University of California-San Diego Top Questions

Most would rather spend time at the library than with friends.

They respect my privacy and are willing to help.

My classmates are generally studious, friendly, diverse, interesting, and ambitious.

Academic

There's not much to describe. Some are willing to go out of their way to help but some are more self-centered and career-oriented.

My classmates are very smart and very competitive

My classmates are tough, willing to do everything they can to complete with the highest grades, they are competietive, sometimes helpful and very smart

Classmates normally have lots to say about the subject in question, or in disscusion sessions.

Most of them are so focused and study so much they seem to forget about real life.

they're very friendly if you actually talk to them

it is very diverse!

The UCSD student body is pretty eclectic, I think. I am friends with people from all different parts of campus and the student body. I think that the housing system does a good job of placing students together that get along, but also have different interests and will open up the minds of those living around them.

Races tend to segregate. There is a large asian body but generally speaking the vietnamese hang with the vietnamese, the koreans with koreans, Chinese with Chinese, and so forth. Indians are very cliquey and so are the white people. Students usually wear dark or muted colors. I heard secondhand that the average annual income of a UCSD family is $100,000, and i believe it! I run a business and often try to hire from UCSD. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED by the lack of initiative and nonlinear thought by my peers. They all think they will make bank but according to graduation statistics, average income after graduation in 2006 was 40,000 per year. Most of my hippie friends are transferring out. They all complain about the rigor of classes and lack of social life. But they're lazy and antisocial. Students are politically aware but not at all active. I find people of all political spectrums, but they largely lean center (very few rabid liberals

Students are very open minded and they don't fall into any stereotypes in general. They don't mostly tend to be too politically active or aware, but there are still a lot of groups you could join where you'd get your fill of that stuff.

For how diverse the student body is, I have never had or heard of any racial, religious or LGBT conflict on campus. There's a group for everyone to fit into. The art kids, the sorority/frat kids, athletic ones, student activists, religious- everything. It seems there's a lot of students going into the medical sciences or engineering but it really isn't about the career or the money- more about being productive to society. Students aren't tooo politically active, but if anything, we're a fairly liberal bunch. It's especially awesome to be at Roosevelt College where we have so many international students.

The Asians at UCSD generally stick to their own, while all other ethnicities/races socialize and become friends. People in the Greek system all know each other, so going Greek at UCSD is like exponentially increasing the pool of people you meet/know. Students at UCSD are predominantly left, but are surrounded by La Jollans who are predominantly right.

There are a lot of multicultural groups so no matter what, you will find somewhere, where you will feel at home. Its mostly Asians but there are a little of everything else. There are clubs and there is a cross cultural center where you can interact with diverse people. There is also I-House were you can live with foreign students so it is up to you if you want to meet people outside your customs. There are a lot of ambitious people. You see people of all kinds: first generation college students, privileged, foreign.

- i think there's something for everyone here at SD. you just got to go out and find it. people tend to hang out with people that they know from their dorms, and then those that are in their clubs. umm.. the other questions require too much thinking. sorry! :/

For the most part, UCSD is a pretty accepting environment in regards to social and political situations. I would say the student body is predominantly upper middle class, although of course there are the extremes present on campus. I would say most people are indifferent to campus politics because they seem irrelevant to the actual student experience (i.e. whoever the A.S. president is, they won't make any decisions that affect me).

I feel like this school isn't that liberal... and I come from a very liberal background.. so that's a little new. I feel like students here don't really interact with each other as much as other students do in other UCs... possibly because of the difference in administration here? not sure. something about this school makes the students not interact as much... that's what i think. since the school is socially dead, it makes the students also want to be socially dead. does that make sense? again, most students are of caucasian or asian backgrounds, and i would like to see more diversity, since i come from a diverse city. most of the students either come from the LA area or the Bay area.

Most people in fraternities are douche bags, and most girls in sororities are incredibly stupid. Not a lot of race tension which is cool. Most students seem to come from LA, but there are a few prideful individuals from Northern California.

