I was accepted via Chancellor’s Reception. What are the dorm/apartment choices and how are they? I realize that the housing website has information available, but it’d be more accurate to hear from someone who isn’t just trying to promote UCSB.
I would love to know too - just attended Chancellor’s reception today in Costa Mesa - they told us that we all got in
I would highly recommend doing the Freshman Summer Start Program, which, if you do, you’ll be staying in the San Nicolas dorm for the whole year. If you don’t want to do the program, Manzanita is the nicest dorm IMO (but also the least social), while the shorties (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa) are very social and also nice.
@pmast25 I’m considering doing the program if I commit, but will it get me stuck in that dorm? Manzanita looks more attractive to me at the moment. I do want to make friends, though, so is it easy enough to meet people on campus/clubs rather than in the dorms?
As far as I know, it’s difficult but possible to switch dorms after FSSP. I know of several people who did FSSP with the intention of switching dorms after the program ended, but none actually ended up wanting to switch at the beginning of fall because all their friends were in San Nicolas. I’m currently a freshman, and I made just about all of my friends through FSSP, and I think it’s a fine place to live.
I’m not even sure Manzanita will be open to freshman next year – if it is, I’d still definitely recommend doing FSSP and staying in San Nicolas, especially since you’ll be a freshman. While Manzanita is the newest (and the nicest, IMO), it has the stereotype of being very anti-social, unlike every other dorm, and it’s going to be almost completely full of sophomores, with maybe a few freshman and upperclassmen (IF they even allow freshman this year). You’d still make friends I’m sure, but I don’t think you’ll be getting nearly the same experience that the freshmen in Santa Catalina and the res hall group San Nic/San Miguel/Santa Rosa/Anacapa/Santa Cruz will be getting.
I can give you a rundown of the dorms!
Santa Catalina aka Fuck Towers ;): Two tall towers with each resident sharing a room with one roommate, and having an adjacent room who shares a bathroom with them. There are boys and girls living on each floor, and it is the most social dorm. The RAs there are much more lax on drugs and alcohol than any other dorm, and many kids smoke in the bathroom (if that’s your thing). However, it is fairly far off campus, which sucks when you have to make an early class, the weather is not good, or if you have friends in any other freshman dorm so you constantly have to make a trip. Additionally, there is a dining commons attached called Portola that everybody hates, and there is construction going on all the time, which wakes many people up (may be done by next year, but I doubt it).
San Nic/ San Miguel: Both are also fairly tall (I forgot, but 9 or 10 stories it seems?). Not as social as FT or the shorties, but the rooms are doubles, which is nice if you don’t want an extra person. They are on campus next to the other freshman halls and dining commons. As far as appearance goes, neither the interior nor exterior are very nice in either hall, and if you live on a high floor you would have to take the elevator which gets annoying, so overall, I would say these res halls should be your second to last choice, right above Manzanita. Guys/girls live on the same floor.
Manzanita: On-campus, primarily sophomore residence hall. It is right next to the (arguably) best dining commons, Carillo, but is not a very good option for a freshman. There is little to no social life in Manzanita, and it really will just make your overall freshman experience worse off. Don’t do this.You will meet SO many people through your dorm - more than any other place by far - and you would not have this advantage at Manzi. Also, even if you join clubs/sports teams/whatever, you will meet people and have to make a long trip to them if you ever want to hangout. It really isn’t ideal.
Anacapa/Santa Cruz/Santa Rosa: These are the shorties (2 stories tall), and are a very good choice. Santa Cruz was recently remodeled (although I don’t like the remodel, the colors feel a bit cold, whereas Anacapa feels more warm and inviting), they are very social, and they are near campus. Each floor is separated into two wings, which each have two hook like things (imagine a swastika, and you have the Anacapa and Santa Cruz’s layout). Each arm of the swastika is for a different gender, so guys and girls are separated, although that isn’t much of a problem. Downside of the shorties is that they have community bathrooms, so your whole hall is going to be sharing the same bathroom. It isn’t really a problem when you take a shower and have a chat with your friends at the same time, but some people can blow up a bathroom, as you would probably guess. Santa Rosa is like the butthole of the shorties, so I’d stray far away from that if I were you.
As for FSSP, most people who enter thinking they will leave San Nic ended up staying. I’ve had friends who had a blast at FSSP going to school, meeting people with similar goals, and partying. Those kids tend to stay together to this day, which means that FSSP has formed solid friendships, and will most likely prevent you from even wanting to leave the hall. At the end of the day, the hall really doesn’t matter, it’s about the connections you have made with the people within the hall. This means that your experience is what you make of it - be social and make friends with everyone in your hall, and you’ll have a great time!