University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

University of California at Santa Barbara is a school designed to get students into fields of research. There are so many research opportunities in labs and out in the field, especially for science and social science related majors. For example it has it's own Marine Research lab that students can become a part of if interested. Unfortunately UCSB doesn't prepare you for a career but it lets you delve deeply into the area you want to puruse so students can get experience in a certain area.

The University of California, Santa Barbara is special because of its uniquely academic, yet easy-going atmosphere which provides students with opportunities to excell both academically and socially.

right next to beach

I noticed that schools like UCLA and UCSD are made up of students that are really competitive. I know that everyone should have some competitiveness in them, however, at the aforementioned schools, it seems like sabotage is the way to go. At UCSB though, everyone helps each other, everyone is chill and nice.

The UC system manages its money horribly. Costs have jumped greatly (personally they've risen 25{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}). Not exactly the public school bargain, unless of course you're poor or a minority in which case everybody else will subsidize at least 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} or your costs. Students are partly to blame as they recently approved every single fee put up to a vote, with ~33{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of each fee marked as "return to aid".

Well to start with, it is the only campus that I know of that is located directly on the beach, and beyond that, the entire campus is beautiful. Everyone gets around on bikes, with specific bike paths throughout the campus. The undergraduate classes are pretty big, but the majority of them have small discussion sections once a week to supplement them. Overall, there is just a great environment.

UCSB has Isla Vista, a college town next to a non-college community (Santa Barbara). You have the ability to reside in a community of peers that you get to know and love like extended family, then by the time you're a senior you have the option of moving downtown. Usually by then, seniors feel like getting a little space. It's perfect!

Lifestyle, Atmosphere, Attitudes, Diversity,

UCSB is really close to the beach, so campus groups do stuff like beach cleanups for community service. You can go to the beach to study, to exercise, or just to relax.

I really liked the fact that the school is right on the beach. I also loved that UCSB is a research university which offers many opportunities to join a research group and the chance to start your own.