UC San Diego is a part of the University of California system and one of the most popular of them. A number of its programs are ranked as one of the top ten by U.S. News and World Report; American Politics, Behavioral Neuroscience, Plasma Physics and Multi-media are some of those programs. UCSC also has nationally ranked graduate programs like Political Science, Theater & Dance and Economics. Students who apply to UCSD apply to one of six colleges, each of the colleges has its own educational philosophy and students are encouraged to make their decisions based on matching their own philosophies and interests with the three college that they list on their application (Roger Revelle, Thurgood Marshall, Earl Warren John Muir, Thurgood Marshall or the newest college that focuses on culture, art and technology – Sixth College). For example, Earl Warren (Governor of California and U.S. Supreme Court justice has the philosophy, “Toward a Life Balance” and balance personal responsibility and public. Students take a course in common, have access to the honors program, and can become involved internships that will prepare them for graduate study. Each college has different general education requirements. Students can declare any major, regardless of the college they end up residing in.

The “Tritons” are a Division II school with 23 collegiate teams. UCSD is located on a beautiful campus overlooking the city of San Diego. Freshman housing is guaranteed and off-campus housing can be right on the beach! Lots of students go surfing in their free time.

William Stiles, an admissions officer at UCSD felt that the intimacy of the six colleges is a factor that contributes to the higher retention rate of African-American and Latino students at UCSD, because are more closely supported and advised through the system.

Even so, there are only 1.5% African-American Students, 12.2% Latino/Chicano and American students (additionally there are 48.6% Asian, 26.7% White and less than 1% Native American – 12% Undeclared). Some of the low numbers of African-American and Latino students are attributed to the admissions standards (considered very competitive) and the reality of education in urban centers in this country. UCSD uses a point system for admissions and evaluates applicants’ 10^th and 11^th grade years for admission (https://doorways.cop.edu/list). Students must meet minimum requirements (3.4 GPA in “a-g requirements”, ACT plus Writing or SAT I AND 2 SAT II tests in two different areas). Admissions Criteria – 77% of the criteria is based on gpa and exams, and 23% of the criteria examines a student’s education environment, family income, 1^st generation status, leadership and special talents, volunteer/community service, education prep program participation and special circumstances or personal challenges. For out of state applicants (3% of population), AP BUT NOT honors courses contribute to a student’s application. 37.3 % of applicants are admitted and the mean weighted GPA is 4.06 (admit rate is lower for students with lower GPAs – less than 1% for students whose GPAs are lower than 3.0). Another contributing factor to school’s high retention rate has to be that STUDENTS ARE ALREADY PERFORMING WELL ACADEMICALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL!!! It appears that students have a higher rate of acceptance when they transfer from CA community colleges (establish residency) at 95%! Students submit their own grades and the application period is November 1-30.

Tuition for out-of-state applicants is $20,608 more than the $23,760 for CA residents. 50% of admitted students receive financial aid, but many grants are
CA state based. Applications are submitted January 2 – March 2.

I ended up at University of San Diego as a result of a glitch of sorts…On my list of schools with a small graduation rate gap is University of California San Diego, but somehow I didn’t realize that I’d connected with University of San Diego’s registration website and signed on for the tour. I plugged the coordinates into my GPS driving computer and there I was! This highlights for me how tricky negotiating the college visit/tour process is. Luckily, I made it to the University of California San Diego’s campus for a later information session (I did forgo the 90 minute walking tour once I got to UC San Diego).

I have to say, the campus has the MOST amazing views I’ve ever seen on a college campus. Up on a hill, you can see for miles (San Diego beaches or mountains every way you look).

University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic University that is a liberal arts college. The school has graduate law, business, and nursing school associated with it as well. There are nearly 5,000 undergraduates and just about 1,500 graduate students on campus. The school is clear that it provides a “values based” education, students take two religion courses amongst the general education requirements. Students also seem to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in and formulate service-learning activities (students also study abroad and go on missions in ways that are connected with their college education). Recently USD was named one of several “Colleges with a Conscience” by Princeton Review.

Areas of study include Environmental Studies, International Relations, Marine Science, Political Science and Mechanical Engineering among others. The school is small and has a 15:1 Student to Faculty ratio and the school emphasizes that classes are taught by professors versus graduate students. Students might be admitted to the Honors Program where they take two upper-level courses each semester and finish with a major piece of research. Diversity-wise the ethnic breakdown is repprted as Asian students10%, African American 2%, Latino 15%, Native American 1%, White63% and Unreported 6%.

Tuition and fees are just over $36,000. Financial Aid is available and there are a number of merit scholarships available that focus on academic excellence and support underrepresented groups.