Most students are Asian. There are very few black or white. Mostly Asian. and they all seem to speak a foreign language that you won't understand unless you are Asian. One of my favorite quotes from on eof my friends (this guy James) is "I'm as white as can be, but by the tiime I graduate I'll probably be speaking fluent Chinese, Japaneses and Korean, and keeping them all straight." There is close to no racial tension if there is any at all, but sometimes I do get annoyed when I don't hear English (probably my own personal little quirk). Most UCSD students are from CA. There is a defineite seperation between Nor Cal and So Cal, and no one seems to know that Central Cal exists (Shout out to my peeps in the San Joaquin Valley - especially Fresno!) UCSD is pretty LGBT friendly. I wouldn't say there is any persecution and most people feel free enough to express who they truly are, and right now Obama is the big presidential candidate on campus. I went into college thinking that everyone was going to have these strong political views, but it's not like that at all. People have their opinions. Some people don't care, and you can almost always find someone from Greenpeace wh wants to talk to you, but other than that UCSD is pretty chill.

There is a great deal of diversity here at UCSD, but it is not the most integrated institution you will find. In particular, African American students tend to make up an usually small number of the students matriculated. There are numerous institutions set up on campus, including the largest UC cross cultural center, which cater to students who identify strongly with their ethnicity and wish to socialize with other students who also identify along the same lines. I enjoy the diversity on campus a lot and have learned soo much from being surround by liberal activists, religious conservatives, fundamentalist libertarians, and everything inbetween. There is no homogeniety to the views you will find at UCSD, which I feel really helps students to explore important personal issues while being open to (and gaining a better understanding of) the opinions of other individuals.

As a gay student, overall the student body is very open and liberal, and if people feel otherwise it is not made known. Most students are intelligent student that also balance themselves with a good social life. The overall theme to the students is a laid back, yet upscale beachwear. Flip Flops and Sunglasses prevail as most worn, even on rainy cold days! The four main students we have at this school are: 1) Secluded, Quiet Geniuses 2) Intelligent Douchebags and Sorority Girls 3) Smart and Outgoing Students 4) Asian Transfer Students. There is a place for every kind of person at UCSD...but goodluck to finding them witout getting lost in a forest!

There are so many Asians, it is crazy!

Good, fun, smart people. Very diverse.

if you're a racist, well then, you obviously don't belong on ucsd's campus. the majority of students are asian. a good proportion are white. and a tiny amount are black.

The student body is incredibly diverse. No matter where you come from or what your interests are it is possible to find a niche of close, like minded friends who become a family away from home.

The student body consists largely of science and engineering majors, most are to the left of the political spectrum. That being said, some of the most passionate and dedicated people I have met come from philosophy and english majors. On a typical day at UCSD you will see surfers, skateborders, gamers, activists, writers, scientists and most importantly, just people. I think the best thing about UCSD is that people are passionate about what they do, and that also spurs from their exposure to so many different organizations on campus. Whatever you are passionate about, we can accommodate you. That is why people are so happy to come here and stay here. It's just a very accommodating and perfect environment.

The student body has a mix of people from NorCal, SoCal, and international students. I'm from San Francisco, and I noticed that UC San Diego has such a different vibe that I could not describe. It's my new favorite town. Students come from all walks of life. I could write pages on UCSD's student body. I'll just say that UCSD is the MOST DIVERSE campus I have ever seen. There's no way to feel out of place racially, religiously, politically, or anything.

I think a student that can not stick out in a crowd could get lost at this school. It is a big campus with a lot of different people, but because of this it helps to be outgoing or at least willing and able to make friends.

There are a lot of caucasian and asian people on campus. The campus is mod-liberal, and there aren't a lot of protesting, but there is some. There are all sorts of financial backgrounds.

So far I haven't really be involved in a lot of campus groups, but they're definitely out there if you want to join. I think any UC school would be like this, but sometimes just being a blonde white female I feel out of place at UCSD. Whenever I walk into a room with my friend (also a blonde white female), people always comment on it, because of how rarely two blonde girls are seen in the same building, let alone the same room. Some guy asked me to dance at a party once because I was "the first white girl he'd seen all night". It's definitely not a problem unless you run into a cliquey group of some race, which seldom ever happens. UCSD is definitely a skate/surfer friendly school, no matter what race. If you haven't already, you're going to want to invest in a pair of Rainbows. They're super cheap at the Muir surf/skate shop, and trust me - once you break them in you'll be wearing them EVERYWHERE. Because it's so close to the beach the mornings and nights can get a little nippy and the weather's a bit unpredictable at times, but you shouldn't ever need more than a light coat or a sweatshirt. Most UCSD students are from the bay area, and all of us socal kids get really annoyed by the whole "hella" thing. I mean really, "hella" is NOT a word, don't even start with me. Like any college, most of the students here are left, but it's probably slightly more centered than most schools considering the fact San Diego is a little more on the conservative side than most of California. Still though, it's definitely a democrat-dominated school. Students don't really talk about how much they'll earn, because it's kind of assumed by their major.

