<p>I am currently deciding what UC's to apply to. I have visited UCSB and UCLA. I absolutely loved UCSB and was a little iffy on UCLA. Unfortunately, I will not be able to visit UCSC because it is too far and I don't have time. So my question is, in a way, is UCSC similar to UCSB and does it have a pretty enjoyable/relaxing environment? I'm not expecting it to be exactly like SB, but I would like a general idea.</p>
<p>It’s SoCal versus NorCal. The two are very different in many ways.</p>
<p>For one major campus difference, UCSC is in a forest that overlooks the Pacific a few miles away. For another, the weather is quite different. Much more foggy in the summer and more wet in the winter.</p>
<p>Are you sure there’s no way you can visit even after application? It’s one of those campuses one should really visit to know if it’s the right place for them.</p>
<p>While UCSB has views of a mountain range, it is a very flat campus with a lot of paved bike paths for easy riding. If you bring a car, there are many multi-story parking garages. There is beach access next to campus, and the campus spills right into Isla Vista and the town of Goleta with it’s Costco and other big box shopping options. It does get it’s share of morning fog in the Summer, but overall is warmer and drier than Santa Cruz.</p>
<p>UCSC is a very spread out wooded campus. It is on a hill set back a few miles from the beach, although it does have ocean views. The campus is hilly and probably not as easy to travel on bike unless one is used to cycling. The university limits parking and does not want students residing on campus to bring cars. There are buses that continually loop campus, and students need to be prepared to walk anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes to get to various places on campus. It is a very different feel from UCSB. While I would encourage you to apply, I certainly would implore you to visit before choosing to go there if you are accepted.</p>
<p>My daughter grew up spending a lot of time on the UCSB campus and my husband is an alumni. However, being accepted at both schools, she chose UCSC in order to have a different experience. She has been on the UCSC campus on many occasions and is well aware of the environment and logistics involved in traversing the campus. I have only been on the Santa Cruz campus on a few occasions, but the students seem nice, happy, helpful and welcoming. It appears to be a laid back and “live and let live” type of environment. I’ll go out on a limb and suggest it is a more relaxed environment than UCSB.</p>
<p>If you use a mapping program with satellite view option you will see the differences immediately. On an iPad you can go on Maps and type in the campus, pick satellite view and you can then zoom in an even see the buildings. The differences are noticeable.</p>
<p>Good luck with your upcoming applications and decision-making. My last word of advice is to visit whatever campus you plan to attend before you submit an SIR. While time and money may seem a hurdle to visit a campus, it is nominal compared to the time and money commitment of a first year of college attendance. You can’t possibly know how you will feel about a particular campus until you spend time there.</p>
<p>We visited both campuses during the application process. They are really nothing alike at all. My daughter much preferred UCSC - loved it in fact. You can certainly apply without visiting but I would visit before making a decision where to attend. UCSC campus is not like anywhere else.</p>