UCSD Colleges, UCSC Colleges

What exactly are the UCSD residential colleges?

As students are filling out the application, those applying to UC San Diego  are usually confused about the colleges they must choose. This also applies indirectly to UC Santa Cruz, although Santa Cruz does not ask you to choose a college when you apply. San Diego does.

While admitting I am not an expert on this subject, I have a general idea (plus, a link!) so I urge all UCSD applicants to carefully pick the colleges they want, which you must then list in order of preference when you fill out the application.

The key point to keep in mind is that each college has its own general ed requirements, and some have more than others. So, you might think you have completed your GE track (IGETC) only to find out you need more courses. Also, be aware that some colleges are themed and may be better suited to your major. And lastly, even though you list an order of preference, the college you end up in may not be your first choice.

UC San Diego

The six colleges and their GE requirements:

Revelle: 16 courses, plus language proficiency (includes 2 calculus courses)
Muir: 14 courses (not math-centric)
Marshall: 15  courses (includes physics and chemistry)
Warren: 12-18  courses(includes engineering major option)
Roosevelt: 13 courses, plus language proficiency
Sixth: 16 courses

While freshman, if they choose, are housed in these colleges (which also have dining options), transfers usually opt-out, preferring off-campus apartments or  The Village at Torey Pines, the on-campus UC housing expressly for transfers.

To explore the six colleges, click here: http://provost.ucsd.edu/colleges/compare.html

While this is not definitive, if you’re still stuck and want the least amount of GE to do, this might be doable (your mileage may vary):

1. Warren
2. Muir
3. Sixth
4. Marshall
5. Roosevelt
6. Revelle

UC Santa Cruz

After acceptance to UCSC, you are asked to choose one of 10 colleges. Look at these as learning environments.  As with San Diego, they are themed. They do not have additional GE requirements.

Here’s a kind-of-not-so-quick 3-step process:

1. Click on this link: http://housing.ucsc.edu/colleges/
2. Once on that page choose one of the colleges to explore.
3. On that college page, click Transfer Students.
4. From there you can read everything you need to know.