University of California-San Diego Top Questions

The students are smart at UCSD, part of the reason I chose it. Some classes are competitive. The professors that I have come in contact with are very helpful and care a lot about forwarding my education.

If you make the effort to get to know your professors by going to office hours, they WILL know your name and they will do everything they can to help you out. The math professors at UCSD all SUCK, which is extremely disappointing. My chemistry professor (Hoeger) however has been amazing, and I plan on following him through the chem series. Students here study A LOT, and a lot of the times it IS necessary, but depending on your major you usually don't have to make yourself crazy studying all night. Class participation usually happens in discussions rather than lecture, but then again there are some professors that like parcipation. UCSD students are WICKED smart, prepare to finally have an intelligent conversation with that guy you've been eying across the class. Students at UCSD are extremely competitive. I can't tell you how many people ask me what grade I got on a test to gloat about how much better they did than me. A lot of the education at UCSD is based on which of the six colleges you go to. At Revelle where I go, the education is very much based on learning for its own sake. If you really want to prepare for the working world, there are plenty of internships and research opportunities for the taking though.

Professors don't usually know my name if it's a big lecture. Students usually study a lot and mostly during midterms or finals. Class participation during section is common but not during lecture. Students are fairly competitive.

not professors yes tas like all the classes very informative study lot participate alot yes intellectual conversations not competitive good requirements both learning and career goals

Professors: They don't know your name, often classes are 200+, but if you go to their office hours, they can get to know you better. Fav and Least Fav Classes: Favorite was Poli12 with Professor Lake. He's awesomely smart and the class was totally interesting. Least favorite was Poli10 With Professor Gordon. It was an hour long napfest three times a week. Study: NEVER! Until finals week, then we cram. Class Participation: The classes are large, so no. But in section (in lower division classes) the size of class is smaller, usually no more than 20 and discussion is sometimes required. Intellectual Conversations: Not really, unless prompted by controlled substances. Competitive: Not really... Unique Class: Haven't had one yet, but the wait list on the Sexual Sociology class is like 100 people long. Major: Political Science with emphasis on International Relations. This will probably be your major too, unless you are Biology... Spend Time with Profs: No. I saw one at Baskin Robbins at 10pm once though. Academic Requirements: In general I think that GEs are a joke, but they are a requirement at almost every reputable school. UCSD Education: I'd say that it's geared towards getting a higher degree. The TAs are almost all PhD candidates or Master's students and they always talk about it.

I think classes are ranked based on the professor. Some professors can be great people but give horrible tests, or some give easy tests but are difficult people. As long as the students have something to engage in and the professors test that, there will be student participation. My favorite class was a Human Nutrition Biology class. I think the thing that made it so great was that the professor related it to college students. She would throw in random sex and exercise facts that you rarely hear about, and then relate it back to how it works in the body.

Professors tend to know your name only if you make the effort to talk to them. My favorite class was definitely HILD2B with professor Klein, because the professor made lectures fairly interesting, her tests were fair, and she seemed to be very friendly. My least favorite had to have been VIS3 with professor Steinbach. Apparently a very large number of people who took the class received A's. However, his class was so mind numbingly boring and my TA was so inept that I simply stopped going to class around the 6th week and got a C+. Students tend to study lightly throughout the semester and cram at the end, which seems typical of every college. Students are not really competitive as few professors will grade on real bell curves.

no comment

No, UCSD is too big for professors to know you personally. Some of the intensive writing classes were difficult, but I like the seminars they provide. Students study quite often, even on Saturdays. Class participation is common especially in liberal arts classes, but I heard in science classes competition is fierce. Some classes don't generate a discussions students are willing to participate in. I think my friends, especially after taking 2 years of a history GE, have intellectual conversations outside of class. I think a lot of the classes teach intellectually-stimulating, but relevant information to our contemporary world, that students find it interesting and easy to talk about it outside of class. I like our communication department is pretty impressive, but I wish the T.A.s were more helpful. I think education at UCSD is geared toward both getting a job or learning for its own sake.

no - none/none - most of the time, since thats mostly all you can do - not really, especially not for large classes - sometimes - yes, very much so.. especially for those engineers - mmw - structural engineering is very interesting, although i've come to the realization that lots of classes that are required are irrelevant - no - ucsd's academic requirement is decent, but how every college has a different requirement is the part that is frustrating, especially for students who want to experience different GE's while coming from different majors - education at ucsd is prepping me for the real world, because it's taught me connections is really important in the world out there.

