For Vikas Nookala, graduate of the class of 2012 (and my older brother), making the final decision about where to go to college was mainly based on the quality and reputation of the school’s biology program, but his overall goal was to find the place where he could make himself the happiest and best prepared to succeed.
“[I considered] other important factors including proximity to home, number of friends and acquaintances that would be attending the same school or schools nearby, the social and educational environment I would be in and the overall vibe that I got while visiting.”
After narrowing it down to four choices, Nookala rejected one university because he was not impressed by the campus life. In addition, Nookala was accepted by a university that offered all expenses paid room and board with acceptance to a highly selective BS/MD program that took only three students from out of state. He chose not to take this offer because he knew it was not the best fit.
Nookala eventually came to the final step of choosing between UC San Diego and Case Western Reserve University and he decided to go to UCSD.
“In the end it was always my gut feeling that UCSD would be the best place for me to strive in a well-rounded manner,” Nookala said.
Nookala enjoys enriching academic experiences but also has many interests outside the classroom. He appreciates being part of the medical brigade (a student-run volunteer organization that travels to developing countries delivering sustainable healthcare) and doing outdoor activities like going to the beach, hiking, biking or skateboarding with friends.
Nookala said the process of choosing his college was difficult given the importance it has in his life, but he found the experience of reaching a confident final decision to be “very rewarding.”
Nookala recognizes that like any college, UCSD has weaknesses. After visiting friends, Nookala found that UCSD lacks school spirit and sports culture compared to other schools. Nookala makes the best of this situation by making sure he and his friends actively participate in whatever spirit activities and sports events are offered.
Large class sizes are another challenge Nookala faces, but by taking initiative to utilize academic resources he has minimized this problem.
“The large class size makes it hard to interact with the professor on very specific matters,” Nookala said. “To compensate for this we have small discussion sections [with] 10 to 15 students and professors have office hours where we can ask detailed questions. We also have a program where we get meal vouchers for nice campus restaurants [to dine] with a professor.”
Even so, Nookala sees many strengths in UCSD.
He points to the school’s library and location as strengths.
Suite style housing is a unique feature that Nookala feels is important to student life.
“Suite layout makes it easier to interact with room and suitemates and have small gatherings, which would be much harder to do in a traditional dorm setting,” Nookala said.
As a freshman, Nookala is very satisfied with his college experience.
“My overall college experience has been very enriching,” Nookala said. “The first few months were a very good learning experience on how to live independently and manage all of my classes along with leaving time for social activities as well as personal free time.”
For students who are about to go to college, Nookala believes that that they should choose to go where they feel is best.
“It is all a matter of how you feel personally about the school, and whether you can see yourself spending a meaningful and enriching four years there,” Nookala said.
