San Diego or L.A?

Question

OK I either go to UCLA or UCSD. Which town id better to live, likre wich one is cheaper or funner or whatever, like elaborate please!!! Thanx

Answer 1

UCLA is a better school overall but UCSD is good. UCLA is the 2nd or 3rd best public university in the nation and UCSD is the 7th best, but UCLA has more prestige b/c it's older and has division one sports.

Both areas are pretty expensive but housing in LA, especially in Westwood or anywhere on the Westside is more expensive than anywhere in SD. La Jolla is probably slightly cheaper than Westwood but not by a lot. But there are cheaper communities like Clairemont Mesa, Mira Mesa, and Pacific Beach that are much cheaper than West LA. So overall you will spend more money for housing if you want to live anywhere near UCLA.

LA is such a large and urban city; it's very crowded and congested and the westside has some of LA's worst traffic. But it also has so many different things to do and places to go. San Diego is much more laid back and chill. It's still a big city but kind of with a small town atmosphere b/c it's so much smaller than LA. But there are still a ton of things to do in SD, Pacific Beach just south of UCSD is a great place to live for college kids, especially when you turn 21. UCSD is not a party school by any means and the area surrounding the university is pretty quiet and tame. But it's also what you make of it, if you meet the right people you will have a great experiance. There are always parties but you just have to find them and many times drive to them. I had a blast for my four years at UCSD and partied my a*s off. There are plenty of people that party at UCSD but plenty of people that don't either. I'm not too sure how UCLA's party scene is but I'm sure it's not any worse than UCSD's. One thing they have that UCSD doesn't is division one sports. So that definately will add to the atmosphere and college experiance; it's something i wish UCSD had, sports there suck.

UCLA has more of the traditional college feel to it; UCSD is a much newer school. UCLA's alumni are much more active than UCSD's. UCSD's alumni, including myself, are pretty pathetic. Once many of them leave they never go back or even give back, it has one of the lowest alumni donation rates in the country. You'll always have basketball and football games at UCLA to go to.

I think SD overall is a better place to live. It's cleaner, less crowded, and has nice beaches and warmer water. Plus you have TJ right there when you want to go clubbing but are too young to get into bars or clubs here. The people in SD are friendlier and more down to earth than LA. Living on the Westside of LA you will be surrounded by all those entertainment/Hollywood types, who are kind of fake and pretentious. But LA is also a huge city so I'm sure you can find your right type of group to kick it with.

I had a great time at UCSD and I am glad I came here instead of UCSB. I moved down from the Bay Area after high school and graduated two years ago from college and I still live here in San Diego. SD is a great town and I love it down here. But I think if I had gotten accepted to UCLA I probably would have chosen that school mainly b/c it's better overall and more prestigious. But I am very happy and had a great time and made amazing friends at UCSD too.

Answer 2

For cost of living they are about the same. UCLA is in Westwood and UCSD is in La Jolla both pretty expensive areas to live in surrounded by other high priced areas.

UCSD is right next to the ocean so if you are into the beach, that would probably be a better choice, but it does not have the big city feel that LA does. So depending on what else you like to do you might find your choices more limited at UCSD. For quality of life UCSD would be much better, it is a small school and since the San Diego area is not as crowded as LA it is quite a bit nicer. Not to say that San Diego is a small town, it is not. It is just smaller than Los Angeles

Answer 3

I had been to both LA and San Diego. My nieces study at UC San Diego.
Whenever, I go to LA, I always hate the heat, the traffic & the pollution. San Diego though traffic isnt as heavy as downtown LA. Pollution is less.
If you are a person who can study well in a quiet environment, then San Diego is the best place for you.
If you are a person who loves nightlife while studying, then LA is the best place for you.
Rental is cheaper in the LA area than in the area of UCSD. If you are a freshman, then usually staying in a dormitory is better. However, when you go on to 2nd year, you can share a house with your friends which will be more cheaper.

What course are you into?
If you want to take up Medicine then UCLA would be the best campus for you since most medical studies are based in UCLA.
Better check the specialties of each campus and better go in both campuses so that you will feel well in which environment would you be more happier.

Answer 4

Both of these schools have a great program to learn and a nice party atmosphere. Both expensive, but you know the more southern you got the warmer it is. I like San Diego's area because it's not too crowded. If you like to go to UCLA the shopping is not too far and Bel Air is around the corner. All depends on what you want.

Answer 5

Johnny;

For someone about to enter the California University system, your grammar, and spelling are atrocious. Having said that, you will probably find the life style in San Diego better than in Los Angeles, but if you plan to go into any serious profession the degree from UCLA will have somewhat more prestige.

Answer 6

I think it depends on the type of person you are. If you're the type that likes to keep busy and on your feet and could imagine living in a city like Chicago or New York then LA is for you, but if you're the type that likes to be relaxed and live in a more laid back community then San Diego is for you. I'm personally more of a San Diego person, it's full of fun things to do but also very laid back, plus the beaches and beautiful. There's also tons of places to just walk around at night and enjoy yourself like SeaWorld, downtown San Diego, La Jolla, seaport village, beaches, and more.

I prefer San Diego, but it all depends on the type of person you are!

Answer 7

i would believe that they are both about the same price but living in san diego i know that ucsd is near the beach so that would dramatically increase the price of housing. San diego is really fun to live in surf is awesome and downtown is great at night. In l.a traffic is somewhat bad but it all depends on how much your willing to spend in either loaction.

Answer 8

Definitley San Diego over LA area. San Diego is cheaper than LA. Decent transportation system and there is a lot of free things to do as well. Do you need me to carry your books to class?

Answer 9

Both are great universities. San Diego seems much cleaner and prettier to me. I think you'd need to be serious about your studies whichever college you went to. Rent is probably high at either college.

For more on things to do in San Diego, go to http://www.sandiego-romantics.com.

Compare the costs of rent at http://www.craigslist.com. Sometimes you can find great deals renting a room in a house.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best!

Answer 10

san diego is kind of expensive at the moment (the rent) but its fun, Tijuana is right next to us :D, LA is cheap and fun also but i would go for SD, people are nice overhere, and less crime rate.