<p>I hate coming up with titles for my questions.
Does UCSC have any activities that bring the whole campus together or are activities/identities based around the dorm/college grouping?<br>
I don't recall a "quad" type area when I was there with my D, but maybe we missed it.</p>
<p>There’s several quad areas around the campus :). There’s at least one (sometimes more) in all ten of the residential colleges and there’s Quarry Plaza (where the bookstore on campus is) as well which often serves as a common meeting ground. You’re not going to find any quad area, though, that could hold the entire undergrad student body.</p>
<p>Events vary, but each college will hold its own events. Sometimes all from around campus are welcome to participate, sometimes the events are only for affiliates. There was a carnival type of event held over at Kresge a few weeks ago. One of the signs I saw advertised they were going to even have a bounce house. There are some school-wide things and department based things as well. Many events will have the information posted online (but not all).</p>
<p>There’s also First Rain, but that’s not an official event and not exactly an activity many parents would approve of. But it does seem to bring the whole campus together!</p>
<p>Ha, yes I’ve heard of that, and read a funny thread on it somewhere on the vagaries of what counts as rain- sprinkles, downpour? False starts were to be avoided. My neighbor’s son participated and told us all about it :)</p>
<p>Do you know what kind of support your soccer teams get?</p>
<p>Also, what kind of live music events are there? I don’t mean classical, but more rock based. My own fond memories of college were the outdoor, enjoy the sun while a band played kind of events. Cal Poly guides were talking about their nice performing arts center. Then I checked the prices. Charging students $$$ isn’t what I was hoping for.</p>
<p>My D liked the beauty of the Campus, the sense that the campus most likely would not attract a superficial crowd, and the proximity to the ocean. Now she’s trying to get a better understanding of the FUN part of it.</p>
<p>Haha, yeah, False Starts are very bad. The school administration looks the other way for this tradition (it is technically indecent exposure and could be punished), but the False Starts cause the administration to be not so happy and more likely to not look the other way anymore. I think my main issue is that so few remember why it started and it’s just become a “run naked in the rain” event for most. I don’t participate myself, but it is a tradition I would be sad if it was gone. Getting the right rain is a huge problem too. Usually it happens in October, but it didn’t happen until early in winter quarter this year. Good to see a parent who finds the humor in it all :)</p>
<p>For more well known groups, you don’t hear much about them. However, there are a lot of concerts up at the Shark Tank in San Jose and it’s an easy ride up there (highway 17 bus takes you right to SJ Down Town and in spitting distance of the Shark Tank; it’s about an hour ride). I’ve seen a lot of fliers for local groups, but it’s difficult to tell what genre they are. Hopefully someone will have more information on that. As much as I love music, I’m rather busy with my classes (I take excessive units most of the time).</p>
<p>Athletics would be able to better someone else in detail, but I do know that we’re a NCAA Division III school (apparently the only on in the UC system according to the athletics website). So sports aren’t a big thing, but we do have some sports. Soccer is included, though :). I hear the most about lacross.</p>
<p>Women’s soccer information: [UC</a> Santa Cruz Athletics](<a href=“http://www.goslugs.com/teams/soccer/women/wsoc.html]UC”>http://www.goslugs.com/teams/soccer/women/wsoc.html)</p>
<p>UCSC is definitely an absolutely breathtaking campus for those who don’t mind being in a forest. Some of the views of the ocean on a clear day are so beautiful. There’s really not as much to do as you might find in the bigger cities, but there is plenty for the person who seeks them out (or is like and likes the lack of distractions). There are a lot of clubs and other activities to participate in. Sadly, sometimes fees do have to be charged to attend some events (or even certain clubs), but that has to do with the cost of putting them on. For clubs, most of them if they charge a fee will nearly always allow the first drop in to be free (I’ve yet to see it otherwise). For performances, it varies, but for the most part the fees for at least plays are already included in our student fees. There’s nearly always a very reduced rate for students if there is a fee.</p>
