Jim Rawlins is Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management at the University of California San Diego. He tells us more about the University, their experience of Cambridge International students and why University of California San Diego is one of the world’s leading universities.
About UC San Diego
‘UC San Diego is a top 20 university located right along the beautiful Pacific coast, just north of downtown San Diego. With more than 150 majors in the arts, sciences, humanities, and engineering, UC San Diego offers opportunities for interdisciplinary study, hands-on research and real-world experience, and the chance to learn from leading experts in every field.’
‘Our undergraduate areas of study are split into eight academic schools:
- School of Arts & Humanities
- School of Biological Sciences
- Jacobs School of Engineering
- Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science
- School of Physical Sciences
- School of Social Sciences
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography.’
Why is UC San Diego unique?
- ‘Our system of undergraduate colleges allows students easier access to advising and resources within their assigned college. Each college supports approximately 8500 students each year and has their own theme, general education requirements and campus neighbourhood.
- The location of our campus puts us within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean and provides access to exciting research at Scripps Pier, one of the largest research piers in the world. We are also just a trolley ride away from job and internship opportunities in downtown San Diego.
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- Students have the power to create the student life experience they want at UC San Diego by taking part in one of 600+ existing student organisations or inventing their own brand-new club, playing for one of our athletics teams in the highest level of competition or a recreational team, taking part in student-run media, including Triton Television, our student-run film production studio, and much more.’
International students
‘A student from outside the US is considered a first-year university student if they have completed secondary education, earned a certificate of completion that enables them to be admitted to a university in their home country and is equivalent to a US High School Diploma, and have never been enrolled full time as a college or university student. A student who has enrolled as a full-time college or university student will need to apply as a transfer student.’
‘International applicants must meet the same first-year or transfer requirements for admission as any other applicant in addition to completing our English proficiency requirement. Full details can be found on our International Students page.’
Why should Cambridge International students choose UC San Diego?
‘Roughly 16 per cent of UC San Diego’s 33,300 undergraduates come from countries outside of the US. Tritons, the nickname we use to call our students, hail from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, choosing UC San Diego for our world-renowned academics and beautiful location in Southern California.’
‘UC San Diego provides unique support for our international students with vital resources like the International Students & Programs Office (ISPO), which provides assistance in maintaining F/J visas, documentation for travel to or from the US, and more. ISPO also helps international students connect with other Tritons through fun events, programmes and workshops.’
‘In addition to international student support, UC San Diego has many living and learning neighbourhoods where students can apply to live within a unique community, including International House, the LGBTQIA+ Living-Learning Community, Multi-Cultural Community, and more.’