University of California-Santa Barbara Top Questions

I wish i had better understood the financial aid process entering freshman year, though it became easy and understandble in time. Also, I wish I had been more aware of the scholarships available.

I wish that I had been able to prepare myself for the different environment in Santa Barbara compared to growing up in a city like San Francisco. I was use to lots of traffic and commotion, coming here the atmosphere is so laid back which is not a bad thing. The environment definately affects how people behave, there seems to be a sense of a stronger community because it is much smaller than a larger city. I just was not use to being around people who were more focused.

How far it really is from any big cities. Also the type of community it is located in.

I wish I would have known how much more demanding college courses are than highschool courses. It takes a significant amount of extra time and energy for classes than it did in highschool. You need to learn time management to do well and have fun at this school.

Rent is so expensive.

That the transition into college isn't really as scary as it seems.

I wish I knew more about financial aid, because this place is VERY expensive. I wish I knew more about the campus itself, where everything was located, and how it all worked, but that was my fault for not exploring more when I arrived. I didn't go to the orientation, which I'm sure would have been extremely beneficial.

nothing.

The school is much stronger academically than I knew.

People are nicer than you'd think theyd be.