James
The laid back attitude of UC Santa Cruz allows students to push themselves as hard as they wish, so that what they get back from their college expereience is directly proportional to what they put into it.
Carlos
It is very well connected to nature there is many outdoor activities to door here, it is easy to become distracted therefore it's nice to have a good sense of time management. Other than those basic things it can be a competivie school just not as competetive as other schools. It is still a good school to learn and research at.
Jessica
Environmentally friendly, liberal, and open-minded.
Tem
Location, the people, the professors.
Dannah
One great reason UCSC stands out is its location. It was built on 2000 acres of land and a good chunk of the campus is in a redwood forest. It is also a few miles from the beach. The placement of the university not only allows for amazing views of the Monterey Bay, but also research opportunities in and surroundign the Monterey bay. This past year, UCSC was considered the 3rd on the list of universities which have had an impact on research.
Pauline
Compared to other universities, Santa Cruz isn't as competitive, which I believe works in this school's favor because students are more willing to work with each other. By not creating this cut-throat tension, I feel welcomed here and that students are always willing to share their knowledge and time to help me. This sense of support gives the campus a positive vibe along with its serene location. The lucious forests of trees that surround students adds to the more peaceful envrionment that remains focused academically, but maintains perspective of keeping this a beautiful place to study.
Alissa
A lot of schools I've visited or have been interest in were either plotted in a metropolis or in a suburbia (I grew up in one so I wanted something different). When I saw Santa Cruz, I was blown away when I saw towering redwood trees instead of towering office buildings. Instead of the buzz of the city, I was calmed by the tranquility of UCSC's natural beauty. The town was active and peaceful. Basically, its the alter ego of a typical American college.
Maria
I love UC Santa Cruz. College, whether you're going to an Ivy or a community college, is what you make of it. If you lock yourself in your room and only emerge for class and bathroom breaks, you're not going to get the most out of it. If you sincerely make an effort to get know the people on your floor, in your classes, all around you - your college experience will be a good one.
Santa Cruz is perfect if you want a wide variety of people in a laid-back atmosphere. In my experience, the people here know how to party and have fun, but also when it's time to buckle down and study. And you will never find a campus so breathtakingly gorgeous as this one! And you'll be surprised at the swell of pride you begin to feel every time you see a mighty banana slug on your way to class.
Richard
Unique part about this school is the diversity this school has and the amount of clubs/ organization, not greek life, is available to the student to communicate with each other in a communal pool.
Amber
The University of California-Santa Cruz offers an extremely liberal, forward thinking learning environment that allowed me to not only expand my knowledge base, but to consider my views of the world in a different way.