University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

The soccer team is probably the most popular team on campus. I am involved in a Christian group and it has been the best experience. I have been able to meet a lot of people that are interested in more than just partying. The dorms really vary on how interactive they are. Manzanita freshmen tend not to leave their doors open as often, but it really depends on the group your living with. On the weekends I usually just hang out with my friends we watch movies, play games, etc.

There are tons of groups on campus. I'm in Chi Alpha Christian fellowship, it's small, but a lot of fun. The groups are a great way to make friends. The people in my dorm left their doors open (when they were home) Some athletic events (mainly basketball) are popular, others have low attendance. Guest speakers are popular, so is the theater. I met my closest friends through the dorms and through Chi Alpha. I've also met people through classes and work. If I'm awake at 2 am on Tuesday, I'm frantically trying to finish an assignment. The big tradition here is Halloween. If you don't want to drink, there are comedy shows and movies in IV every weekend, and you can always hang out at the different coffee shops or restaurants with your friends. Shopping downtown is always fun too.

Many people get involved with Greeklife either throw joining sorrorities of fraternities. There are hundreds of clubs on campus, there is one for any type of interest a student might have and if you cant find a club you like it easy to start your own campus organization. I am involved with the black student union and we do many things such as community service, social, and academic events attend conferences together. It really is a safe space for black students. When it comes to sports UCSB has no football team so soccer is the most supported sport and then comes basketball. I met some of my closest friends through the clubs I joined my first year. Im not usually awake at 2 am on a tuesday but on thursday that is a different story becuase I go downtown to state st for college night. Every year people in the black communtiy look forward to Outreach, African Black Coalition Conference and Black Culture week in the spring. Some people party evey night of the week others save it for the weekends and some studnets do not party at all they perfer to just hang out with a close group of friends. Last weekend I had some friends visit me from my hometown we went and saw the santa barbara sights and went bowling.

The most popular organizations on campus are the fraternities and sororities--they're everywhere. A lot of UCSB students get involved in Greek life. There are different clubs on campus that are based on culture or race, like KP (filipino club) and VSA. I'm involved in both, even though I'm not Filipina or Vietnamese. Organizations are pretty diverse here. Weekends normally start on Thursday nights, for those who go out to Isla Vista. Dorms are fun-if you're looking for a more social life, don't live in Manzanita. Manzanita houses are more quiet and good for studying, but if you like this kind of environment, just get involved in different orgs-that's how i got to know more people.

The dorms are fantastic; the people you live with become your family. You do everything together. Athletic events are so much fun! Especially soccer and basketball. I love how many events there are every day on campus. Lectures, concerts, movies, book readings, dance performances, poetry, you name it. There are always TONS of things to do, and usually a bunch of free ones too.

All the frat and sororities are very popular. And Real Life is a well known group, because it does things throughout the year. So is the Nexus, the newspaper, and so is the class government here. I am involved with Real Life which is a Christian group on campus that wants to show people that it is not about religion, but it is about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We do outreaches and try to serve the community and bring Jesus to other people. We do a lot of different things on campus and have weekly meetings, bible study/missional teams, and other fun dances and events. when i did live in the dorm people left their doors open all the time. i lived on the first floor so it was slightly harder because we had people walking in and out of the floor all the time to get outside the dorm, but overall we did. some of the other floors left there doors opened all the time and unlocked so people could come in and out as they pleased. the athletics are popular, but i am not super involved or interested so i am not good to talk to you about that sorry! IV theater has free movies sometimes, and has cheaper movies to see during the week which is always fun. they have talent shows and guest speakers there as well. I have only seek a guest speaker because of one of my classes, but I have heard many good things about the speakers. The dating scene is more of the "hook up scene" in the Party world. But if you are looking for a legitimate relationship they are out there. There are a lot of people who do not party and drink, and they are out there for real love. but the hook up scene makes me sad because people are looking for love in all the wrong places, and it is hard to watch that because women are so beautiful, and men are so much worthier than they think. so it is hard for me to watch sometimes. I met my closest friends through my bible study through real life. They are the most amazing people i have ever met. my teacher said one time in class that most people do not have close circles of friends because the world teaches us to be alone, and he said "raise your hand if you have close friends" and I did, and i was one of the only ones, and it was really sad because I feel truly blessed to have them in my life. If I am awake at 2am, I am either. 1. hanging out with friends 2. talking with the roomie 3. writing a paper. traditions and events for me and my friends are real life events, exchanging presents for holidays, birthday parties for our friends, easter dinners together, and for the school. sex awareness week, rape awareness, (all women center events) student government elections, and sports. people party every weekend. (Thursday till Sunday) Halloween is the only hectic one! People from all over the state come here. over 10,000 people come to DP (the party street) and wear barely any clothes, party, and drink days before Halloween actually comes. it is a once in a life time experience, and is unique to UCSB. Last weekend I hung out with some of the girls in my bible study, went to church, watched a movie with my boyfriend, and did homework. On a saturday night you can hang out with friends watching tv, go out to dinner and get dressed up, go to the beach to see the stars, go shopping, go to color me mine, go to a friends house and make Pazookie!

