University of California-San Diego (UCSD, UCSD, UC San Diego) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The University of California (UC) is one of the world’s largest centers for higher education with a total enrollment of approximately 220,000 students spanning 10 different campuses, namely: Irvine, Santa Barbara, Berkeley, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Davis, Merced, San Francisco, and Riverside.

The University of California-San Diego traces its roots to the year 1960 when the university was established with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography being the nucleus of the campus. The university comprises six undergraduate colleges, namely: Revelle, John Muir, Thurgood Marshall, Earl Warren, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Sixth College. The University of California-San Diego has been recognized as one of the top ten public universities by the U.S. News & World Report 2012. The faculty comprises a rich mix of Nobel Prize, MacArthur Fellowship, Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, and Academy Award winners. The university is located on the cliffs of La Jolla with beautiful beaches and excellent surfing spots.

UC San Diego is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is fully accredited by the Senior College Commission of WASC.

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Information Summary

Ranks 20th in California and 238th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	91.7
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$32,838
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	33 / 1470
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	22 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	94% / 67%
Enrollment Total (all students)	37,887

Academics

The University of California-San Diego offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs.

h3>Undergraduate Degrees The undergraduate degree programs offered at University of California-San Diego are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs. The Bachelor of Arts degree program is available in different areas of study such as Anthropology, Communication, Economics, Electrical Engineering and Society, History, Linguistics, Language Studies, and Mathematics—Applied Science.The students opting for the Bachelor of Science degree program can specialize in areas such as Bioengineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, and Electrical Engineering.

Graduate and Doctoral Degree Programs

The graduate degree programs offered at University of California-San Diego are: Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Advanced Study (M.A.S.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). The doctoral programs available at University of California-San Diego are Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Admissions in the University of California-San Diego are primarily granted on the basis of academic excellence, number of college preparatory courses completed, the level of achievement in these courses, Advanced Placement, and college courses completed. Other factors influencing the chances of admission include the high school grade point average for the specified subjects and the standardized test scores. Another important evaluation criterion is the student’s personal achievement outside the classroom.

The application procedure involves submitting the admission application form, official high school transcripts, and ACT/SAT (Reasoning Test) test scores. Students are required to rank the undergraduate colleges at University of California-San Diego as per their preference. After the applications are screened, candidates are intimated about their status. Students are then required to return a Statement of Intent to Register.

International Applicants

International students are required to submit the international application form, original secondary school transcripts/national exam score report, and certificates/provisional diplomas. They are also required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English by submitting their TOEFL/IELTS scores. Students are supposed to provide a certificate of finances to demonstrate availability of funds to finance the education and living expenses for a year.

Financial Aid

University of California-San Diego provides financial aid to students to help them meet their educational expenses. The basic objective of providing financial aid is to bridge the gap between family resources and annual educational expenses of the students enrolled for various programs at University of California-San Diego. Different financial aid programs available for the students are: grants, work-study opportunities, scholarships, and student loans.

Scholarships, Grants, and Loans

The need-based grant options include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Cal Grant A, Cal Grant B, Academic Competitiveness Grant, National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant, and UC Grant. Students can avail various loan options such as Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized), Federal Direct PLUS loan, Graduate PLUS Loans, and University Loan. Students can also apply for work-study programs wherein they can seek in-campus and off-campus work-study positions. The merit-based and need-based scholarships offered to the students of University of California-San Diego include Regents Scholarships, Ellen and Roger Revelle Scholarship, James Avery Scholarship, Chancellor’s Freshman Scholarship, Sheila Owens-Collins Scholarship, and Rose Foundation Scholarship.

FAFSA

To apply for financial aid from University of California-San Diego, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education. To be eligible for financial aid, students must be U.S citizens or eligible non-citizens. University of California-San Diego recommends a priority deadline of March 2 to apply for the financial aid.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5065th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in California.

Students

University of California-San Diego encourages the development of a well-rounded personality and therefore provides numerous options to students to get involved in extracurricular activities. The academic advisors assist students in selecting courses, monitoring academic progress, and pinpointing academic deficiencies. The University of California-San Diego offers various Academic Enrichment Programs (AEP) to encourage students to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees and get involved in research. The Career Services Center encourages students to get involved in self-evaluation and provides guidance related to experiential learning, career exploration, and job search activities. The campus has an Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) which provides child care facilities for the children of the students, staff, and faculty of the university.

University of California-San Diego: Housing and Dining

All the new first year students of the University of California-San Diego are offered guaranteed housing space for three years. On-campus housing facility is provided to the students in the heart of each of the six colleges of University of California-San Diego. The housing options include residence halls and apartment-style housing and there are single, double, and triple occupancy rooms.

Dining facilities are available for the students of University of California-San Diego throughout the campus. The restaurants include The Bistro, Café Ventanas, Canyon Vista, Club Med, Fairbanks Coffee, Foodworx, Goody’s Place and Market, and Pines.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

University of California-San Diego athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division II and California Collegiate Athletic Association. There are 23 athletic teams including men’s baseball, basketball, crew, cross country, fencing, soccer, golf, swimming and diving, track and field, tennis, volleyball, and water polo. The women’s teams compete in basketball, crew, cross country, fencing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, tennis, volleyball, and water polo. The intercollegiate athletic teams are known as the Tritons. The school colors are blue and gold.

Athletic facilities are available for the students at RIMAC Arena, Triton Ballpark, Canyonview Pool, Northview Tennis Courts, and Triton Track and Field Stadium.

Bibliography

University of California-San Diego. UC San Diego Facts & Campus Profile. Web. 16 December 2011.

University of California-San Diego. Undergraduate Admissions. Web. 16 December 2011.

University of California-San Diego. UC San Diego Campus Profile. 2011. Print.

University of California-San Diego