University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

UCSB is located right on the beach with miles of bike trails and running paths that wind around the area. Mountains in the background filled with hiking trails that are utilized by freshman seminar classes. Chancellor Yang is amazing! He is very personable and an active presence on campus. School pride comes out at soccer games where people sport sombreros and throw tortillas. The school is uniquely located adjacent to Isla Vista, a square mile of private rental housing that is almost entirely college students. Great community and very college-centered.

The best part about UCSB is the environment that exists in IV. Everyone here will tell you that they never want to leave for a few reasons. 1. We live right on the beach, I personally live a block away from the sand and the weather can't be beat. 2. Most of the student body lives right next to each other, everyone is social and it is amazing how many people you can meet. 3. The overall attitude of Santa Barbara is laid back but people still know when to party and when to study. I think that the school size is just about right, everyone finds their own niche here even though we have a large student body. Isla Vista is a perfect college town. There is a lot of school pride here, especially with soccer and other sports. We were national champs in soccer last year. Some experiences I'll never forget are all the random things we would do in the dorms. I'll never forget pledge quarter in Sigma Nu and all of the fun things we put together. One of the common student complaints is that rent here is way too high because it is, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else during college so I'm willing to pay it.

Best thing about UCSB is the location (by the beach) and the college town feel and parties in Isla Vista. I would change the student fees and book costs, but that applies to all schools I'm sure. The school is quite large and might be hard to deal with for some people, but I find it fine. People are always jealous and excited that I go to UCSB, mostly because of the party reputation. UCSB has a lot of school pride, especially the Gaucho Locos!

I remember reading a book on student opinions of colleges back in high school. It said that the only common complaint about UCSB was that it should have "moving sidewalks." Now, this place is pretty amazing but it also has its flaws. This is a research University... if you don't want to research go somewhere else... you'll be happy you did. Every teacher wants you to go into academia, and because of that the system of instruction (knowledge for knowledge's sake) becomes tiresome when you realize that you can't do anything with your degree directly. That being said, if you just love your topic you will find more to love than you thought possible. Also, Santa Barbara/Goleta/Isla Vista is such a college town that you often forget there is anything else in the world. I only live and hour and a half away, but I never go home because I feel like the drive is too long. The experiences I will remember most all revolve around the oppression that is Chem 109B - Organic Chemistry. The friends I made sitting in the lab, praying that something would come out of this reaction so I could just go home, are my best friends on this campus. When it all came together (after failing the class twice) I found myself enjoying the final exam so much I started laughing as I handed it in. I am pretty sure the professor thought I was going to kill everyone in the room.

You'e kidding right? Its on the Pacific Ocean. On a good day you can actually surf to class. The academics are on par, if not better than, UCLA or Cal. Isla Vista is the best college town hands down. There is always something to do in that place. The administration as usually, are a bunch of idiots. The greek advisor, and the majority of the admin could care less about the students. They spend the majority of their time trying to convince the world they are not a party school. While I laud them for their efforts, they usually just come off as jerks to their students.

The best part about UCSB is the location. You can't beat being able to take a short walk to the beach in between classes. If I could change one thing, I'd definitely wish there was more school spirit and a higher interest in sports. When I went to visit other colleges, I would walk on the campus and feel the school spirit. Here? Not so much. The fact that we don't have a football team kills me. I guess it wouldn't be a big deal if you aren't into sports, but I am, so it is. When I tell people I go to UCSB, people usually respond by saying, "Oh, you'll have so much fun down there!" (probably because they assume I'm going to party), or, "Oh, it's so beautiful down there!!" I wish people would say less superficial things (maybe along the line of academics), but at least they have positive reactions. I guess the nearby town of Isla Vista is our college town...a very trashy, overly-priced, place-I-would=never-want-to-live town, but whatever. Trying to get around campus is insane! TONS of people pack on the bike paths every day, and there's always insults being thrown from one biker to another, and bike accidents are bound to happen every day. I've been in one, and it's definitely not fun. Even if you don't bike, just trying to avoid being clobbered by a biker is a skill that definitely has to be perfected.

Great Experience. I wouldn't change a thing

Most days, UCSB is sunny and beautiful. Most people bike to campus, but I have started to walk instead because such a beautiful place deserves to be seen and appreciated. You wouldn't think that this makes much of a difference, but people are happier on sunny days than they are on rainy or cloudy days. Most of the time, Santa Barbara delivers on this front.

I love the environment, everyone is easy going, but yet still serious about school. When I told people I was going here, they were like ISLA VISTA, big parties. I spend most of my time hanging out with my friends at our appartments. There is a lot of school pride especially with the gaucho locos at soccer games.

