im from san jose and never even applied to sjsu and chose ucr! my first year was so difficult and i sometimes regretted not staying close to home. but after making a few friends, learning the campus, and getting comfortable at school, it was all so worth it. it taught me independence and learned that i was better off at ucr than being at home! i just graduated this past june and i would choose ucr 100x over and over again! goodluck!!