The University of California – San Diego, commonly called UC San Diego or simply UCSD, makes its home in the Southern California city of La Jolla. The institution was established in 1960 as a graduate school. It began to grant bachelor’s degrees just four years later, in spite of being the first University of California school to focus on graduate studies. It is considered a Public Ivy university, rated highly for its research-intensive programs.
Mission/Vision
The mission of UCSD is to “foster the best possible working and learning environment” under a “climate of fairness, cooperation and professionalism.” UCSD’s programs promote excellence at all levels of university education and is built on foundations of “community engagement, public service and industry partnerships.” The school also promotes “diversity, equity and inclusion” as necessities to achieve excellence.
Campus Setting
UCSD’s campus is situated in residential La Jolla, a community in northern San Diego. It is just 20 minutes away from the city’s downtown area, and public transportation is readily available. UCSD consists of more than 760 buildings and occupies more than 1,150 acres of land. The iconic Geisel Library stands at the center of the university, which is also home to six individual colleges.
Academics
UCSD’s curriculum is heavily based on research. The university offers 125 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees for undergraduates in five disciplines – humanities, biological sciences, engineering, math, social science and physical science. Six colleges make up the undergraduate division.
The graduate programs at UCSD consist of oceanography, medicine, medical engineering, international relations, engineering, management and pharmacological studies. UCSD offers 35 masters degrees, 47 doctoral degrees and five professional programs.
Athletics
The University of California in San Diego’s teams, known as the Tritons, include 23 intercollegiate varsity programs. Each is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and California Collegiate Athletic Association. The school’s Division I teams include water polo, fencing and men’s volleyball. Other teams participate in Division II but are in the midst of a six-year transition to Division I. The school has won a grand total of 30 national championships in soccer, softball, water polo, tennis, golf and volleyball. Many incoming students are surprised to discover that the school has no football team; however, it does have an award-winning surf team.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Annual tuition at UCSD is affordable for California residents and expensive for non-residents. Students may apply for financial aid in the form of grants, loans and scholarships. Please refer to the school’s website for the most accurate tuition and financial aid information.
Accreditation
UCSD is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The campus is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it is in keeping with the requirements of the association.
Admissions
Admissions to the University of California in San Diego are competitive, with the school accepting about 34% of applicants. Applications are available in November.
All applicants to UCSD are required to submit an application, application fee and personal statement. The university examines the student’s GPA, performance on standardized tests, achievement in “a-g” courses and achievement in academic programs.
For more information about admissions to University of California in San Diego contact the school directly at:
personalreply@ucsd.edu
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
MC 0021
La Jolla, CA 92093-0021
Phone: (858) 534-4831
Fax: (858) 534-5629
http://admissions.ucsd.edu/