UCSB is great on the weekends. There is always something to do during the night or day. Isla Vista is right there for the beach, food, or just hanging out with friends. Downtown and other shopping areas can be fun outings with friends. If you do drink, theres always somewhere to go, but what I love is that there is always something going on at UCSB that doesnt involve drinking that I can be a part of. Whether it is events at the hub, concerts, shows, club events, or movies at IV theater, theres always something to do.

guests speakers - awesome theater - not so great. great dance programs tho dating scene- TERRIBLE. everyone is too into hooking up to have the desire to date. i met my closest friends in my sorority. i had plenty of friends who werent in one though, and there is definitely not the crucial need to be a greek at ucsb as there might be at some other schools. if awake at 2am on a tuesday, youre either at home in sweats on facebook, at the davidson library writing a paper, or downtown for 80's night.

The social life at ucsb is great because there are a lot of options... You live in a college town with 20,000 very social students.houses usually have over 4 people in them, so you can really do whatever you want.every night of the weekend there are themed parties,greek parties,house parties, an excuse to celebrate any random US holiday parties, etc. Dorms are very social as well especially the on campus and ft dorms. Tropicana I heard is a bit antisocial because its mostly athletes... I think ucsb has a great greek life option because it is entirely unnecessary but a great asset to your social life if you choose that path.

sororites are great for meeting people; most nighttime/going out activities do involve heavy drinking. if i'm awake at 2 on a tuesday i'm out drinking. once you're twenty-one, it's fun to go downtown to the bars

Soccer team, Greek orgs, Associated Students. Resident Assistants. Sometimes. Not as popular as at bigger schools. People don't date to find relationships, just for a good time. Via orgs and clubs. Studying. Halloween! 4 nights a week. Somewhat important. Went to a music festival. Program Board events. Party.

I come from a Christian household, and am aware that many parents are afraid to send their kids to UCSB for fear that they won't have any good influences. My friends, both those who attend our on-campus Christian movement and those who do not call themselves Christians, have played a huge role in making me a more mature, accepting, and loving person.

The most popular groups would probably be the sororities and fraternities, there is a pretty strong campus crusade for christ group (called Real Life), and people seem to like clubs like the Excursion Club and the Ski and Snowboard Club which seem to center more on partying. IM sports seem popular also, people at UCSB like to stay fit so sports are a good way of maintaining that. In the dorms, students often leave their doors open, and many never even lock their doors. Soccer games are quite popular and basketball games get an ok turn out. I'm not sure past there. Guest speakers do not get a very good turn out and i have no idea about theatre. Dance performances and music performances do pretty well mostly because it is required to go for certain classes in order to pass. I met my closest friends in the dorms. If i'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, i am studying or writing a paper. Every year there are Greek events and club events. People party pretty often, thursday is the beginning of the weekend for most party-ers. For those who like to party, frats and sororities are pretty important. Last weekend I hung with friends and watched movies. On a Saturday night, you can go to the movies, get ice cream, hang with other non drinking friends, you can even go to parties, you just have to be ready to fend off drunk people and offers of drinks. Off campus, i eat, study, meet friends, live.

Greek life is very big on UCSB's campus. I myself am in a sorority house and it is a great thing for me and the community. We do many activities for charities and raise alot of money each year, while having fun doing it. I think that is one of the most important things in life, to be able to contribute by doing something that you enjoy. In my dorm we always left our door open. I have good friends that I met in my first year in Santa Barbara because of the social atmosphere of dorm life. My closest friend actually came to ucsb with me from home. People in UCSB find it hard to date and find social gatherings to be much more fun and less complicated. Floatopia is a big even at UCSB that just happened. It is where you all get rafts and take them to the beach and float in the ocean in a HUGE group all day while barbequeing and ejnoying life on the beach. Another Huge event is ASVT a volleyball tournament thrown by one of the fraternities on campus but is well known all over california as a huge event. If I am up at 2 am on a tuesday I am probably watching movies iwht my roommates.

campus crusade for christ (real life). it's a christian organization with an outreach orientation. We want to give everyone on campus the opportunity to know Jesus Christ. closest friends--real life or classes. studying or hanging out with friends or my boyfirend saturday, no drinking: playing games of all sorts or watching movies or just hanging out.