The best thing about UCSB is the huge variety of classes offered-you really get a chance to explore. I've taken classes in art history, religious studies, also ballroom dancing, pottery and yoga through our Rec Cen, just for the fun of trying something new. If I could change one thing, I would have the academic and career advice be more uniform. There are multiple resources, which is good, but they all say different things, which isn't. The school is just right as far as size goes. People who hear I go to UCSB immediately start asking about parties and are surprised when I say I chose it because it has a great linguistics department. They aren't used to taking it seriously. I spend free time on campus in the UCen or the Honors Study Center, or just sit outside if the weather's nice. Isla Vista and Santa Barbara are both college towns....

The best thing about SB is the location. If you live in Isla Vista, the beach is no more than 10 minutes walking time from wherever you're at in IV. The scene is beautiful and the college life is highlighted by the tight and enclosed college town of IV. One thing that I'd change about SB is to have it have a football team. It would give me a reason to like college football and buy more UCSB gear. I think that our college is just right. I often think that it may actually be smaller than most college campuses. When I tell people I go to SB, they say "So do you party hard??". I spend most of my time on campus only in the classrooms for lecture or in the library to study. Most of the time I'm at my apartment. College town is Isla Vista. I'm not too familiar with the administration here. But I take it since our newspaper doesn't mention any scandals or controversy relating to it, our administration must be doing something right. Our most recent controversy on campus was a conflict between the campus police and protesters against a conference hosted by UCSB. Four arrested protesters claim that the police used excessive force, and the matter is being reviewed by our Associated Student Body currently. There is not so much school pride. We don't have a football team, and football teams are usually the source of enormous school pride. The closest thing we have to football is our Men's Soccer Team. They draw only a decent number of fans. Not too many unusual things about SB. When you get here, you may find the drunken people wandering around campus or IV to be a bit odd, but you eventually adjust to the college life. I will always remember the outings my friends and I would have in IV. The most frequent student complaints are the rent prices in IV for what the apartment unit offers. The apartment units have the basic essentials, but is overpriced. This is due to being so close to the beach.

The best thing about UCSB is it's own community of multi-cultural groups. Each group is very tight and open to anyone in the community but secure in its little corner. The school is just right I think. When I tell people I go to UCSB I get comments about the party scene and Halloween. I spend most my time at the UCEN or Rob's gym practicing my dancing. College town. The UCSB's administration seems very very corrupt, period. Biggest controversy is the Eric Frompong trial, because it's a real attack against the legal safety of minorities especially blacks in SB. I'm still looking for the experience I'll always remember.

The best thing about UCSB is the fact that we are not an Urban campus. There is plenty of open space of recreation, beaches, mountiains to go hiking in, the environment is gorgeous. When I tell people I go to UCSB the first thing they assume is I party all of the time. I actually spend most of time on campus in various places like the library, university center or the Student Resource Building hanging out with friends or studying. Isla Vista is the neighborhood next to the school all the students live in and it definitley is a college town full of young college kids crammed into 1 square mile of apartments. The UCSB Administartion espeically those inovled with Student Affairs are amazing, the really advocate for the student body and look out for our best interests, especially the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Young.

BEST thing about UCSB: THE VIEW. Gotta see it to love it. One thing I'd Change: Better facilities in the Music department. Things are getting old and worn out... The size of the campus is just right People think I must've changed into a party animal when I tell them I go to UCSB---wrong. I spend most of my time on campus in class IV = college town. Very conveniently located. It's quite awesome The administration and I guess "controversy" as well: they care too less about the music department, which is typical in most universities I guess. But it's such a shame because our music department faculties are really good here (I heard it from others and it's from my own experience thus far). There's really a big contrast when you see the engineering/science buildingS when comparing them to THE music building. Pride: Go to a soccer game and you'll see. Gaucho pride fills up stands. Unusual: 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} beautiful weather. memorable experience: 1st party @ Lambda's frat house. Very chill and not like what I've heard about for frat/sor. parties. Not shady at all.

The best thing about UCSB is being able to ride your bike on campus (or walk) and say hi to at least 10 people that you know. UCSB is not as big as it seems. You can get from one end of the campus to the other in 10 minutes (on a bike, of course). Although our school is big on politics, there is not much school pride here. We do not have a football team, but I hear our soccer games are the most fun. We have a lot of hippies here. Sometimes you can see people walking around barefoot to class.

The variety and diversity of both the classes and the people. I think that the size is just right; you can be comfortable in a community of people that you know, but at the same time, you can always meet someone new! The atmosphere of the campus and Isla Vista is great; everything you need and want is right here, and fun!

