I’m on a TAG to SB next year and Ive already started looking into what my housing options are. I know most transfer students live in either the dorms or the university-owned apartments, I’m wondering your opinion is on finding a house/apartment in IV via craigslist/friends? The university apartments sound nice, but part of me would like to live in a house with a few roommates- people who already know the area, so I can meet people more easily. I know most 3rd and 4th years live in IV, so I feel like coming in as a third year I should too. And sidenote: I have a cat- dorms/apartments dont allow them so Im looking at other options.
If you live in the residence halls you quickly meet a set of people so there will be familiar faces around campus, plus you have the services the dorm provides to help in the transition (an RA to ask questions, talks and the like). They put xfer students on their own floors, so you won’t be jammed in with new frosh. Meeting new people is a function of running into them, so the university apartments are less conducive to that than the dorms; apartments have private entrances, people eat in their own apartment instead of a common dining area.
Its not hard to find a place in IV as a xfer student. Atypical progression for many students attending all 4 years is to get to know some people thru the dorm and classes their first year or two, then put a group together and find an apartment. Sometimes they have an extra space, and its not hard to find people who have rented in the previous year and had people move out of the group and they have space(s) to fill.
As a side note not at all relevant to your question, there are also apartments that have been handed down in a chain for a decade or more! A couple of friends rent an apartment over the ocean on DP, a younger sibling moves in a year or two later and is added to the lease, the original kids graduate and the apartment becomes filled with friends of the sibling, pattern continues… So entire apartments with great views open less often than you’d think.
I don’t know that you’ll meet people “more easily” if you live in IV, depends on how outgoing you are. Maybe you become friends with the people your roomates know, but maybe they don’t have too many common interests. Since everyone at UCSB lives on/near campus if you meet people in your classes they are going to live nearby and be easy to meet up with. Or you can join clubs, sign up for intramural sports, etc.
@mikemac What are the transfer residence halls called? 
Btw, I’m in the same boat. I’m a Fall 2015 TAG transfer & I don’t know anybody personally who is at UCSB still, so I’m looking for a place to live where it would be easy to meet people and make friends. Let me know if you find anywhere!
@h95130f You can see the list of where they say they will put xfers at http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/community/transfer-student From the links in the upper right it looks like Manzanita Village is predominately non-frosh and and San Rafael has no frosh. So probably one of those two, although it would be a good idea to call them and ask.
One nice thing for a xfer point of view is this
So if you want you can avoid the hassle of finding a place in IV; start in the dorms to get a quick start as a new student, then keep UCSB as your landlord 2nd year in one of the apartments (and you only have to sign a 9-mos contract instead of the 1-year contract private places usually require). Downside is that UCSB doesn’t own any apts overlooking the ocean…
Hey! Current sophomore at UCSB! I would highly recommend living in the Transfer Community in San Rafael. It’s a great way to meet people just like you. It really helps to live with people in your situation, because you are going through the transition at the same time.
I live in a Manzanita Village house right now, and I think the environment on the “west side of campus” is great for older, non-frosh students. San Raf is more social than Manzanita, just due to layout. But I would definitely recommend not messing with housing in IV and just sticking with San Raf.
Hey letmein2015, do you know if transfer students are able to live in Manzanita Village? Is it a very small number? Thank you for your insight!
@InSearchOfUC Transfer students are definitely able to live in Manzanita. Most choose San Raf, but there are a sizable (don’t have exact number) number of transfers in Manzanita. It’s a nicer collection of houses, so it’s more desirable, in my opinion. The rooms are bigger and the views are great, but it’s a matter of if you care about the Transfer community or not. If it’s not a big deal, then I would vote Manzanita all the way. 
From what I saw when I visited the campus I totally agree with you. So I’m excited about potentially living there. Thank you for your swift reply! @letmein2015
@mikemac @letmein2015 Thanks guys! Just got admitted. Beyond excited!
Congrats!! You are going to love it!