University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

I feel that as a freshmen the classes are not that personal. They are very large and sometimes i feel that I could just not show up for class ever, do the reading, and still end up getting a good grade.

unless the class is humongous, every professor ive had has tried to learn my name. in my experience and with the comm major, students only study before midterms or finals. day to day reading and studying is not common. however, my friends who are bio majors go to the library to read on a daily basis.

i am only a freshman so i have only been taking big GE classes. so none of my professors have known my name (except my writing teacher, who was amazing), but the TAs make a big effort to get to know the students. because ucsb is a uc it is more geared towards getting students prepared for further education, however there are still practical classes and majors that you wil be able to get a good job with straight out of graduation.

i was always scared to go to office hours to talk to my professors probably until my junior year. even though they always say, "just come say hi!", i felt like i needed to have a problem or question before i talked to them. now that i have the courage to go to office hours, i feel so much better about going to lecture because i have a personal connection with my professor. if they know you, they want you to do well. as a comm. major, i feel very comfortable in ellison hall because i have formed relationships with many of my comm. professors now. it is definitely one of the best things you can do! i love the comm. department here! all of the professors are very established researchers and are very intelligent. they are always willing to help and guide you in a positive direction whether it is looking for internships, deciding which classes to take, or trying to find a job. the career center is also extremely helpful.

Classes are great! There is a huge diversity in major choices and some very interesting GE courses available. The teachers are for the most part the cool laid back type because that is the type that Santa Barbara attracts. Professors are for the most part easy to approach about help or with questions. The departments are very well laid out and the TA's are generally very knowledgeable and helpful. Most lectures are optional because teachers put the slides online but a few now and then take attendance. Going to class is usually a good thing though and they vary in length from 50 minutes to a few hours. There are options for all types of studiers.

Some great and some bad. Too many foreign professors.

Depending on your major, there are some incredible opportunities for learning and growth. The engineering department has a worldclass faculty, conducting cutting edge research and delivering an education comparable to IV league institutions.

Our academics are amazing, and I've really enjoyed the wide variety and selection of classes offered on campus.

Class sizes really depend on the class you are taking. The GE classes can be pretty big, ranging from 400-900 students. But you can have one-on-one time with TAs or professors if you go to their office hours so it's really easy for your professor to know you by name. Also, sections rarely have more than 30 students. And once you get into upper division classes, the number of students in each class decreases dramatically so it's a more focuses environment. I have plenty former professor who still recognize me and talk to me by name when I happen to see them around campus.

Academics at UCSB is very competitive. My most favorite class has probably been psychology 102. I really enjoyed the teacher and the class was on social psychology, which really interests me. In most of my classes, class participation hasn't been common because the classes are rather large (about 300 people). However, most of the classes I have taken are lower division classes and now that I am taking more upper division classes, they are smaller and more seminar oriented. In my major students are highly competitive because it is the closest thing we have to pre-med so several students are on the med school track. For the most part, I would say the learning at UCSB is geared towards higher degrees of learning, such as graduate school or medical school. Therefore, in the end it is geared towards getting a job.

So far, i have really enjoyed my professors. Although they seem very intimidating at first, thep professors here are very easily accessible and always willing to help. Everyone is encouraged to do well. Yes, there are curves and people strive to do their best but class is not highly competitive; in a good way. People are illing to help eachother, form study groups and not be vicous when it comes to grades. The one thing people should know is that this schools curriculum is geared towards research and continuing on to higher education. All of the professors are highly skilled researchers. Theory is often taught. If one is looking to get right in to the job field, this may not be the institution for them.

I have really enjoyed my academic experience at UCSB, especially within my majors: Global Studies and Art History. UCSB is a research institution and therefore learning of general material and research methods are more encouraged then instruction based on a career path. One of the most unique classes that I have taken at UCSB is the Human Sexuality class where a husband and wife teach the class together. Students at UCSB are not known for their studying, yet the mentality is that it always ends up getting done (maybe even with a drink in hand or while laying out by the pool).

As I stated before, our reputation doesn't do our student body justice. It's true, our professors don't generally know our names, but that is mainly our faults. If you introduce yourself and attend their office hours, not only TA's, then of course they will know who you are. It becomes much better once you enter into upper division classes and begin to speak to your professors one on one. Not only do you become closer with your teachers, but the classes in general become closer and you find friends outside of your close nits. As an English major we have a wide aray of classes to choose from, everything from detective literature to Shakespeare. So far my favorite classes have been a class completely focused on the literature by Jane Austen, and an introductory class focused on American Literature. My Jane Austen class was amazing, my professor took the students into the books as if we were the characters and we began to feel like we were living our lives through her. It opened my eyes to a totally knew way of reading and understanding the world. My English 10 intro class had a focus on American Literature and authors. It varied from African American writers from the Harlem Renaissance, to Robert Frost and Billy Collins. We discussed the war and watched and read documentaries from veterans and related many of their tales to books written during the Civil war and the depression-constantly comparing the two. I have never learned and enjoyed learning so much than in these two classes. Not to mention, the English department is very helpful with placing you into the classes you need, and helping you find classes that interest you!

UCSB has large classes for the most part, but professors and TAs make themselves extremely available during the week for consultation and help. Being a political science major, so far my favorite teacher has been Professor Belkin who teaches international relations and a class on gays in the military.

In academics, CLAS is a major help. I came from a private high school, so I was used to a small classroom environment. CLAS, "campus learning assistant services," makes that possible and allows me to strive for what I want to achieve.

I have made really good contacts with several professors who know me by name. I have been given the opportunity to both work with a professor in his lab for a year as well as be a teaching assistant for a quarter. UCSB students definitely have intellectual conversations outside of class. Students are very competitive, but also willing to help each other to a certain extent. Although we are very supportive of each other.

The large class size at ucsb can definitely be a challenge. A professor will not know your name unless you give him/her the opportunity. It is very imporant to be the one to make an effort and go above and beyond to make yourself known in a class.

Academics here are great... as an environmental major, the professors and courses offered are GREAT! There are also a lot of resources available for students on campus such as extra computer lounges, libraries, and so on. The professors usually are very understanding when it comes to personal situations and are here to help... they want to see us succeed. Many of the professors, at least in my field, are world renowned and have great international influence in their field... they are also very useful in finding a job after college.

I am so scared to fail. You choose the difficulty of your schedule, but even the easiest class require attendance & work. INT 20- "Intro to the University" was a freshman seminar & has changed my college experience forever! This class not only teaches students unique qualities of a research university, but it allows them to see the experiences & get to know other freshman at UCSB that are very different from them. You're so focused on your own problems & stresses freshman year and hearing the difficulties others encounter really put my own problems in perspective. Not only am I aware of others but I now understand the stages in my own development.

I'm a Global Studies and Poli Sci-International Relations emphasis double major. I love both of my majors. Every class for my major that I've taken has been amazing. I've learned so much. I've never gotten to develop a personal relationship with any of my professors unfortunately because you have to go out of your way to do so (staying after class or going to their office hours). Still, there are many professors that I think are amazing just because they're brilliant or know how to teach very, very well. Especially when you're on the quarter system, getting the material down as quickly as possible is the main goal, and I appreciate professors who can help us do that. Many professors enjoy student input during lectures, even in classes with 200-400 people in it. You're constantly asked to think critically about what you're being told, and to always question it. Since students aren't cutthroat-ly competitive around here, students don't feel uncomfortable about voicing their opinions in large classes, or small classes either. I've had many intellectual conversations outside of class, many students are very passionate about things they're learning or seeing in the world around them. I feel like I'm getting a great education at UCSB, and like I'll have a good foundation before I go to law school.