USD v. UCLA Forum

[lmgilbert]

So I am making my final decision between USD and UCLA. Obviously UCLA is a much higher ranked school and more prestigious. However, I currently live in San Diego and love it, hear mostly horrible things about living in LA, and received pretty much a full scholarship from San Diego ($40,000/yr). I did get a small scholarship from UCLA, $15,000/yr. I'm not set on big law at all, and in fact am strongly leaning towards child advocacy... Please make a decision for me cause I'm not getting any closer to doing it myself!

[Girum]

In that case, USD is definitely the right choice. There is no reason to go rack up massive debt in this economy. Besides the monetary benefit, you'll do a lot better relaxed and comfortable at home. I'm a college freshmen now and I personally wanted to go to a top law school since I was a sophomore in high school. The older I have gotten I have realized that finding your niche and going to school with your indicated specialty or interest in mind is way more important then living up to some pretentious standard.

[Great Satchmo]

In that case, USD is definitely the right choice. There is no reason to go rack up massive debt in this economy. Besides the monetary benefit, you'll do a lot better relaxed and comfortable at home. I'm a college freshmen now and I personally wanted to go to a top law school since I was a sophomore in high school. The older I have gotten I have realized that finding your niche and going to school with your indicated specialty or interest in mind is way more important then living up to some pretentious standard.

I don't mean to invalidate your experiences or insight, but even just being 25 myself I can't even connect who I am now with who I was at 18 going into college. A lot of growing, maturing, and change happens through college and especially as you get out and figure out *some* of life outside of the constraints of college.

[Great Satchmo]

So I am making my final decision between USD and UCLA. Obviously UCLA is a much higher ranked school and more prestigious. However, I currently live in San Diego and love it, hear mostly horrible things about living in LA, and received pretty much a full scholarship from San Diego ($40,000/yr). I did get a small scholarship from UCLA, $15,000/yr. I'm not set on big law at all, and in fact am strongly leaning towards child advocacy... Please make a decision for me cause I'm not getting any closer to doing it myself!

I'm from San Diego myself, and I've always hated LA. However, I would think that the difference in opportunities that the door is left open to after attending UCLA, versus USD, would allow for more choices upon graduation.

The nearly full-ride at USD sounds great, but given the fact that UCLA grads do end up in San Diego, and UCLA's strength, I don't think it'd be easy to pass up on the school. If you want to do something that is considered PI work, check into LRAP.

Basically, you can deal with LA for 3 years (while you're busy/involved most of the time anyway), and then come back to San Diego with what will likely be a broader set of options, or you can take a financially conservative route and stay for USD.

I'm pretty debt averse and gave up on my preferred location to reduce debt, but I can't imagine passing up on UCLA if I wanted to work in San Diego afterward - other than some/most of the T-14's, UCLA will put you in the best position for employment in San Diego.

[tallboone]

please, please, please do not choose USD over UCLA. UCLA and USC are in a different stratosphere than USD, and your employment options are going to be FAR superior to your prospects coming out of USD. Also, is there a USD GPA requirement to maintain your scholarship?

If you are set on doing child advocacy, go to UCLA and take advantage of their public interest programs and LRAP. You will probably regret going to USD the rest of your life if you make that choice. And really, living on the west side of LA is not too different than living in a lot of places in san diego.

This really shouldn't even come close to being a difficult choice unless you have someone to cover your cost of living in san diego. If not, you will be borrowing $60k-$75k plus to attend USD, which means if you accept a public interest job in child advocacy and choose IBR/federal loan forgiveness, you will end up paying back back the same amount of money on loans of $60-75k as you would on loans of $160k.

[khanvalescent]

Go to UCLA.

You are close enough to San Diego to drive there fairly frequently if you need to escape LA.

[forty-two]

So I am making my final decision between USD and UCLA. Obviously UCLA is a much higher ranked school and more prestigious. However, I currently live in San Diego and love it, hear mostly horrible things about living in LA, and received pretty much a full scholarship from San Diego ($40,000/yr). I did get a small scholarship from UCLA, $15,000/yr. I'm not set on big law at all, and in fact am strongly leaning towards child advocacy... Please make a decision for me cause I'm not getting any closer to doing it myself!

Does your USD scholarship have any stipulations? I also got a large scholarship from USD, but I'd have to stay in the top 33% at the end of each year to keep the scholarship in full for the following year (yours might be different though). I don't know, I really think you should go with UCLA, especially if that's the case. It will open up more doors, Westwood is a lot nicer than downtown LA, and you wouldn't have to worry about keeping the full amount of your scholarship.

[DerrickRose]

Is there a middleman here?

Oh and for gods sake don't go to USD.

[jks289]

This is the dumbest thread I've read on TLS. USD over UCLA? Because you "hate" LA? You do realize LA is a huge city with dozens and dozens of neighborhoods that can practically be cities unto themselves? What exactly do you hate? The Silverlake hipster scene? The beach communities? Westwood?

