Academics

The classes are hard, especially with the pace of the quarter system, but everyone is working hard to finish. People will help you if you just ask for help. Each professor has expectations for you to do well and they are there to help you, not destroy you.

The academic rigor here is very demanding, but in the best way. You are required to meet the professor's standards, but it is definitely manageable. As a social science major in introductory classes, I found my classes to be appropriately difficult, but also incredibly fascinating. Finals week of my first quarter was as stressful as I expected, but anyone with focus, self-discipline, and optimism should see this as a good challenge rather than an indomitable threat. The knowledge you gain through your classes is well-worth the work you put into them. Also, freshman seminars are an excellent way to sneak a quick peak at a major while gaining some helpful knowledge.

Economics.
Econ is not pretty famous in UCSD.
However, the instructors are very nice and will spare no effort helping you. Also, office hours allow you to make a come-in conversation with professors, which will be beneficial to your studying!

Every student is unique, and each and every person works in different ways. As for me, I believe the academic rigor at UCSD is challenging. Coming from the top of my high school, I found myself as well as other students struggling to keep up in classes and working extra hard to understand certain material. The professors and their courses challenge the students so that they can reach their full potential, and because UCSD is composed of academically excellent students, this intensifies the academic rigor and makes the environment even more competitive.