UCSD

Introduction
My biggest piece of advice is research research research. If you can, come down to UCSD and check out the school. The site and students, don't tell you actually how it's really like down here. They keep telling you, "Oh it's such a great school to go to if you want to be an engineer or major in science." In a sense it true, but they also fail to mention how artsy UCSD is. The Theater Department is actually 3rd in the nation after NYU and Yale. The reason I chose UCSD was because of the science department and the idea of 6 colleges, with each with their own personalities.

Campus Life and Social Life
Social life here is pretty bleeeh. If you are the partying type, there is still room for you here but only if you can keep up your partying and academics and have a car. Before school starts there is non-stop partying and definitely can't forget Tijuana. There is also Sun God Festival which people say is pretty fantastic. We have about maybe 2 1/2 gyms. One outdoor pool, one indoor pool, multiple tennis courts, soccer fields, basketball courts, and 2 beach volleyball court as well. Also can't forget Price Center. There we have the food court and bookstore but that's our occasional theater- movies for $3 and our game lounge. However most parties happen OUTSIDE of UCSD. Within the campus, it is pretty much dead. Most students say indoors doing homework or just prefer to stay inside to fool around. During finals week, the campus streets is totally empty. Academics
Honestly, if you keep up with your work, you should be fine. There are even some classes when u do minimum work, you pass the class. Some Professors are okay but others just suck ass which is like most other schools. Language and Theater and art are one of our best departments and the others are just so-so. Professors and TA's encourage you to go to office hours, so if you need extra help they are there. There are also Labs you can attend everyday of the week for whatever class if you have a hard time solving problems. If you really feel you need extra extra help, there is also OASIS where you sign up for a class that is specific for your professor and the TA's in there go over the problems (almost like a high school version of whatever your taking).

Student Body
Sports? Nope although people here are very active. Not once would you not see someone jogging down the street. There is also an occasional game in some random sport. People are encouraged to join clubs and sorority or fraternity but it's not a big deal here. People are very laid back and unlike most other schools, no one is very competitive. In the beginning of the quarter is when there's life on the campus but once the freshness disappears, there is no social life almost. However on the weekend, it depends on how you spend your time. My suitemate always went to the beach, which isn't such a big deal. When clubs first want to hold a gathering, they'd go to the beach and have a bonfire.

In Closing...
The weather here is fantastic and honestly, if social life is such a big deal to you (admittedly it's not that great here), just make friends with tons of people, join clubs or a frat and there you go. If you want a laid back school, UCSD is the one for you.