The best thing about UCSB is the weather. I love how it is always cold up here. Also, i love the Christian fellowships on this campus. I have made life long friends here because I put myself out there. One thing I would change is to show people that not everyone parties. That there are A LOT of people here that enjoy hanging out without drinking, without partying, and without all the drugs,etc. The school is just right. I like the size of our school. It does get a little crowded on the bike paths, but it is not that bad at all. I love it here because I can skate board! People do not react a certain way when I say I go to UCSB. Some say "oh you go to the party school, do you party?" and I say no and they get weirded out. But its great because then i get to tell them how great my school is without it, and then they are all wow! thats awesome. I would also change this school so we could have a marching band. personally--i was a band geek in high school, and i miss it a lot. I spend most of my time in the Student Resource Building. It is the building that has comfy couches, nice chairs, and a lot of study space. It is so nice there! and the people who work there are awesome! UCSB is surrounded by a college town called Isla Vista (IV) It is a mile by mile housing/apartment square, where about 10,000 people live. there are banks, tattoo places, shops, parks, ocean roads, freebirds, food shops, starbucks, a market, name it, and IV tries to provide it. The administration here at UCSB--i do not really have an opinion. I never have had a problem with them, and I really love my school and how the people here run it. i would not have gone anywhere but here. and i am thankful for the people in charge. Yes there is a lot of school pride when its about sports. our soccer team is really good, and I am not sure about the rest. I wear my sweatshirt with pride and i take pride in the fact that i come here. I love it here. Anything unusual? Yes. There is a very diverse group of people here. even if there is a lot of Caucasian people or Asian people, if you get deeper into what out school is about. there are a lot of different people; transfer students, students that you would never hang out with, but you suddenly have something in common. Also, we do not have a football team. So, thats really weird. The biggest recent controversy? The War in Iraq. People were protesting it, and it was this HUGE ordeal, and there were police here, and cops, and everything. So it was cool to see our students come together, but some of the people at our school are very set in their ways. For example, if I said "i am for ___" and another group disagreed with me, they would fight with me till the end about it. So it is good to have passionate people here, but there is also a need to here more than one side to things. Oh! And we're a huge bike school! people ride their bikes everywhere and its very popular. One experience ill remember--coming to the Lord through Real Life and because God was pursuing me for so long. and getting into my first bike accident going through Pardall tunnel. The most frequent complaint, that the bike paths are too crowded. which they are, but there has been some students trying to change that, so maybe that will change.

The best thing about UCSB is its location. I've been to a lot of other colleges around California and none of them are as beautiful as Santa Barbara. And we know how lucky we are to be here. There is so much pride around the fact that we go to a school where we can watch the sun set over the ocean any day.

the best thing about ucsb: the location. perfect spot right on the beach, perfect spot in california-close enough to vegas, close enough to LA, close enough to tahoe, close enough to san francisco...but cool enough to never have to leave to go to those places. one thing i'd change: school spirit...its there, but not unified...it would be nice to have had a football team, or at least some kind of tradition that everyone joined in on for basketball games or soccer games at least. people's reaction when i told them i went to ucsb: either "ohh party school" or just total jealousy. seriously. something unusual about ucsb: the gauchos. and i dont mean the mascot. the local families that live in Isla vista and collected all of our cans for money. definiitely a sad reality, especially since there are so many of them, but they definitely are a part of what makes iv what it is...one of the many interesting aspects that gives it character.

The one thing about UCSB I'd change is the staff at the Daily Nexus...or the "Bottom Line" alternative newspaper that is ridiculously liberal and unnecessary. It's not like we go to a conservative school and they need an outlet for their voice. The school population is pretty large, but coming from Southern CA where my high school graduating class was over 700 at a school of 3000 kids makes it something I'm used to. I'm not sure how people react when I tell them I go to UCSB; the company I intern at loves it- they have hired a number of UCSB interns and grads over the years. I think people are probably pretty surprised because I like to think I have my head on pretty straight, and considering the stereotype of the typical student, I don't fit that profile, so it surprises people. Last quarter I spent all my time in Ellison Hall, in the film office, but this quarter I spend pretty much every spare minute in Program Board. There's just always one more thing I have to get done at work. There is definitely a college town-feel to Isla Vista, but more so for the partying. IV is basically a ghetto. Rent prices are ridiculously high for the crappy quality of living arrangements we are forced into. My opinion of UCSB's administration is fairly neutral; I think Finance Board should put a little more effort into researching what student groups are asking for funding for (i.e. the Russian Club receiving nearly $20K for the t.A.T.u. show then running to Program Board, crying for help because they didn't know how to run the show). There are a lot of levels of bureaucracy within the administration, but I've always accomplished what I need to get accomplished fairly quickly considering all the levels things have to pass through. I don't know what the biggest controversy has been recently; my world on campus is small: Program Board and Film Studies. Our Program Board controversies tend to revolve around the limited coverage our events receive by the Nexus. I think the student pride is seasonal- it peaks during soccer playoffs. There are a lot of unusual things about UCSB! I think the fact that our newspaper has a weekly sex column and weed-smoking column is pretty unusual. One experience I will always remember is the trouble we caused and got into on our ASPB winter retreat! I probably can't repeat what occurred. The most frequent student complaint is the rising tuition costs, and the new rule that passed by Leg Council approving the 15-unit-per-quarter change.