UC San Diego’s applications have doubled in the past 10 years, now rivaling Berkeley and UCLA and making it a school of choice for top students. The school is now the research star of the UC system and a prime destination for STEM students.
But first, attendance requires an application. Twenty-five percent of UCSD applicants make it into the school, which at first glance seems high compared to the slim percentages of other competitive schools. However, the average San Diego student had a high school GPA of 3.9, meaning getting into the school is harder than the admission rate indicates. UCSD also highly values the application essays, which allow the applicant to share their interest in both the university and the major that they are applying for.
Similarly to the other UCs, the university is also completely test-blind, meaning that standardized test scores are not required for an application and won’t be considered if submitted. However, this may change in the coming years.
The university also focuses on the rigor of a student’s school record, making academics a priority. UCSD additionally considers an applicant’s volunteer work, job experience and extracurricular activities.
However, OPHS students have a key advantage when it comes to the school: students from California face nearly half the costs of attendance compared to out-of-state students. Including boarding, tuition and other expenses, the annual costs for in-state students range from $30,000 to $40,000. Meanwhile, out-of-state applicants face costs of approximately $72,000.
While tens of thousands of dollars is a lot, UCSD’s status as a public school means that these prices are significantly less than those of other universities. In addition, nearly half of all undergraduates at the school receive financial aid, with an average package of just over $17,000.
Academically, UCSD is heavily tailored towards specific majors. The university’s biggest STEM subjects are cognitive science, anatomy, computer science, psychology, biology and engineering. Other strong subjects include economics, global studies, management sciences and communication.
After being a dominant Division II school, UCSD made the transition to being a Division I school in 2017, and has settled into a good position in the league with most of its sports. The UC San Diego Tritons volleyball, water polo, soccer, basketball and tennis teams have typically been the strongest, and the school’s club surfing team has won seven national championships.
One feature that sets apart UCSD from other major universities is that it isn’t actually one residential college, but eight: Revelle, John Muir, Thurgood Marshall, Earl Warren, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth. Creative names, I know.
“The division of the campus community into small colleges was patterned after the concept that has served Oxford and Cambridge so successfully for centuries,” the UCSD website reads. “The founders of the campus were convinced that students learn more and find greater fulfillment in their lives when joined with a relatively small group of students.”
While UCSD students all fall under the same umbrella university, they are separated into different colleges based on their interests and majors. This creates a sense of unity and spirit between the students at each institution.
Additionally, each of the university’s colleges has its own housing complex, with either dorms or apartments. Most freshmen live on campus and are guaranteed housing for their first two years. Overall, about 31% of undergraduates live on campus. However, by junior year, students usually decide to rent a place in La Jolla or Del Mar, often in beachside apartments. That can be costly, but if you’re willing to relinquish the luxury of a five-minute walk to the beach, a short commute will bring you relatively affordable housing.
Luckily for Oak Park residents, the school’s climate is not a concern. UCSD’s weather and temperature closely mirror what we feel in Ventura County, with the addition of an occasional chilly ocean breeze.
The students at UC San Diego are incredibly serious about their academics and are out for an excellent education. The school’s rigorous curriculum may be overwhelming for some, but it comes with the promise of sun, sand, flip-flops and beaches. At the end of the day, not everyone gets to spend four years at the beach and leave with a strong degree.
