<p>I’m transferring to HSU as a Fisheries Bio major in August. I can’t say that I’m well-acquainted with Davis’ program, but I did check out the campus a few times when I was younger.</p>
<p>I think you’re going to have a very different experience between those campuses, and that can be just as important as the actual academic experience.</p>
<p>Davis is not a big city, but you’re a lot closer to some urban environments. You’re in the Valley and while the heat and smog might not be so bad in Davis thanks to the nearness of the Delta, heat and smog will still happen. The campus is large and you’ve got a big student body (~33,000, according to Google). I recall the campus being very bike friendly and the area being fairly progressive. </p>
<p>Up in Arcata…that’s about it. The Eureka/Arcata/McKinleyville area is the happening spot in Humboldt County, and the collective population of the area is probably less than the student population at Davis. HSU has around/under 8,000 students. It is cold and wet in the winter, and…still fairly cold in the summer with less rain and occasional fog. And hills. Oh sweet jesus are there hills. And there’s nothing close by. The nearest “big city” is Redding, which is about two hours east. The Bay Area is about four hours south. There are plenty of things happening at Humboldt, but you’re looking at concerts and performances at the college, local festivals, a smaller selection of bars and clubs, and no big attractions outside of the abundance of natural beauty up there. A friend of mine says the place is “liberal but not progressive”, and I can see where that’s true. The towns up there are old, there’s a lot of history in the buildings, and a lot of hippies and artists. </p>
<p>If you’re very concerned with prestige, Davis is a better choice. If you tell people you’re going to HSU because you like the program better, people will wink and nod. “Riiiiiiight,” they’ll say. Humboldt has better pot, or so I’m told. I don’t smoke and I’m lead to believe I am one of five students in the college’s history who doesn’t.</p>
<p>When I was hunting, I toured Cal Poly SLO, CSUMB, UCSC, and Humboldt. I absolutely fell in love with HSU, but it really seems like a place you either love or hate. After spending 28 years in Fresno, I really, really wanted something different. HSU is very different. </p>
<p>I think the best thing you can do is visit both campuses. Talk to some professors if you can. Read up on the course offerings. I don’t know when you plan to transfer, but HSU has a Spring Preview in April. I went this year and it was great, I’d highly recommend it to anyone who has or is thinking of applying. It’s very likely Davis has something similar. </p>
<p>I’m happy to answer questions about HSU or the area in general, though I don’t know as much as someone who’s been attending for a while.</p>