nope favorite class = sign language least favorite = all the chem seems like people always study no yes yes idk swithchin majors, but bioengineering is ridick! no ridiculous learning for its own sake... ew

Professors will know your name if you brown nose. Favorite class - the arts. Least favorite - the 300 + impersonals. I used to study 6-7 days a week. Now I dont study. Participation is common. There are a great many intellectual conversations outside of class. YES we are VERY competitive. Most unique class- freshmen seminars! DO IT! My major is ever changing. I have actually considered dating some of my TAs The academic requirements are ridiculous. Especially for ERC. MMW is rewarding but the additional requirements are a waste of time. REWARDING FOR LEARNING. YOU LEARN A LOT. ACADEMICS HERE ARE under rated. REALLY EDUCATIONALLY THRIVING ENVIRONMENT

Professors don't care about you. Classes are too big. MMW SUCKS. Students study too much. There are only a few select students with intellectual conversations. Some students are very competitive. I'm not, though.. just don't do better than me on my tests. The academic requirements are okay despite MMW as a GE. UCSD education is a piece of shit.

Depending on how big the class is, professors will or will not know your name. This is also kind of up to you, going to office hours, and meeting with the teacher makes you know them a little more personally. Going to office hours makes me have a more personal experience, which i sugguest to people if they are looking for one. Most teachers just sit alone during their office hours and I know of some who make extra coffee dates to talk to students. At UCSD I kinda think its up to you how close you are to a professor. MUIR has some bomb-ass GE's meaning they have like 2. If you dont wanna waste your time on stupid GEs, other than Muir Writing (yuck), than Muir is the way to go. Im actually really dissatisfied with the THeatre department at UCSD. You have to take all these classes, that if you wanna be a Theatre major, you probably already know all the stuff you learn in them, or know that these are fields of theatre (like set design) that you have no desire to go into. Also, i realy enjoy musical theatre, which the school is completely lacking in. Also, I feel like there is no real preperation for life after college with any major. You know a lot of stuff, but nothing you need to find a job in the real world. I do have intellectual convos outside of class, esepeically if something in the class really interests me.

Thus far, all of my professors know me from office hours conversations. I absolutely adore my Italian class because the atmosphere is so friendly and lively and the people and teachers are great company to learn from/with. The exact opposite of that class, Biology, is my least favorite (I love the subject of biology, but not my fellow classmates). In biology, yes. I am undeclared in biology sciences (I know, ironic), and I am working to be qualified to apply for medical my senior year. I have been to office hours to chat briefly, but I have had lunch and more extensive conversations with a couple of my professors. The academic requirements vary from college to college; in all, I think they facilitate learning for the sake of learning, in part because each of the professors speak passionately about their subjects and students feed off that love.

Most professors don't know your name unless you go to their office hours all the time or something. I would say that most students don't go to office hours or spend time with their professors outside of class. But those who do usually get something out of it like a better grade or a potential recommendation letter. I think most students study a lot...the 'unsocial bookworm' thing. However, those that are social still study quite a bit too. Most study during the week more than on the weekends. I think that the academic requirements are pretty fair. Each college has their own set of requirements which is nice because in choosing a college, you can decide your GE's. That is how I decided on a college when applying to UCSD and I think that was very helpful in deciding.

Some of the professors do. Not all of course.

professors know my name: yes, two of them favorite class: Ramachandran's "Brain Disorders". he's hilarious, captures his students, is likeable, and is a world-renown neuropsychologist. and you gotta love it when he plays that video of himself :) least favorite: ooh, DOC and my Ethnic studies class. only because i was a freshman so it was hard to adjust, there was a TON of reading, and i hate writing papers! how often do students study?: not sure about everyone, but i personally study two full days before an exam is class participation common?: no do UCSD students have intellectual convos outside of class: some do.. are students competitive?: sure. the bar is raised because everyone's smart, so you challenge yourself by striving to get an A. what's the most unique class you've taken: "brain disorders" again my major/dept: Psychology. it's cool, mosty research. i wish it had more applied studies for hands-on interaction with a population do you spend time with professors outside of class: no how do you feel about UCSD's academic requirements?: not so great because just when i thought i was ready to graduate, i find i have to take 26 more units plus summer school. boo is the ed @ UCSD for getting a job, or learning for its own sake?: both, mostly for its own sake....i.e. damn electives!!

