.

Sorry, meant to add that no one would care or notice what your religious affiliation is at USD. Lots of kids are not Catholic.

Child went to USD. As the other PP said, it's a lovely school. Beautiful campus. Several of his friends chose the school over higher-ranked schools because they got substantial financial aide. He met some quality friends and of course, loved the SD/beach experience. But truthfully, we all got a bit tired of the cross-country trek by the 4th year.

Go to the Fiske guide and niche.com. You'll get much more accurate info there.

UCSD also has a disproportionate number of wealthy students for a public school. With the grades to get in and the money to enjoy the location it’s a goto (not just among CA schools). SDSU would never be the fallback position for those students. USD might work for wealthy and dim.