University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

The campus is absolutley gorgeous. The surrounding enviroment is very lush and inviting and the beach is very close. Thousands of bicycles roam the campus creating an easy and accesible way to get from place to place. Also the graduate program is spectacular. The program allows me to get my masters in education and my credentials to teach in under one year.

I think UC Santa Barbara is a great school and I had a great experience there. If I could change one thing about my experience I would say that I would have liked to explore more organizations and events my freshman year. I was only able to find my niche (in the American Indian Student Association) late my 2nd year, and I wish that I could have gotten involved earlier. UCSB can seem large sometimes so it really helps to have people similar to you that you can use as your inner circle, before you are able to meet other people. Isla Vista is a very welcoming town and it is quick to seem like home. It has food places that stay open very late (which is great for late-night studying), beautiful parks and of course a lovely coastline. There is a lot of Gaucho pride and soccer games are super fun!One thing I will always remember is that I had the opportunity to be part of UCSB's First Annual Symposium on Indigenous Issues. There are so many opportunities to be socially and politically active at UCSB - it's just the right size in my opinion - large enough to offer many people and potential friends and small enough to find your niche.

beach

You can't complain when the campus is on the beach. That makes it unique in the sense that you can walk the beach way back from class or take all your books to the beach. UCSB is also a research university, meaning that many of the professors teaching the classes are actually simultaneously writing books on that subject or doing leading research within that field. Also, Isla Vista is unique in that is is a town seconds from campus absolutly brimming with apartments and college students- creating a very unique college community.

UC Santa Barbara offers a diverse set of courses that other colleges do not. It also has a hagh academic raking in the country. The environment surrounding the cumpus is beautiful which makes it easier to be stress-free.

UCSB is an amazing experience but the stigma of party school could be a hard one to live with once you are out of school.

I feel that my school has a more relaxing atmosphere where studying and fun is combined. Living in Santa Barbara is like living in a college town with many other students like yourself. It definitely makes for the true college experience.

Compared to other schools, our school has beautiful campus. We can go to the beach any time we want. I like the fact that we are surrounded by the beach and the mountains. It feels as if we are living in the dream.

Students know how to balance school and fun

UCSB is unique because the academics are highly ranked and its location is absolutely stunning. It is the perfect college town because everything is so accessible and you feel part of a UCSB community. I feel that whenever I meet anyone who went to UCSB we have a unique secret bond that we understand each other's wonderful college experience. It's almost indescribable, but we know that we learned, had a great time and grew as people all at the same place.