Although your classes typically have between 100-300 students in a lecture, the professors encourage you to come to their office hours and they are for the most part really receptive. Because of the class sizes it's uncommon for your professor to know you unless you constantly go to office hours. Students are competitive, but it is not all that cut throat. Being a History major, I am most definitely in the minority at this school full of science, pre-med students. The History department is pretty amazing though! The professors are awesome and they realize that history majors are far and few in between and so you get to know them pretty well.

A couple of my professors do. My favorite class is MMW. My least favorite class is stats. I study fairly often. I try to participate. Definitely, there are a lot of well-educated people at this school. Students are ridiculously competitive here. The most unique class I have taken thus far is probably CSE3. It was much more interactive than I had expected. It is so ridiculously difficult to sign up for a communications class! I try to utilize office hours. Requirements are reasonable but six quarters of MMW is a little daunting. I feel like education at UCSD is geared toward learning for its own sake. It is almost like professors are teaching you to become professors in the future (if that makes sense).

Professors don't know my name but that will change next quarter when I have to take a 15 person colloquium. My fav class is anything with professor Radcliff. My least fav would be anything for my minor, communications because all completely pointless. Class participation is rare exception for the one annoying kid in every class that will argue with the teacher and ask pointless/obnoxious questions while the rest of the class is thinking "shut up already." Some students discuss intellectual things outside of class but usually because they are trying to be artsy and intellectual--they're trying to seem cool. Some students are competitve but I really couldn't care less. I like my major/department--my one beef is that you have to email the professor to get permission to enroll in your required colloquium and it doesn't say that anywhere on the website. So, I majorly flipped out over nothing when it wouldn't let me sign up. I feel that the academic requirements are fine, although I might object to the 6 quarters of MMW if I didn't like history. I haven't gotten a full time job yet (and my current job has nothing to do with my major) so I really couldn't say.

professors usually do not know your name unless you put in the effort of getting to know them, but that seems like it makes sense since classes are very large. my favorite class is MMW especially professor herbst he loves what he teaches and does an amazing job. my least favorite class was Phil 10 with grush it was the most annoying class ever and i find that people tend to agree with that statement. ucsd's academic requirements are time consuming, but it helps each student be more well-rounded. the school is very science and research-based which is kind of annoying for non-science majors. ucsd students usually tend to have intellectual conversations about molecules and electrons rather than what is going on in the world, which i don't really like. i don't really spend time with professors outside of class but i would like to. i think ucsd should also do a better job of letting students who are applying to the school know what each college is about so they don't randomly apply to a college that doesn't cater to their major or interests.

UCSD is a great place, one of the best, to study in the sciences. My rooms mates consist of 2 mechanical engineering majors and a human bio major and all three of them study like crazy. Apparently it's really competitive. As for spending time with professors outside of class I hear a lot about programs that provide deals on food for students that want to get lunch with a professor. The academic requirements are different depending on the "college" you enroll in within UCSD, so definitely look into the requirements that each college has before picking one because they range from having to take a crap load of general ed to hardly any general ed. I'm a music major. Personally I find the undergrad music program here a little underdeveloped but it is growing and it has the potential to be quite respectable some day. The grad department is huge on experimental music/contemporary classical. that's pretty much all they do, so you get exposed to a lot of that. The faculty, at least the jazz oriented faculty, is pretty awesome, with people like Mark Dresser, Kamau Kenyatta, David Borgo, and Anthony Davis. There are a lot of really interesting performances too. I think UCSD is the home of Red Fish Blue Fish. One problem is that it is very grad centered and the professors really don't give a toot about your development if you are an undergrad, so if you want something done here you have to do it yourself. Another problem is that most of the students in the undergrad department are either a double major in music and something else or a music minor, and are just taking it to look good for when they apply for grad school or a position as a doctor or a brain surgeon. They are very few undergrad music students committed to being awesome musicians and nobody practices.

Students study everyday and the libraries, especially Geisel, is probably the most popular and social place on campus.

It's strange that all classes are just big lectures with section only once a week. It basically means my professors never know me at all and I only get to know TAs. I don't like that that is the set up for basically every class.

Students are really competitive and maybe that's why you'll see so many people at Geisel Library. It's a good thing too though because you meet really quality people who you can have more than just shallow, stupid conversations with.

Classes are all very different. They aren't too difficult to pass if you don't slack off.

