<p>I'd like advice from people who go to UCSC or who have friends there about how to pick out colleges because it's kind of overwhelming and I'm not sure which one to pick. </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm considering between Crown, Cowell, Stevenson, and Merill. I'm going to be a Human Biology major, and I'm interested in minoring in Anthropology. I'm sort of reserved, but I definitely am not one of those people who spends their entire life inside a room, studying 24/7. I'm not big into partying or drugs, but I'm open to maybe trying it out a little. I'm not exactly "nerdy", like into video games or sci-fi, but I do study a lot and I love reading.</p>
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<li>If I go to Crown, is everyone really nerdy? Would I fit in? And from pictures, it seems like architecture is kind of awkward and views aren't that pretty...</li>
<li>Is Cowell a party college? I don't want that. Are there a lot of jocks there? I'm totally not into sports, or fitness... And would it be hard getting to the science buildings?</li>
<li>I heard Stevenson is kind of a Jewish school? I'm an Athiest so... I don't want to be offensive to anyone. And the core class said something about reading religious texts and studying philosophy and I'm not sure i'm into that. It just seems kind of boring. </li>
<li>I need more information about Merill... I've just heard it's kinda quiet, and there there's sometimes people doing hardcore drugs there. That kinda freaks me out. Is it out of the way? Like is it inconvient to get to classes and restaurants on campus? Am I going to be able to make friends there or are the dorms going to seem empty all of the time?</li>
</ul>
<p>I can't make up my mind. Help/advice and ANY knowledge you have about UCSC colleges would be greatly appreciated. :)</p>
<p>You’d be better posting in the UCSC subforum. It would get more notice there from people who actually go to UCSC.</p>
<p>However, to answer your question: the stereotypes are just that. Stereotypes. Someone once tried to discourage me from Porter because I have a severe allergy to marijuana. They said I would not fit in and would be constantly ill. I have encountered it in equal amounts all over campus the very few times I have encountered it. I love Porter and can’t imagine living anywhere else on campus.</p>
<p>What I learned from my experience with choosing a residential college affiliation:
It does not matter which college you choose. You will decide what sort of time you will have and if you go in deciding you’ve made a wrong choice then you will have a miserable time.
Choosing based on location on campus is a valid choice. This is what I ended up doing and I love where I am because of it. Except for one of my majors which is on the other side of campus and a couple mile hike if I don’t take one of the campus shuttles.
If you truly hate where you have been placed, you can request to change affiliations if you discover you like one better than the other after you arrive. They have filing periods for such things. While it is never guaranteed, it is an option to pursue.
Crown and Merrill are at the top of the biggest hill on campus. It is UCSC’s “cardiac hill” and you will be in shape walking this every day. This would fall under “location consideration” when it comes to choosing a college
It’s not on your list, but Porter is home to First Rain. While it does make its way all through campus, it begins and ends at Porter. You will get twice the nakedness.
At the end of it, college affiliation affects only two things: location (where you live if you live on campus) and the core class (for frosh only). The latter should not be a big concern as it is only for one quarter. The former will matter for as long as you choose to live on campus.</p>
<p>You will likely find some students from UCSC who believe the stereotypes exist and matter, but it’s one of those situations where people allow one or two incidents to paint the image and ignore instances that defy this image as well as similar instances that appear with similar frequency at other colleges.</p>
