<p>So after a great deal of rejections from LAC's and Ivies alike, I'm coming to terms with my safeties and can actually say I'm getting excited again for college. I'm currently waitlisted at Claremont McKenna and Kenyon as well, but I'm not holding out for any miracles. Also got into some other UC's, but since I would rather have a liberal arts feel, I think CCS would be the best option UC-wise for me.</p>
<p>The College of Creative Studies seems like an amazing opportunity and a great fit, not to mention the money I'd be saving on in-state UC tuition. However, I didn't particularly fall in love with the rest of the campus or town, and definitely feel a disconnect with the rest of the student population, especially since I'm not a party enthusiast.</p>
<p>I've yet to visit Lewis & Clark and thus know less about it, but I have been to Portland and I absolutely love the city, local music scene, and rain. Although I did receive $10,000 from L & C, it is going to be a strain financially and we'll probably have to take out some loans. I'm not exactly sure where L & C stands academically, since it was literally a last minute safety application, but I guess I'll see more of that when I visit.</p>
<p>Does anyone know which programs would give me a better standing for grad school admissions? Or which schools have better English programs?</p>
<p>Any help/advice/thoughts would be appreciated.</p>
<p>sigh…my father would certainly agree with you. I don’t want to be in debt, but I guess I just had my heart set on an LAC, and it’s the only one I got accepted into.</p>
<p>All big schools can be made small if you socialize in smaller circles and opt for the smaller class options. UCSB is top 50 nationally. Lewis and Clark is not in the same class.</p>
<p>It’s apple and oranges, but Lewis & Clark is nevertheless a very good college. I’m constantly amazed with disbelief by people who try to compare small liberal arts colleges with large research universities. There are obvious contrasts and the wise student will determine for himself what those differences mean.</p>
<p>If it helps, L&C is within the Portland city limits, but it is not in downtown Portland at all. It is in a completely residential neighborhood quite a distance from any of the action you’re talking about.</p>
<p>I liked the school – but not enough to overcome the $$ difference you’re talking about.</p>
<p>OP, have you talked to the professors in the CCS program? Ask what happens to their graduates. Find out if most go to grad school, and if so, where. Ask how many stay in the program to the end. Talk to the students in the program. Ask them how they manage socially, and how they find their tribe. See if those answers work for you. </p>
<p>If you are strongly considering grad school in the humanities, you don’t want to take out significant loans for undergrad. I don’t know anything about Lewis & Clark’s English department reputation. I do know that Kenyon’s writing program is highly respected. It doesn’t make sense to take out loans to attend a program which isn’t as academically respected–though maybe I just don’t know that L&C is a gem in the field. </p>
<p>I’m a huge fan of CCS, which I think offers unique academic opportunities for a select cadre of students.</p>
<p>folks, the UCSB College of Creative Studies is like a small LAC within UCSB offering top notch education in small classes and seminars for a very special group of talented students:</p>
<p>“Courses offered by CCS are designed to allow students to rigorously explore or even modify a field of knowledge, rather than merely expose them to a predetermined quantity of fixed subject matter. Through intense creative work and research projects typically reserved for graduate school, students acquire a thorough comprehension of their discipline and are encouraged to begin making original contributions to the field. Most CCS classes are tutorials, studios and small seminars.”</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies! I will actually be visiting Lewis & Clark’s admit day this weekend, just in time for Record Store Day!
It seems like overall, CCS is a bit more rigorous academically, although I’m still not thrilled about the rest of the campus and its lack of a music scene. I think I can see myself being happy at either school, but since I do plan on going to grad school it’s looking more and more like CCS is the best option for me. Unless I fall head over heels this weekend…</p>
<p>Oh, that was one of the first places I went when I visited last summer. I was actually at Seattle for the Bumbershoot Festival (Dylan!), but wanted to see Portland before I left. I came out with a stack of books But I’ll be sure to go again!</p>
<p>I don’t think you can make a very strong case that L&C is an inferior school to UCSB. Once you include the costs I think that the UCSB case is much stronger.</p>
<p>I’m leaning more towards CCS, but part of my heart is still set in Portland, esp after visiting.</p>
<p>Can anyone testify as to how accessible and qualified the professors are at each of these schools?
I will be sitting in on a CCS class this week, but won’t get a chance to get back to L & C.</p>
<p>I see the schools as pretty comparable, although SB has a more widely recognized name.</p>
<p>I just spent about an hour looking at all my prospective English professors from each school. It seems like L & C has much more accessible professors who are well qualified, with a few exceptions. Most of them had at least one review saying this was the best teacher they had at the school. The CCS teachers had mixed reviews, were generally well-liked, but the classes seemed to be more like creative writing workshops rather than lectures and they were all rated fairly easy. I was under the impression that CCS would be more rigorous than L & C, but now I’m not so sure. These reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, though, I am aware. Esp since some of the posters weren’t even English majors.</p>
But I’ll be sure to go again!</p>