Classes are very large so unless you go into office hours and see the professor, or your T.A., then usually they will not know your name. My favorite class was TDGE 25 which is a Public Speaking class. It was amazing! Yes, students are very competitive at UCSD. My major is International Studies and the department is good.

yes some do

See "Are these stereotypes accurate?" UCSD is a hard academic school. Students study quite often. Much of the curriculum is theory based and geared towards research. It is not geared toward getting a job. If a student wants to get to know a professor they must be proactive and go to office hours. Classes are usually large and thus a student will most likely not get to know a professor just from attending class.

people rarely participate in class because there with the quarter system there is so much to cover in each class, those people that ask off topic questions are annoying. some of the general education requirements at this school are ridiculous. i really started to enjoy school once i began upper divison courses that were more specialized to what i wanted to learn. at that point i began to learn for learnings sake, not just to graduate. get rid of so many general ed requirements.

I went to one of my bio professor's office hours once and we talked for a bit and then invited me to visit him over the summer to see his mutant cornfield that he's growing for his research! I see him around campus every now and then and he'll stop to say hi and chat if he has time. One day, my friends and I were having lunch at a dining hall when a random professor just came and sat at our table. He introduced himself and then we talked about just about everything for nearly two hours. It was so fun because he was so interesting.

SOOO hard and competitive, in regards to the science courses.

Some know my name. Favorite: Hard to answer, but I'd probably say Gospel Choir (MUS95G). Worst: Linear Circuits (MAE140) mainly because the professor was BAD! Students study A LOT! I'd probably say we treat studying like a full time job (literally ~8hr/day). Class participation is very common. Yes we have intellectual conversations outside of class, but we also know when to act goofy. YES STUDENTS ARE COMPETITIVE! Humanities 5 - we met two Holocaust survivors. Bioengineering = cool professors, administration could be better. Biology = cool professors and nice administration. GREAT DEPARTMENT. Yes, I spend time with professors outside of class. Well, it depends on the college (you are usually in one of our six colleges). I can speak for REVELLE. REVELLE is a GREAT department. We have a lot of GE'sm but it makes us well rounded and ready for the real world. I think UCSD is geared for both. It's geared so that you can obtain a job in an area you truly choose to grow in. Many people from UCSD continue their education by going to graduate school after receiving a bachelor's degree. It's awesome.

Lecture professors don't know my name. Favorite class - Public speaking! Least - Warren Writing... People are ALWAYS studying...it's UCSD! People are active in class, if they go... Lots of intellectual conversations. VERY competitive. Most unique class - Music & Film class! Major: Communications - I'd tell you but I haven't been able to get into that class yet...

Professors often dont know your name, but if you choose to get to know them, they will get to know you. I love psyc classes. Students study different amounts depending on the class.

Academic life at UCSD is rather difficult, as many of the professors are researchers who expect a lot more from students than memorization. With such a large student body, it’s difficult to get to know professors personally, despite the different departments’ insistence on building professor/student relations. The general education requirements differ from college to college, and if you plan to graduate on time then you should consider which college you choose before applying (switching between colleges is rather difficult). Easiest general education requirements can be found in Muir College; most difficult GEs in either Revelle or Roosevelt. The courses are interesting, and a lot of them require dedication and detail to the learning process itself, let alone the subject matter. However, a degree from UCSD is coupled with research experience—if you can get in with a professor and help with their research, you are almost guaranteed a job opening upon graduation. With that said, it is a very competitive school in biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering, although there are many communication majors and other humanities majors that compete for the top grade. Students therefore study a lot, probably more so than at other schools, for midterms and finals. It’s also difficult given the quarter system: ten weeks to learn the material before moving onto the next class can be both a blessing and a plague, depending on the professor, course, etc.

Professors do not know your name. My favorite class was a mandatory writing class. My least was chemistry. Class participation is not common. In science, UCSD is the MOST competitive, hard-core school.

Many classes are large lecture hall classes with 200 students so professors do not know names. But there are also many small classes where professors will know names. My favorite class was PSYC4 (Intro to Behavioral Psyc) with Dr. Jacob. Students study ALL the time, it's a little scary. There's a lot of competition here. Class participation is only common in small classes or discussion sections, not large lectures. The most unique class I've taken was MUS15 - Techno music. It was odd. The Psychology Department is amazing, but also VERY research based which is to be expected. I have not spent time with professors outside of class, except for the class I TAed for. UCSD's academic requirements vary by college. I think Muir college is amazing for GE's, but others like ERC and Revelle are horrible. The education at UCSD is definitely geared to learning for its own sake with very little real world applicability discussed.

students study a lot because of the quarter system's fast faced nature.

