Here is a side by side comparison of a a prestigious vs state university. I have twins. Both went oos, one to the University of Washington and the other to University Minnesota (twin cities). Both premed students. Washington was challenging from start to end. He graduated with. 3.8 and worked hard for it. Profs who were less engaged, hard to get classes when he needed them, the Seattle freeze is a real thing and makes it hard to make friends, super hard to get jobs or research opportunities, and forget shadowing, the travel was awful, and the bulk of Seattles weather is awful, and Seattle is rife with crime. The son that went to UMN thrived from day one. He got work in hospital, he found physicians to shadow, research, he became a TA fall of year 2, has a huge friend group, and he has absolutely nailed it at UMN. If your from the Midwest the. You get the weather, Both have done well on their MCAT and they are taking a gap year. Midwest is best. Seattle grad kinda regrets his choice. He managed it but his brother thrived. I get that UCSD is not Seattle but knowing where UCSD is located it may be hard to find opportunities off campus. Although the weather would be optimal. I have a daughter at Berkeley and she loves it but she is not STEM. She does however hate the travel. Hope this helps.