There are plenty of things that are rough universally about LA; rent and traffic namely. But to make a blanket declaration you hate an entire city and would consider a third tier over UCLA? Seriously?

[Great Satchmo]

This is the dumbest thread I've read on TLS. USD over UCLA? Because you "hate" LA? You do realize LA is a huge city with dozens and dozens or neighborhoods that can practically be cities unto themselves? What exactly do you hate? The Silverlake hipster scene? The beach communities? Westwood?

There are plenty of things that are rough universally about LA; rent and traffic namely. But to make a blanket declaration you hate an entire city and would consider a third tier over UCLA? Seriously?

...USD is actually second tier (#56) and it'd be almost a full ride (not exactly a third tier).

ANYHOW, I still say UCLA without a doubt.

[jks289]

This is the dumbest thread I've read on TLS. USD over UCLA? Because you "hate" LA? You do realize LA is a huge city with dozens and dozens or neighborhoods that can practically be cities unto themselves? What exactly do you hate? The Silverlake hipster scene? The beach communities? Westwood?

There are plenty of things that are rough universally about LA; rent and traffic namely. But to make a blanket declaration you hate an entire city and would consider a third tier over UCLA? Seriously?

...USD is actually second tier (#56) and it'd be almost a full ride (not exactly a third tier).

ANYHOW, I still say UCLA without a doubt.

Fair enough. I still can't believe anyone would seriously be struggling with this decision.

[jmhendri]

But to make a blanket declaration you hate an entire city and would consider a third tier over UCLA? Seriously?

Although I agree that it would be a mistake of epic proportions to pass up UCLA over USD in this circumstance, (as well as almost any circumstance)... Isn't USD second tier


edit: sorry, didn't realize the point had been addressed.

[JWicker10]

In that case, USD is definitely the right choice. There is no reason to go rack up massive debt in this economy. Besides the monetary benefit, you'll do a lot better relaxed and comfortable at home. I'm a college freshmen now and I personally wanted to go to a top law school since I was a sophomore in high school. The older I have gotten I have realized that finding your niche and going to school with your indicated specialty or interest in mind is way more important then living up to some pretentious standard.

This is easily the dumbest post I have ever read on TLS. A college freshman is offering life advice and discussing debt accumulation.

Going to a top law school is much more than "living up to some pretentious standard." UCLA is literally in a different universe than USD. And to choose USD over UCLA because you "hate LA" is also a joke. What experience do you even have living in LA? As somebody who has lived in So Cal and LA for literally my entire life I know that your fears of LA are completely unfounded. It is one of the largest and most diverse cities in the entire world, as opposed to your completely homogenous San Diego--and I make this comment as a huge fan of SD. If you can't find a way to fit in in LA, then good luck anywhere.

[A'nold]

[strike]In that case, USD is definitely the right choice. There is no reason to go rack up massive debt in this economy. Besides the monetary benefit, you'll do a lot better relaxed and comfortable at home. I'm a college freshmen now and I personally wanted to go to a top law school since I was a sophomore in high school.[/strike] The older I have gotten I have realized that my 820 SAT is actually more indicative of my potential b/c I took a Kaplan practice LSAT and scored a 135 and realize I need to start rationalizing my law school plan now so I don't want to /self when I'm pimping my full-ride to Cooley in 3 years.[strike]finding your niche and going to school with your indicated specialty or interest in mind is way more important then living up to some pretentious standard.[/strike]

[missinglink]

I can't believe there are 7 people who voted for USD. Go to UCLA.

If you're still deadset on living in San Diego, UCLA will put you in a strong position in the market. Anyways, the L.A. area isn't bad, maybe give it a chance.

[fortissimo]

I understand the LA hate. It's honestly the worst big city I've been to, and I've been out of the country and have been to 35 out of the 50 states, BUT in your situation, the definite correct choice is UCLA. It's a much, much better school and it's only 3 years of your life.

[dspit]

So I am making my final decision between USD and UCLA. Obviously UCLA is a much higher ranked school and more prestigious. However, I currently live in San Diego and love it, hear mostly horrible things about living in LA, and received pretty much a full scholarship from San Diego ($40,000/yr). I did get a small scholarship from UCLA, $15,000/yr. I'm not set on big law at all, and in fact am strongly leaning towards child advocacy... Please make a decision for me cause I'm not getting any closer to doing it myself!

Take the LSAT again

[arhmcpo]

If I knew who OP was I would call UCLA and suggest they revoke their acceptance for creating this thread.

USD v. UCLA??? Are you F***ing serious. Even given your "love" of SD and "hate" of LA this is perhaps the most moronic thread I have ever seen (*hint for ppl to post threads to even worse topics)