University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

You are about to take your next step in life and you should know a few things before you do. Go to community college first to take care of all your general education requirements. You will save yourself a lot of money and the classes won’t be overcrowded so you’ll be able to choose the ones you want. While you are there make sure you think about the career you want to pursue when you transfer into a four-year university. Do a little research to find the best school(s) to apply to with regard to your career goals. Your social life is important but not so important that you let your grades suffer; make sure you find a good balance between your studies and your non-curricular activities. Most importantly, keep track of your finances, don’t overcharge your credit cards, but make sure you have one and you pay the balance every month. Study abroad, it will give you a cultural perspective and expand your network friends to an international level. And, remember to call Mom and Dad, they love you more than anyone else and they’re are living vicariously through you.

I would tell my past-self to take advantage of the clubs, student knowledge and surroundings at UC Santa Barbara. Try and do more international study. The experience I had going to Spain through extentions was unforgettable. I joined the Latino Business Association (LBA) during my last year at UCSB and I regret not joining sooner and joining other clubs related to me. I found community and help with my classes through LBA. No one needs to go through school alone and sometimes it feels like it when you are studying for tests or writing term papers. The students at UCSB are its greatest resource and they can and will make test and paper preparation easier. Be humble and know that you might need help from time to time and actively seek out that help with some of the brightest minds in the world. Take advantage of Santa Barbara, one the most beautiful cities in the world; beaches, hillsides, great restaurants, and history. Yes, I'm advising to go outside from time to time or else you'll leave wondering where this extra 15 pounds came from. Be fearless, get involved, try everything, and talk to everyone.

I would tell my high school self that being prepared & ready for college is alot harder than it seems. Make sure you are ready to go when you chose to. Dont rush into going just becasue its "the normal" thing to do. waiting to go was the best decision for myself. I would tell myself that life will throw your curves & college is one of them, if you do decide to wait, its never to late to go, but you cant get very far without college nowadays. Be prepared to stress sometiems, study alot & alwasy work hard. Its the only way you will make it through college. If college is easy, then You arent doing it the right way!

Don't be afraid to try something new. In highschool you get set in the same routine. You and your friends do the same thing with the same people, so you don't have a lot of room to grow as an individual unless your friends plan on growing in the same exact direction. In college there are so many clubs to be a part of and new people to learn from. Don't be afraid to go to an informational meeting, volunteer, or talk to the person sitting next to you in your lecture (they are probably a lot more interesting than whatever yout professor happens to be talking about). When you find something that you like- go with it! And if it doesn't work out then try something new that looks fun. Also, don't worry about major requirements. It is very likely that you will decide on a new major by the end of your first year so don't stress about which math class or chem lab you are going to take because perhaps there is a a major that is more suited to you that doesn't even require those classes at all.

My experience at the University of California Santa Barbara has been a great one. My time there has helped me to become an adult, to think critically, to excell at research and interviewing skills, to become culturally diverse, and to gain leadership skills. The University has helped me to become independent and self sufficient. While studying Sociology I gained very valuable interviewing techniques and skills and was able to effectively communicate with my peers and Professors. I gained confidence at presenting in front of huge groups of people and never felt judged or looked down upon by anyone. During my class time I was exposed to many different groups of individuals and was able to learn a lot about them and their culture. This was very important to me because my sociological knowledge was expanding in ways that I had never imagined. With my education at the university I realize that I want to further develop my sociological skills and continue my education with the goal of a Master's degree in the field with the ultimate goal of becoming a Medical Counselor. My sympathetic nature and all that I have gained from UCSB has fostered my desired career path.

Even though I have only been in college for a little over a quarter, I have discovered exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have taken a variety of classes at UCSB that have opened up my eyes to possible carreer fields. If I had not attended college I would still want to pursue a degree in Aquatic Biology, which I had no idea what to do with once I graduated. After taking a human physiology class it was like a light build went off in my head. I was so fascinated by the content ot the lectures. I knew at that point I wanted to get a degree in Human Physiology and then go to physical therapy school after I graduate. College has helped me realize that I really do want to help repair people's injuries because I tore my ACL a year ago and I know what the healing process is like. I thank UCSB for opening up my eyes to my future.

My college experience has been great. I am one of those people who doesn't party very often and likes to stay at home when possible. I ave been blessed with a good amount of luck when it comes to planning my academic life. I was able to transfer from my local Junior College after two years and I will be graduating with dual majors this coming spring quarter. I managed to accomplish all this by promising myself to not get stuck in my home town with the many of my high school classmates after graduation, and by keeping a promise to my mother, god rest her soul. I promised that I would continue my education, I will get a Ph.D. So what is the value of attending college? I would say that attending a university will test your character and will help reveal the kind of person you may want to become in your adult life. It is one of the greatest adventures and tests of my life, and I would continue to do it for the rest of my life, if that were possible.

In just 4 short months in college, I have made great friends and begun on my path to become a theoretical physicist. I have access to excellent professors in an intimate setting. UCSB is beautiful and I love studying near the beach and also near my home. I have the amazing opportunity to live at home and attend a first rate University.

Going off to college was a very scary idea at first. Hundreds of miles away from home and knowing nobody, attending college has really expanded my horizons and taken me out of my comfort zone. I'm meeting new people and making connections with people beyond my expectations. My classes are challenging and require me to go out of my comfort zone. High school was very much a walk in the park and college has showed me that higher learning is really different. I have learned to appreciate the meaning of a college degree that much more and hope that after obtaining my own, I will be able to acquire a job that I love, even in this economy.

Going into college I was a person that was lost in the world. I had just lost what seemed like my entire world, my high school sweetheart and was about to lose the connection between my friends and family-or so I thought. I was a person afraid of change and I was not in the mood to embrace my world that was about to change completely. I walked onto campus and immediately felt care free and happy. There were hundreds of new faces-but none of them scared me. Hundreds of tall, big buildings-but none of them scared me. Hundreds of brand new bikes, and those definately did not scare me. I met the greatest people in my new dorm. In my new home. Those people helped me get out and live again. They helped me on those nights that I had to study for a Final the next morning, but were also with me as I ran the streets half naked in the traditional Finals Undie Run. No matter what the case, I know those people will always be by my side, and that is a priceless experience.