<p>Well, I got into both colleges and I cannot decide which one best fits me. </p>
<p>The thing that I am debating over is whether or not I can handle UCSB's partying. I am not sure whether or not I am a partier because I have not been to that many parties. I want to get good grades so I can get a good job when I graduate, but I also want to have fun in college. Is UCSB really that much more of a party school than other schools, like CalPoly? Also, is most of the partying in Del Playa like I hear, or is it everywhere?</p>
<p>Like I said before, academics are important to me, and I know that CalPoly has a great business school and a great academic program (The whole "learning by doing" philosophy). But I am sure UCSB has a good academic program too. </p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>ucsb has an admitted students weekend on April 14th. You should go. Cal Poly has a tour on the 20th for admitted students, open house on the 21st. Go to that, too. Being on the campus and having a chance to see the school, talk to current students, attend info sessions, and so on will give you a chance to see how you'd fit at the school. And considering that it's 4 years of your life you're talking about here, it's worth the drive down to kick the tires.</p>
<p>I'd say there's a similar amount of partying at both schools. Anytime you have a school in a smallish town (so less alternatives compared to an LA or SF) where almost everyone is living away from home, you're going to have parties going on. But there are also plenty of things to do besides drink/smoke. Lots of events on campus, lectures, sports is big (both IM and school teams), a great gym, and so on. A lot of frosh who think they've signed up for 4 years of Club Med get a wake-up call after they get their grades 1st quarter. So, sure, there are people who choose UCSB in order to spend 4 years on the beach having fun. But there are plenty of kids who go to UCSB for the chance to get a UC-class education in a setting they love, surrounded by friends who live a stroll away instead of across town somewhere. If you're looking for serious students and serious academics, you can easily find it.
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I want to get good grades so I can get a good job when I graduate
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Not your main question, but you're not on the right track here. Employers do not hire by GPA alone. There is a minimum gpa employers like to see, but after that they assume you're good enough. Next they look to see what else you've done. Have you taken part in club, held leadership positions? Even more important, have you had internships in the field so you know what you're getting into and have shown you can do the work? And having stood out on paper, nobody gets hired without a round of interviews in which they have a chance to show the future employer they're the one they should choose. So I'm not saying don't worry about grades. Grades matter, but they're not everything. Be sure you do the other things in order to be a compelling candidate when you graduate.</p>
<p>As a UCSB alum I can tell you that the library is centrally-located on campus and stays open late. There is partying throughout Isla Vista most of the time (not just on Del Playa which is the street adjacent to the beach - thus the name), but unless you are truly weak of will you can just say no. There were plenty who did just that when I was pre-med there, which made the med school sweepstakes quite competitive indeed. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise: Reputation nothwithstanding, UCSB is no academic pushover.</p>
<p>I too am a UCSB alum and spent some time at SLO as well visiting friends. It is a fact that there is far more partying at UCSB. There isn't a school on the west coast, save chico state, that rivals UCSB in terms of social life. However, I lived on Del Playa for two years and myself along with most of friends were all able to responsibly handle our school work. Work hard, play hard. I would highly reccomend visiting and see what its all about. Although the partying is there, its not all about that,the community in IV is really unique/special thing i have yet to see at anywhere else.</p>
<p>PS We have more nobel laureates than any other UC</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools. Students at Cal Poly party quite a bit, though it’s not as crazy as Isla Vista. I’d probably go to UCSB because of its location, but you really can’t go wrong with either school. No one forces you to party; you have to have the discipline to get your work done first.</p>
<p>Visit both schools and try to do an overnight stay if possible.</p>