<p>Hey guys, I’m a Sophomore transfer student thats new to UCSB. I got placed into Manzanita Village, but from what i understand its more isolated and less social than other halls. I want a more social dorm setting, so i have been given the options of Santa Rosa and San Miguel. Can anyone give me their opinions or either places. Help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks</p>
<p>I think we need to revive this thread for the incoming freshman :P</p>
<p>I have some questions man. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>I am aware of UCSB’s Surfing club…in the club however do they teach you how to surf if you’re a noob? Or do you have to be at a certain level of surfing to join? </p></li>
<li><p>Is it easy to avoid parties and focus entirely on your work? </p></li>
<li><p>Is there a club that’s dedicated to Engineering or anything technological? </p></li>
<li><p>Does UCSB have a Gym? If so, is it free?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And lastly…</p>
<ol>
<li>Is it cheaper to eat what they provide you with? Or is it more efficient to buy your own food and cook for yourself?</li>
</ol>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman but I’ll answer these from what I’ve read/seen.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I think a lot of people are interested in learning to surf. I’m sure there are people from all different experience levels. </p></li>
<li><p>Yes, not everyone parties. There are people with all kinds of interests. In fact, 20% of people on campus are substance free. Not having a social life and focusing on academics all of the time isn’t healthy and has actually been proven to lower GPAs! I’m sure you’ll find a balance between studies and friends. UCSB was recently ranked #11 for happiest students :)</p></li>
<li><p>From what I’ve seen there are a lot of career oriented clubs. I’m sure they have an engineering one!</p></li>
<li><p>Yes and yes! It’s supposed to be really big and really nice.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re living in the dorms, it is mandatory to pay for a meal plan… so seeing as you’re already putting money into that, it is obviously better to eat what they provide you with. I had the food and it was pretty good. Anyway, I saw the kitchen in the dorm and it’s no way nice enough to be wanting to make dinner every night. Microwaving popcorn is pretty much what I’ll be using it for. Obviously things are different when you move out of the dorms.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>@ BlkMamba24</p>
<p>How do you know you got into Manzanita already?</p>
<p>Notice he posted in 2010. You get assigned around late August - early September.</p>
<p>Here is to answer your questions</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Yes the surf club provides lessons for a fee, so you don’t need to have any experience to join</p></li>
<li><p>Yes you can avoid parties if you choose to, if you want to do that I’d recommend living in Manzanita, that will be easier to do if you live there.</p></li>
<li><p>Not sure about this, but most likely there is. </p></li>
<li><p>There is a gym and yes it is free.</p></li>
<li><p>Since you’re living in the dorms, you might as well enjoy the food at the dining halls. It is pretty good, except for Portola XD</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Oh and another question!
I hope you can reply:
Do you any students who recently graduated? If you do…are they employed or unemployed?
Does UCSB help you with getting a job?</p>
<p>^
that depend on your resumates and how well you did in school, activities, internship, experience, major, job competitions and such. There are a lot of factors, and being a UCSB student is just one of them</p>
<p>People have told me that you have a better chance at an Engineering job if you go to Cal Poly…i am debating between Cal Poly and UCSB.
I like Cal Poly because of the reputation it has for their graduated students having jobs straight out of school, which is what i want. Btw, my neighbor very recently graduated from Cal Poly this year with a Business degree and got a well-paying job and is moving out of her parents house.</p>
<p>I like UCSB because it is an awesome campus and i hear the Engineering building is right next to the beach. My main concern would be if choosing UCSB over Cal Poly will hinder my chances at finding a job straight out of school because I hear that UC’s aren’t much for job preparing as Cal Poly is and employers look at that. I would choose UCSB over Cal any day but i have to think of what choice will help me in the long run!</p>
<p>any thoughts? i appreciate your responses very much.</p>
<p>Fast CC!! Fast!!</p>
<p>UCs prepare their students for jobs very well. Don’t worry about that. Just go where you think you’ll be happy</p>
<p>can you use a george foreman grill if you only use it in the kitchenette?</p>
<p>Housing commented on a Facebook post that you are allowed to bring coffee makers as long as you only use them in the kitchen area and keep them unplugged in your dorm. I would assume this is the same for grills.</p>
<p>hakufox…I love your name…</p>
<p>Hee, thank you :></p>
<p>It reminds me of Naruto :)</p>
<p>:/ Noooo.
It’s based on Haku from Spirited Away.</p>
<p>The white fox with the orange lines? xD</p>
<p>Does this mean there are no coffee makers int he kitchen area?</p>