The greek system is growing really fast here. I'm in a fraternity. There are lots of things to do on and off campus like cultural events, sports games, movies, shows, etc. Holloween is epic here. If I'm up at 2am on Tuesday, I'm either partying or pulling an all nighter. You can definitely have social life if your not in the greek system. People party alllll the time, you can find someone who's down to get fucked up any night of the week. And to be honest, it is kind of difficult to find something sober to do on a Saturday night in Isla Vista. You get used to it, but you can also get over it.

The most popular-as in the most people involved- are probably intramural sports. Everyone does/should do one. I'm currently in badminton. Last quarter I did soccer. The dorms are ok, people leave doors open at least at first, then you kind of get in groups you're comfortable with and keep together. I met my closest friends in freshman summer start program. It's hard to have a real relationship here, especially at first. Don't depend on anyone if either or both are partiers. Traditional event: Halloween-everyone dresses up, gets silly and walks around in the streets-there are floodlights and police on horseback, the parties are supposed to be closed, so it's pretty safe but it's also kind of overwhelming. It's amazing to see how many people are here for it. Oh, and soccer games! go to those! Everyone sings songs and paints themselves, it's cool. Saturday night and not drinking? Maybe watching a movie or holing up in the library. Don't live on DP if this is your plan.

Intramural sports are very popular, greek life, sports clubs, socio-economic clubs. Yes. Soccer is probably the most popular sport, due to our recent Division Championship! Guest speakers are fairly well attended, theater less. The dating scene is VERY casual (hooking up), or pretty serious (boyfriend/girlfriend). Not a lot of people go out on dates. All my closest friends I met in the dorms. Getting back from 80's night downtown at Q's! Halloween, Madri Gras, ISVT, Fiesta. People party an average of 3 nights per week. Go see a movie, sporting event, go to dinner, study. Beach, shop, eat, hike, camp, ect.

The most popular groups to be involved with on campus are any sports team and a sorority or fraternity. However, neither are necessary to be immersed in social activities. Although being greek is popular here it is not as exlusive or closed off as you may see on other campuses. Socially, greeks and non-greeks integrate themselves farily well. Our school is not extremely passionate about our sports, however when we have done well or been involved in a championship UCSB students have been very supportive. I was for a short time in a sorority. It was a lot of fun, however I chose not to continue. In my opinion, it is really expensive, therefore most of the people you are surrounded by have a lot of their parents money to spend. My parents support me financially, but I by no means have a credit card to just go spending on a whim. For me, this created a pressure, because I would love to constantly buy nice clothes and go out and get a table at a club, however I simply couldn't. Another reason the sorority may not have work dont for me was because I met my closest friends in the dorms, none which were involved in the greek system. Something I liked while I was involved was that the greek system includes non-greeks at some events. For example, there are a several events put on by sororities or fraternities which are not exclusively greek, everyone can participate or attend which is a lot of fun. I am invovled in a group called Psi Chi. However, I don't participate in this for social gain but more so academic. Most people, unless psych majors, probably dont know about Psi Chi. We have meetings once a month and invite a guest speaker from the faculty to discuss their current research. Its really relaxed and a beneficial club for those who wish to continue on with Psych in the future. I have had a boyfriend for the past three years, who I met in the dorms, so I cant accurately describe the dating scene. However, based on observation and stories from my roommates there is no dating scene. Men and women mostly party together, and probably dont go out on actual dates until they are exclusive and "boyfriend-girlfriend" There is something to do every single night, if you choose. If you're up at 2 and not studying your doing the following: Monday- drinking with your roommates or neighbors. Tuesday- downtown or under 21 drinking with roommates or neighbors. Wednesday- Karaoke dive bar or a bowling ally. Thursday-downtown at bars and clubs, if youre under 21 you are probably out in IV or partying in the dorms. Friday- in IV at a house party Saturday- in IV at a house party If you dont want to drink the UC puts on events you can attend for free or minimal fee. There are basketball or soccer games to go to or sometimes bands or musicians in the University Center's hub. Off campus there is a lot to do downtown involving both drinking and not drinking. There are several clubs, bars, and great restaurants. There are also a few theaters and the Santa Barbara bowl that put on various entertainment.

Greek Life! I must say that joining a sorority this year was the best decision that I could have ever made. It has contributed greatly to my first year at college, and helped me to get to know hundreds of people rather easily. I know there are some steotypes about Greek life, most of which I have found to be untrue. I must say that the girls in my house are amazing, loving and truly legit. The relationships I have built with these girls will last far beyone our years in college. I would suggest for ANYONE remotely interested in joining a sorority or fraternity to go through rush. There are no obligations, and they will actually be able to see, and judge for themselves how they feel about it. Honestly, joining a sorority was the best experience for me, and I know it will be for so many others too.