<p>There are summer bands on the beach in, well, the summer, but these are not always bands many have heard of (older bands that were well known in their time, though). They’re free, but in the summer when many students are gone. The Regal movie theater down town is also known to show “flashback movies” every Thursday evening starting from about March to sometime in the fall. Last I went to one (Blazing Saddles), it was $5 for the ticket. Not bad considering that a lot of evening tickets at movie theaters are starting to run $10+ nowadays.</p>
<p>If your daughter is in to good, fresh food, I highly recommend Santa Cruz’s farmers markets. Prices are usually reasonable and I’ve yet to not like what I’ve bought. I cannot recommend the vendor Scream Sorbet enough. Delicious, but sometimes odd sounding flavors with the texture of ice cream. All ingredients the company uses are from local farms so the flavors are seasonal.</p>
<p>Sorry for the digression, I’ve missed my Scream Sorbet treat since they left the down town market for the winter… Anywho, there is both a lot to do and not much to do at all. It really depends on one’s interests and how much one is willing to go out and find things to do. The isolation of campus while a blessing for safety is also a hindrance in easily doing activities that are off campus. We do get free use of the county bus system, though :)</p>
<p>Sorry I can’t offer more information on activities. My time is taken up by my classes and the performances I help with so I don’t get to do much and often prefer to relax during my free time (theatre arts and literature double major). I really hope someone else who does participate in these things takes the time to answer how their experience was with the things your daughter is interested in.</p>
<p>EDIT: Just wanted to add something that doesn’t seem to be as well known as it should be. The study abroad programs at all the UCs are available to all UC students. One is not limited to only their UC’s study abroad options (if this is something your daughter might be interested in).</p>
<p>Honestly 4/20 is seriously the only event where EVERYONE gets together. It’s really cool, and then you’ll realize it’s actually pretty sad, because you’ll wonder why more people don’t get together like that more often. It’s unfortunate there aren’t more things like that… well, where there is truly a community sense across the whole campus. The first rain is sort-of that way, but not that many people do it, and it’s typically dreadfully cold, so it’s not too conducive for groups of people and large amounts of fun. Plus you’re all naked.</p>
<p>Most events are coordinated by colleges, and so they can be pretty exclusive, and you won’t know about them except for your own college. I’ve never liked that attitude about the College system there, but it can be kind of cool. An up-and-comer would be Rock and Roll on the Knoll. Never been, but it’s always sounded pretty awesome, and it’s in the most legit spot ever for a show of sort.</p>
<p>Psh, not everyone goes to 4/20 just like not everyone participates in First Rain. Many people do avoid it and are deeply annoyed bus services to the west side of campus are limited (and guests are limited) during that time. Several of those who show up are ones who snuck onto campus and have zero affiliation with it. First Rain is usually just UCSC students (highly likely this is related to it being unpredictable when it will happen until the day it happens, though).</p>
<p>Besides, I don’t think Porter Meadow could even hold everyone. Everyone would be about 16,000 people (give or take) just counting the undergraduates.</p>
<p>maenidmom:
Here’s a good example of a school wide event we having coming up in May 
(one that is actually sanctioned by the school)
[Carnival</a> Cruz and the Prediction Walk/Run](<a href=“http://wellness.ucsc.edu/index.php/carnival-cruz.html]Carnival”>http://wellness.ucsc.edu/index.php/carnival-cruz.html)</p>
<p>That website also has some information about other events that the Wellness Center puts on. Also you can find other activities here: [UC</a> Santa Cruz - Office Of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports](<a href=“http://www2.ucsc.edu/opers/]UC”>Athletics and Recreation)</p>
<p>Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I will check out the links. My daughter has spent last two days saying she’s pretty sure she will go to santa cruz and has been checking out the colleges. But she is a fickle girl and gets freaked about big decisions. So, I’m just trying to be pleasant and let her air the emerging concerns.</p>
<p>I really think the school offers what is important. She has an image in her head about what college should be like. We’ve gone over it point by point. Fingers crossed…</p>