<p>I have a feeling this question gets asked alot but didn't really see a similar topic. I'm going to be transferring to either UCSB or UCSD next year as a junior. I've visited SB one time and LOOOVED the campus. However, I do not party at all or drink. I'm just not very social. I was just wondering if the fact that I don't love to party will lead to me being bored within a few weeks of being there. I had such a great time when I visited but I was only there for a little less than two days. If there is anybody like me who doesn't party or whatever, I would love to hear your answers.</p>
<p>Also, if I do go to UCSB, would you recommend dorms or an apartment? I'm sort of leaning toward dorms cuz I feel like it would sort of force me to be more social.</p>
<p>there’s always a great effort put on by the campus to provide ‘alternatives’ to the party scene; whether it be social events, workshops, or improvability, there’s always something going on other than drinking on friday nights. although these are usually centered on campus or geared towards lower classmen, anyone goes. </p>
<p>as far as on campus or living in IV, i would usually say go for IV for juniors. but since you are going to be a transfer, i gonna suggest choosing SAN RAFAEL (specifically for transfers).</p>
<p>oh and don’t choose ucsd, sb is better; especially if you want to learn to be more social.</p>
<p>Well, this year we don’t have a “transfer floor” in San Rafael - too many continuing students. I don’t even think on-campus housing is an option for transfer students anymore, but there are the university-owned apartments (Santa Ynez, San Clemente, etc.).</p>
<p>Something that I probably should have considered more was whether SB’s suburban feel was something I liked… I don’t mind being here, it’s just that when I head back to the SF bay area, I feel like I’m missing out on a lot by being outside a big city. San Diego might have an edge there.</p>
<p>The number of people who don’t drink/party here are so underrepresented. What I mean by that is that there are so many of us who don’t. About 20% of the school is completely sober (that’s about 4,000 people). Almost all of my friends here don’t drink at all and few of them party. We are not considered “losers” and we have a good time regardless of our life choices.</p>
<p>The school is also very good towards non-partiers. It makes a huge effort to put on events/activities for those who don’t party (and no, they’re not lame).I personally love attending the stand-up comedy shows on the weekend. Some of the school events going on during Halloween were, in my opinion, more fun than what was going on in IV. The school’s not just providing activities for non-partiers, it seems to be actively trying to kill the party reputation. This year’s Halloween, due to various regulations, was the smallest in a long time I think. 25,000 people compared to last year’s 45,000.</p>
<p>Although you do have to be somewhat resistant to peer pressure. It might feel like you’re overwhelmed with partiers/alcoholics/etc sometimes. There’s definitely a lot of those who are stereotypical “sex, booze, partying” people here. It’s unfortunate that outlets like the Daily Nexus newspaper promote this image. If you have any kind of self-control at all, this won’t be too much of a problem. Lastly, don’t demonize these activities. Remember that everyone going to this school must have been very talented to even be admitted.</p>
<p>well, honestly, the party scene starts to get old even for people who do party. I’m a freshman who partied my ass off for the first month, but then everything just got kind of repetitive not to mention ive been afraid of the cops cuz i got busted with weed the first friday there. You won’t get bored at SB if you come in as a freshman just because you’re bound to meet so many people. I’ve heard bad stories though from people who came in as transfers.</p>
<p>I’m pretty anti social, especially when I was in junior college (I’m a transfer student). There are plenty of people who don’t drink at UCSB. That whole “UCSB is a party school” thing is nonsense, sure theres Isla Vista, but UCSB is also an amazing school to go to for an education. Going back to being anti social. I got lucky and got a room in the graduate apartments and I share my apartment with 3 other students. They all had there clicks of friends already so it kinda sucked for me during the first 2 weeks when I didn’t know anyone. However they were cool and let me go out with them and their friends even though I don’t hang out with any of those guys anymore lol. I was pretty lonely those first few days before school started but once it did start I was plenty busy studying etc. But I crashed an intramural sports class and joined a few clubs and met some awesome people and have some good friends now and iv only been at UCSB for 3 months. As far as being bored, no way. There is lots of stuff to do like: Checking out the beaches, going down to state street in Santa Barbara, movie nights at the Magic Lantern Theater, studying takes up a lot of time, school clubs, concerts, I saw John Lenguizamo do stand up at one of the UCSB theatres and it was awesome, and your housing department will probably put on functions. I rarely go to parties, maybe once every 2-3 weeks. I don’t go out and get drunk or black out, just a few drinks spaced out through-out the night. But you don’t have to drink or even go to Isla Vista, I personally would HATE to live there.</p>
<p>Regarding dorms vs. apartments:
Like I said before I live in San Clemente, the graduate apartments. I was originally going to stay in Santa Ynez but an opening freed up the last minute for San Clamente and I took it. I pay an extra $200 bucks a month for my own room rather then sharing a room with 1/2 people like I would have had to do in Santa Ynez. Best decision I have made in my UCSB career, I love my place. San Clemente is generally really quiet because its mostly grad students which is nice, especially when I’m trying to go to sleep. On the other hand I have never met my neighbors because the grad school students are not trying to make friends like freshmen or transfer students would so that kinda sucks. All in all I would say, if you can afford it get an apartment. All my friends who stayed in dorms their first year said it sucked.</p>
<p>Go to the transfer functions that the campus puts on if you want to meet people. However, I never had time for them so I can’t tell you about them. Remember, all the transfer students are looking to make friends because they are all in the same position you will be in.</p>