Professors rarely know my name because all the lower division classes have 200 or more students. Class participation is not especially common, students are not that competitive. Students study a lot. I feel like the gen. ed requirements are way too intense, especially considering you don't even really get to choose which college you're in.

the events and classes that bring in the top achievers in their fields are the most interesting because it is living proof that the major goes somewhere. Especially great if the speakers are people we all can relate to because it makes the academics feel not so impossible. It is amazingly competitive and scary but i hope to make close contacts with future professors because i like the upper division courses better than any of the professors i have had so far.

i think the education is about learning for its own sake. if you work in a lab, you can start to know professors. i think that is one of the best things i did at ucsd. it was real hands on experience.

Professors don't know my name, it's really hard to get to know them. My favorite class was Asian American literature because I'm Asian American and I learned a lot about my culture and people. My least favorite was Muir 40 and 50. I think students study a lot. Class participation is not commmon, it's always the same people talking. Rarely do students have conversations outside of class. Students can be competitive. The most unique class I've taken is VisArt: Performance Art. I like my Comm. department, but there's always waitlist problems, and the frequency of each class being offered each quarter. I do feel like education here is geared toward learning.

Some professors know my name. I dont have a favoirte. every is too hard and consumes my life.

Classes here are pretty tough. Usually in most of the lower division courses I have taken, there are a least a couple hundred students in class and the only way a professor would know your name is if you made an effort to see them after or outside of lecture. I don't think I spend more time studying than my friends that go to SDSU, but there are students here who study a lot. I would say that each class requires about one to two hours of indirect homework per lecture. (What I mean by indirect is that it isn't graded so like readings etc...). I am a human development major and I am definitely thinking about applying to medical school. I love my major and the classes I have taken here have all taught me a lot and have been really interesting. I am an ERC student, and unfortunately for me, that college is more geared towards international studies and history majors, so for me the general education requirements have been annoying to fulfill; however, I do feel like I am getting a very well rounded education.

Some professors know my name. My favorite class has been the MMW series. I hated Calculus. Students are very competitive here.

Professors don't know your name if you're in one of the larger majors (like history or poli sci) but other majors, like writing and some engineering, contain more workshop style courses and they will get to know your name.

Yes, professors know my name. But that takes effort! Go to office hours, answer question in class, shoot an email. I'm a psychology and linguistics double major and I have nothing but the best things to say about the program. I hate that people think psychology is an "easy major" but if you challenge yourself and take rigorous classes you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you can achieve. I guess students study a lot? But I doubt that's all they ever do, maybe some, but aren't there bookworms everywhere? Class participation happens, and is encouraged. At least in the classes I have taken. I don't know about Science and Math majors, I hear interesting stories about the classes and professors... Intellectual conversations happen, but again you have to surround yourself with the right people. You will figure out who is like you and what they have to offer to your personal development. Plenty of newspapers, magazines and reading material to enhance your mind. The requirements here at UCSD vary on the colleges. I know about Revelle College, and I can honestly say that the wide breathe of requirements bolsters your resume for graduate school or professional careers. Many students opt out of the Humanities Program, which is a mistake. Humanities is a 5 quarter writing series that will influence the way you think of the Wester World, from Greek Civilization to modern day philosophy and arts. Just take it!

Only a few professors know my name. My favorite classes have been with a specific professor, Nitin Govil. He's an amazing guy and he pushes his students to excel. Even though his class is very challenging, he makes it possible for students to do well, guiding them with his lectures and offering help in and out of class. Studying rates vary at UCSD. Some study more than you could ever believe and some just don't study at all. I think it depends on the major and how you feel about academics. Class participation is the same way. In large classes, you're always going to have the kid who won't shut up with the occasional random student raising his or her hand. In smaller classes, it is more common for students to participate. Depending on the major, students can be EXTREMELY competitive. As a Communication major, it's only competitive to get into certain classes, not necessarily in the classes themselves. The most unique class I've taken is one on Science Fiction. I'm definitely not into all that stuff, but I found myself actually enjoying and learning a lot from and about the genre of film. The Communication department is very interesting, being that it is CommunicatioN, not CommunicationS. Our department is very theory based and doesn't offer the same type of practical experience that others do. Thus, the education from this department is definitely geared toward learning for its own sake, as opposed to getting a job.