University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

My classmates at UCSB are hardworking, determined, and competitive .

My classmates are all extremely welcoming and friendly.

Eager to learn in the classroom and eager to drink outside of the classroom.

Smart, happy and balanced.

My classmates are an ecclectic group of young health professionals who have come together to learn and inspire each other.

Students here are academically focused on their studies but also party very, very hard, in all senses of the term.

My classmates are diverse, interesting, and have alot of learning to do.

The students are extremely friendly and easy to get along with. Although this school is competitive I find many times when fellow students are willing to help others out even though the class is curved.

The student body at UCSB is a diverse one. With so many students, organizations and clubs, sports teams and extracurricular activities, there is literally a place for everyone here on this campus. There are students from a range of socio-economic backgrounds and cultures, and in my experience friend groups have included students from all different types of backgrounds. If a student wants to get involved in politics, the LGBT community, religious groups or Greek life, they are not only provided the information and encouragement from the proper source, but they can feel free to join more than one -- lots of individuals are involved in a range of activities here and do not limit themselves to just Greek life, or just student government, they are often involved in way more than just one facet of UCSB life. Now of course there are people who party, and what's great about UCSB is that it's never difficult to find a party. UCSB is a very open and friendly community, and for those who choose to party there are plenty of opportunities to have fun and meet lots of cool people. And for those who choose not to party -- and contrary to popular belief, there is a good percentage who do not -- there are awesome opportunities to hang out with friends in Isla Vista by attending Magic Lantern films, improv performances or just hang out at the gorgeous beach or the ever popular Freebirds. There is no shortage of opportunities in meeting people here. What's more, if you meet someone you don't really get along with, the student population is so large that it's pretty easy to find some other people to hang out with, but you have to be willing to say hi and smile! The students here are ambitious, but the atmosphere is not a cut-throat one. In all of my classes, the students have been very driven all with goals of attending graduate school or getting a job following graduation, but we are more about team effort than anything else. Studying in my mind had always been a solo project, but after enrolling in a couple of very difficult classes, I found myself needing help from fellow students who were seeking the same kind of support. Group study sessions have become a prevalent phenomenon in my house, and it's great to have a group of individuals who want to do well and who want to help others do well in the process. Plus, bring some snacks and the study session can turn into a free food swap!

The majority of UCSB students are from California, so it is mostly locals who take up this school. Although this may sound not very diverse, in my experience it is great because the people you become close to are easier to stay in contact with over breaks and after you graduate because they live relatively close to you. Also, it makes non Californians stand out, in a good way, and makes them more original and special. I have recently found that there are many foreign exchange students who come here to study for a year. There are many multicultural programs, clubs, and groups on campus and I have never had any feeling of one race being overwhelmingly prominent at this university. There are many ways to get involved in multicultural groups and get associated with students of other ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds.