<p>Posted it somewhere else :S</p>
<p>I think you should all know when picking colleges if you put Merrill in your top three you will get put into Merrill.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong I love Merrill its a great college filled with great people, but if you have your heart set on Cowell or Porter don’t put Merrill in your top three</p>
<p>Kender-</p>
<p>I see what you mean. It’s not unlikely that I was just with the wrong crowd; I simply found it frustrating at the time to be sucked into that vaccuum, especially since the other places were more appealing.</p>
<p>@kender</p>
<p>I know two friends personally who transferred from porter after one quarter because the drug scene was overwhelming. They are much happier at Cowell/Stevenson and say the difference is like night and day.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to agree with Kender. I’m at Porter and got stuck (I say stuck because I didn’t want to be here) in the women’s hall and only 5-6 girls do drugs or drink. I have been offered, yes, but nobody was shoving anything down my throat and the people that do drink do a decent job of staying out of the way. Like I’ve said before, if you’re not into stuff like that, it’s not that hard to find people like you.</p>
<p>Of course, if you never ever want to see a drunk person or smell a hint of weed on certain floors, then no, Porter is not for you. Maybe I just got lucky and ended up with a good group of friends. Or maybe I just have amazing self-control =p</p>
<p>Cali Trumpet: I’m not saying it doesn’t exist. I’m saying that it’s not as “everyone does it and they will make you do it” as some posts suggest. I have personally never seen it even being used myself. I have smelled it twice filtering in through my open window and that’s it. I have never seen anyone wandering around drunk either. That experience of mine has been limited to conventions which, trust me, have far more drunks than any college could ever fear to produce. I seem to be one of the lucky ones, but I’m more of the mindset it is because of who I surround myself with and what I choose to do with my free time.</p>
<p>Everyone has different experiences. And I mean no disrespect when I point out that your two friends you “know personally” had the experience that they felt warranted a college change from Porter. Not you. I am not doubting what they saw, but I am more inclined to believe it is because of who they chose to surround themselves with and what they chose to go out and participate in. I study. I don’t party. All my friends live between 50 miles to over 2,000 miles away and I have no desire to go out of my way to make any other connections here at school because it is hard enough keeping up with everyone else I know and care about. Thus I have little interactions with anyone here outside of academic related adventures. Although my hallmates do occasionally talk me into going out with them to see movies downtown.</p>
<p>Just because one person has experienced something does not mean all will. That is all my point was. I truly feel sorry that brythellama had such a bad experience and I would guess since that interaction was related to friends already here, brythellama would be better off somewhere else. That would indicate to me a repeat experience might occur based on the precedent of who brythellama has already spent time with.</p>
<p>As an aside, the only “bad smell” I have been forced to inhale while walking on the floor I live on was the center hall absolutely reeking of uncleanliness. It was quite hilarious how after a parents’ day, the hall suddenly smelled exceptionally fresh. I’m guessing the kiddos were finally made to wash their sheets and clothes ;). My hall always smells clean despite being a hangout for the rest of the floor and some individuals from the other floors. But most of us bathe and do our laundry quite regularly to my knowledge.</p>
<p>However, one could also argue my thinking is more due to my age and life experiences than anything else. But I would have felt the same way as an 18 year old freshman as I do as an older transfer student. And I probably would have been more of a recluse due to personal life issues going on at that young age for me.</p>
<p>brythellama: I definitely agree you’ll probably be happier at a different college if the people you first met here were of a variety you did not like. I would point out that if they had (or ever did) try to force you to try something, I would be more than incredibly surprised. Granted, those individuals probably exist, I won’t deny it even though I have never met them, they are definitely not the rule. In any case, I just wanted to give you a different perspective that not everyone are unfortunate enough to go through here what you did.</p>
<p>My suggestion would be if such things really bother you, request a substance free hall where ever you end up. Although there is no guarantee the rules will be followed, there is a better chance of the hall remaining clean. The other colleges (just as other college campuses) are not immune to having their own substance abuse.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m trying to decide between stevenson and Cowell for my top 2 (the rest of my top 5 are 9 10 and 8, in that order). Can anyone tell me the differences between those 2, like atmosphere and people and stuff? all I’ve heard about stevenson is it’s “jewish”. That’s not exactly helpful :/</p>
<p>I’m kindof worried about the drug scene at Porter…, is it really all that prevalent? I have no problem what-so-ever with weed, buuuuut yeeah, other stuff I am more wary about. </p>
<p>How is it at Porter as compared to Kresge?
Any in-put will help with my college choice!</p>
<p>^If you have a problem with “other stuff”, then Kresge is not the place for you, just sayin. They tend to be known for more hard drugs than Porter, but I don’t know from experience what it’s like up there. </p>
<p>From people I know at Porter telling me about how great the parties are up at Kresge, though, should tell you something. But again, I can’t say for sure what goes on up there.</p>
<p>^Alright that helps, so thank you!</p>
<p>Starfire , I can’t help you with comparisons, but Stevenson is a great college. Most are not Jewish, but they do hold Jewish services there for the holidays. It is well worth checking out. Wonderful people there, hope you check it out.</p>
<p>I’ve read through a lot of these posts, and I just wanted to throw out what kind of a person I am and what sort of college sounds right for me?..HELP!</p>
<p>-I’m a white girl from LA
-Really really open-minded and liberal. I love nature but the super eccentric hippie type sort of annoy me. I’m down to earth.
-I like partying, I smoke cigarettes and weed (not a whole lot), and I drink, and occasionally other things. I want to be around lots of social events.
-Even though I’m a social person, when I need to study, I get down to business.
-Love trying new things, I’m kind of a geek but don’t really want to be trapped with people nerdier than myself 
-Majoring in Economics or Intl Relations, not sure yet, want to be fluent in Arabic, Mandarin (I know a bit), and French (almost fluent) by the end of college</p>
<p>I’m thinking Porter maybe? College 9/10? I don’t really care about having a nice dorm, although it would be nice.</p>
<p>i felt like you just described me (other than the cigarette and major part)! my top 5 were porter, kresge, 8 10 and cowell. i don’t really know the difference between 9 and 10 but i figured i would throw cowell in there since it is different from 10 and 9.</p>
<p>@boldaslove00</p>
<p>Sounds like C8 might be a good fit for you, or Cowell/Stevenson</p>
<p>Hello!
I am planning to attend UCSC next year and don’t know which college to choose. I love the location and architecture at both Cowell and Stevenson but don’t know which one to choose. How much should our decision be based on the core courses? Has anyone heard anything that might sway my decision? Thanks!</p>
<p>Your core course barely matters. Maybe a bit more in the case of Stevenson, since it lasts for two quarters, but it also fulfills all of the college writing requirements, so that’s fair. Dunno anything else that might sway your view.</p>
<p>i ranked my UCSC colleges in this order, respectively: Cowell, Stevenson, C8, C9, C10.
i chose cowell and stevenson as top 2 because they are close to the gym and i love lifting weights and keeping in good shape.
@boldaslove00: yes also sounds like you described me as well. im a guy, definitely conservative, work hard/play hard. definitely dont mind a social event but not a pothead/druggie, etc.</p>
<p>staying in cowell.
anyone else?</p>
<p>I lived in College 9 before when I went to COSMOS…it was the BEST dorm ever! I couldn’t believe how amazing the experience was. The rooms were clean and big, the cafeteria is nearby…and some stray deers come over to the quad! It was just totally awesome.
Go College NINE!</p>
<p>Hey! I am totally fine being around weed, alcohol and all that jazz, and understand that it’s my choice to do them regardless of the environment. I’m planning to major in environmental studies, and am digging Kresge and Porter. So the question is, what’s the differences between Kresge and Porter?</p>