No students would really feel out of place there are so many clubs that would fit anyone. Most students wear normal clothes to class nothing unusal. Most UCSD students are asians who party occasionally but study mostly. Most are from So Cal (LA area).

great

Groups on Campus: There is always SOME group on library walk. But there are 100s of groups on campus for any kind of person. Out of Place: Unfortunately, anyone who isn't Asian or White. There are literally NO Blacks or Hispanics... Class Attire: Mainly sweats, or jeans. People are really laidback when it comes to attire. Of course you'll always have the weirdos who look like they are going to prom when actually they are going to Chem 6A... Interaction: Sometimes. I guess they don't really have a choice. Dining Hall Seating: The Professors/TAs. People who don't speak English. Dining Hall workers. People who don't go to UCSD but are eating there anyway. Where UCSD Students Are From: I think its a 70-30 split between Bay Area and Everywhere in Southern California. Financial Backgrounds: Well all the Bay Area people pay for their own school (thanks mom and dad). Everyone else is on financial aid (its not cheap!). Left, Right, Center: Mostly Left, but there is a large constituency of conservative Asians who are very much right. Earnings: I think most people are just trying to go to med school or something similar, so they all know how much they'll make... And how much debt they'll be in trying to get there.

People are pretty accepting of each other on campus. I've never seen any open hostility towards someone because of race or religion - it was more just a problem with the actual person. And even people who seem totally out of place aren't left out because usually there is something common that ties us all together as students, such as a common college or hatred for a professor.

There's diversity on campus, certain groups definitely have a stronger showing than others, but there are a lot of very different people. There's a pretty even nor-cal/so-cal mix but few out of state kids. We all pretty decently relaxed and laid back.

I have a few gay friends and so I am a frequent attendee of LGBT dances. I heard this year their dances have been so successful they have to find bigger venues for them. UCSD offers a ton of club organizations that cater to the needs of any student. I'm pretty sure if you looked through the catalog, you'd find something you'd like. UCSD runs student-run events that students actually go to. I think the student committees do a good job of putting on events geared towards student interests.

none - those who are total introverts, because there aren't a lot of activities to bring people together unless you take the initiative yourself - pajamas or comfort clothes - yes - student body is very diverse, everyone just meshes together as if they are not any different from one another.

pretty good actually... seems pretty liberla... i like it a hardcore bible thumper jeans, sweatshirt, and sandals yes diversity california wealthy middle class- wealthy somewhat left nope

Very diverse campus. Unfortunately there is a bulk of students who stick to their race and are very exclusive. Students wear anything from chicks looking like they are going on a date or audition to an all black unitard. Four tables - person with book, person with book, person with book. Empty table. Most students from the bay and cali. Financial backgrousn are mixed - seen a lot of well off and those on financial aid Politically aware students but also misinformed. Problems with universities such as UCSD is that everyone gets so excited and hyped up over sensationalized media and jump on the band wagon........uneducated liberalism. Mostly left.............center is more thoughtful personally. People discuss salaries...pre-med students assume salaries.

The student body is whatevs.

UGH everyone wears sweatpants and UGGs to class. WERE IN SAN DIEGO, what the hell people, i know your feet are sweating in the hottness that is the UGG boot! I feel that everyone just gives up on what they wear at UCSD, and fashion is not really high on everyone's list. All in all, its a very casual campus. I think middle class people are most prevelant. My freshman year, I got to meet all different people through my House and had a great time meeting new people. I remember thinking that i meet just really good people that are smart and have great personalities. I dont really think anyone would feel too out of place on our campus because its just so big with so many people. You find your niche.

All of my experiences with the different racial, religious, LGBT, etc. groups on campus have been positive and enlightening. Interacting with such a diverse student body has been an amazing opportunity to learn of each person's different backgrounds and personal beliefs. Based on my experiences thus far, I don't think any student would feel out of place at UCSD. Most of the students who I've seen at class wear jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweater (usually hooded) to class. Yes, different types of students interact, and for the most part, never acknowledge any differences. Most UCSD students are from northern, central or southern California -- if I had to pick a particular region, I'd say southern.