UCSD, where majors are more impressive than wardrobes

On a recent visit to UCSD I was much more impressed by the students' majors than their wardrobes (as it should be). There were a whole lot of yoga pants and sweat pants ensembles going on. In the students' defense, it is finals week so most of them are surviving on three hours of sleep. Also, this is San Diego; we’re not experts on cold weather dressing. Cognitive science major, Jayden Fishbein, summed up his classmates' obsession with sweatpants. “You see a lot people dressed in [sweats]. I call sweatpants give-up-on-life pants.”

Fishbein was on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to his wardrobe.

“I’m kind of known for my pants. Instead of telling someone to meet me in front of Muir, I just say, ‘Look for some guy wearing stupid pants.’”

Fishbein's favorite pair of pants are blue and black stripped jeans. I’m on the fence as to whether or not his black and silver jeans by Tripp, are a step up from sweatpants. Fishbeins’s glasses are Hugo Boss, his jacket is G by Guess. He wore black canvas Vans. When I asked Fishbein where he saw himself ten years from now, his response was

“In advertising. I would like to see how I can apply cognitive science in that field.”

Meanwhile, Amelia Scharp waited for her next final while listening to music. The 21-year-old Ecology major, minoring in marine sciences, looked every bit collegiate in her button-down and blazer.

“This jacket is my favorite wardrobe item. I can throw it on over a t-shirt and jeans and look ten times more professional,” she told me. Scharp’s jacket and shirt are from Express. Her earrings are a gift from her mother, purchased in Thailand.

“I bought my boots online. I don’t know where. They were cheap. Everything I buy is on sale because I am a student,” she laughed.

Ten years from now, Scharp would like to be working in a research lab studying coral.

Exiting the Geisel Library, I found Michelle Shen, psychology major. What she wore was casual enough to be comfortable while studying and taking finals but not as frumpy as the pajama/sweats look. Her jacket and flannel were thrifted. She wore a slate gray beanie by Vans. She scored her boots at Charlotte Russe for a measly $10. When I asked Shen where she saw herself in ten years, without skipping a beat she said, “Married.”

Lastly I found 18-year-old Judy Pham, human biology major, all bundled up in a patterned circle scarf, heavy jacket and a skirt, tights, and boots combo. Pham purchased her scarf from Pac Sun. Her deep-red circle skirt is from Charlotte Russe.

Pham is originally from the Bay Area.

“When I moved to San Diego I was surprised how relaxed everyone was. I find myself slowing down in conversations,” she told me.

In ten years Pham would like to be a surgeon.

“Blood and gore interest me,” she told me.