<p>Does anyone have any idea about how UCBS house exchange students? How common are single rooms? Ideally i'd prefer a single room as i'll be a bit older than all the freshmen. Could anyone recommend which dorms are the most social/best party scene? I've heard Santa Catalina is supposed to be good?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure Santa Catalina is only for freshmen and there are no single rooms there unless you are an RA. The older students are in campus apartments. I do know there is an ‘international’ apartment (I don’t think all internationals go there, necessarily, but many others are in private apartments I think or other private arrangements. I’m pretty sure they can be with their class anywhere.) I have very little knowledge about housing for exchange students beyond the international student apartments, though. Maybe someone else will. Those are not strictly speaking dorms, and the upper class stuff is less socially oriented, but it’s all UCSB and UCSB is socially oriented. I would think there would be events for exchange students, who are new in the same way transfer students and freshmen are.</p>
<p>whoops, here you go, the other is for international full students, this is for exchange students <a href=“http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/community/education-abroad-student”>http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/community/education-abroad-student</a></p>
<p>San Rafael and Manzanita halls, and you can ask for a single.</p>
<p>Thanks very much, this is very useful. Also, i was just wondering about your opinion on private apartments? I’ve been looking on craigslist etc and there seems to be some great deals - single room, nice apartment, by the beach etc. Is it common for exchange students to do that? Any advice you’d have on private housing?</p>
<p>In the link I posted above is an inner link with tips for international students interested in private apartments (note you can also apply for University apartments, but have no guarantee of getting one.) <a href=“http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/housing-tips-international-students”>http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/housing-tips-international-students</a></p>
<p>I don’t know how long you plan to stay - some come for a year, others for a quarter. The latter will be tough to find a lease to match unless you are lucky (someone who only needs a quarter more to graduate, etc.) I will add to the list of tips that when prices are mentioned make sure you know if you are paying for a ROOM or a BED with a roommate. Often the bed price will be listed, assuming two people to a room.</p>
<p>I didn’t rent in a private place, I was in FT (now Santa Catalina) then in a sorority. My brother did, after his first year in the dorms and loved it (he rented one of the oceanside places on Del Playa with six other guys.) I know people who rented and it is generally fine, but note that some of the furnishings can be shabby if you are getting furnished, so you might ask how recent the pictures you are looking at are, or if they can snap and text one now, from their phone. Or you might not care all that much about shabby, it is just that you are kinda far to drop by for a visit. </p>
<p>You have fewer socialization opportunities in private apartments, but it can be great if you are outgoing in class etc. or get good apartment mates. If you aren’t outgoing, then know that about yourself, and University housing might be better, socially. Just my two cents, and I hope others will jump in, since my personal experience there was a while ago.</p>
<p>Looking into it, i’m really liking the look of the undergraduate apartments. I think they might be a little better suited as i’ll be nearly 21 and have lived on my own for the past 2 years so not sure i’d want to live with a bunch of freshmen! Question though, how are they so much cheaper than dorms?! </p>
<p>Probably because of centralized location at UCSB (the freshman dorms are right in the middle of everything) and no maid service, possibly? Activity fees for all the dorm events? Not really sure…</p>
<p>Note that you may or may not get those so you should have back up ideas. They are building more but the ones that were supposed to open this year won’t open until next year, after all.</p>
<p>The dorm price includes a meal plan, re cost.</p>
<p>And I don’t think San Rafael takes freshmen although Manzanita might</p>
<p>Be very careful of Craigslist ads, I’ve heard of people being scammed with fake property listings. Housing near campus is brutally expensive, making the university owned properties more attractive. Plus most of the undergraduate apartments have study areas and other amenities so you won’t have to fight for space in the library.</p>