Tuition, Cost & Aid

Although its cheaper to get general classes out of the way at a community college first, I feel like I would have really missed out on the transitioning with other freshman on campus. It is a learning experience that takes living in the dorms and struggling to get priorities in order with others at the same time. Its totally worth it, in my opinion :)

With all I've said so far, I would hope that you would feel like you get your bang for the buck. Personally, I was astonished at how easily I transitioned into the college life, and that in itself is worth it to me. The life experiences I will gain here could not be duplicated anywhere else. Besides, who isn't in debt these days, and isn't that why we go to college in the first place? To make money to pay off our debts? That's what loans and scholarships are for.

So one of the reasons I feel like UCSD is worth the pain of reaching deep into our wallets is HELLO! it's one of the top research institutes in the nation!!! We have multiple Nobel Prize winners just walking around the campus everyday. We are one of the top nationally funded research schools and you should definitely take advantage of that! Personally, within the third week of my Fall freshman quarter, I had a lab training position where I got PAID to learn how to work in a lab, and by Spring quarter, I will be helping a PhD with his graduate level research!! Where else can you get such hands-on experience. San Diego is such a diverse city, culturally and scientifically, it is rich with job opportunities, so what better way to get a head start than in La Jolla! Port Triton (our mascot is King Triton) is a useful site that can help you with your resume and applying for jobs, and don't worry, if research isn't your thing, there are other jobs too =)

So doing the research isn't the only cool thing here, you can also be a SUBJECT by participating in research studies. Because there are so many studies going on, they are desperately looking for college students' help! And more often than not, this means COLD, HARD CASH in your pocket! A friend of mine got 90 buckaroos for answering some questions about how she doesn't smoke cigarettes! Like a forty minute interview, and a couple of short surveys, and BAM! If that isn't as easy as it gets, then I don't know what is! There is also the beauti...

As for quality of education as well as housing, the university offers it at a very reasonable price. In fact, nearly all of the mandatory fees paid towards to university are reasonable with much of it coming back to benefit the student in the forms of organizations, additional programming, and rock concerts. For instance, gym membership and access to all other recreational facilities are guaranteed to the student at prices that are quite reasonable as compared to other campuses. In addition, after the student activity fee referendum ran by the ASUCSD passed last year, entering students will not see another fee increase for four years. The only place that students will have difficulty in handling financially is dining. This is partly because Housing and Dining is not under the direct jurisdiction of the campus but is rather an affiliated business operating within UCSD. In terms of business, then, there is a certain amount of profiteering is expected. The most troubling thing is the allocation of two meals a day (or eleven dollars) and the separate food items contributing towards a full meal costing sixteen dollars in total. The result is many students not being able to eat a full meal (that is, an entrée, drink, and a dessert) and running out of dining dollars early; the dining halls do not operate buffet style. Moreover, certain dining halls such as Plaza Café in Revelle College frequently run out of items towards the end of the academic year and occasionally have slight issues with hygiene such as having fruit flies in the salad bar. However, that is not to say that there is not quality food on campus. Most other dining halls offer quality food and, even for Plaza Café, the issue of insanitation is only an occasional problem.

Yes, the financial issue is getting tougher each year and this year I find myself getting a larger loan than the one I did last year. I predict that for the years to come those loans will get larger. To save money I did take my social sciences classes at a community college this summer. I am nearly finished with my general education classes and am looking forward to taking courses for my major this next fall. I am big on money saving and always find ways to do things economically but nonetheless I value my education very highly. Of course college is expensive but UCSD is the best choice for me because of my interests in career choices and because of the vast amount of educational opportunities offered. Yes, I worry about how much money I'll owe once I graduate but one must look for scholarships, grants, and other forms of aid. Though I must say I've been blessed with the amount I've received both this year and last. If you got in already don't give up this grand opportunity, trust me, you will not regret accepting.

The education is really good and not a bad price for California students. The dorms are nice and they give you enough space for dorm activities. The food was good for being dorm food and they have a really nice variety over the time that I was there this year. There are also really helpful programs that allow people to try to find jobs, many of which are in laboratory based positions.

I'm really happy to be here, but as an out-of-state student, the tuition is ridiculous.

No matter what school you attend, college is what you make of it. But UCSD is especially appropriate for carving out a unique experience because of its diverse focus and modernity. There is always something new to do, fascinating classes to take, and helpful facilities to use and check out. Any of the UCs are a world-class education for what you're investing.

Compared to the cost of Junior colleges, UCSD is rather pricey. However, I believe it is entirely worth it, especially to live on campus. I think that I truly was able to experience college life, discover things about myself, and become truly independent, because I was able to live on campus with other students my age. This is where I found my community and friends that I know will last. Not only is this community worth the money, but the education is exceptional. I had such a great year that would not have been possible in another environment.