<p>Ok, so I have a few questions about UCSC. More than likely I'm going to be going to UCSC, unless I get into UCD (I'm waitlisted). I'm moving to Santa Cruz in late July (almost two months before school starts). I'm going to be living off campus in an apartment with my cousin who I'm practically brothers with and does not go to UCSC. I have never lived in California (stating the obvious, but I'm OOS), so I don't know many people. I know a few people in Calfornia, but no one who goes to UCSC.</p>
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<li><p>First off, my parents are helping my move out to California (yes, I'm moving permanently). They're staying for about a week and then flying back home. While they're there they wanted to tour the campus. Not really the buildings (definitely not the dorms), mainly just the outside of the campus. Now, UCSC being notorious for pot, will there be any issue with the campus smelling like pot in late July/early August during broad daylight? I'd assume that it wouldn't be as bad/nonexistent since the majority of students won't be there. My parents know that there will be drugs/alcohol at the school and are fine with that. They think I'm straight edge etc (little do they know) and assume I won't partake. However, I don't think that they know the reputation that UCSC has. I would just like to be prepared and know if we will run into this.</p></li>
<li><p>Parties. I've read up a bit on parties and know the gist about them (size etc). However, I've heard that during welcome week there are a lot of parties that go on. Being from OOS, where do these parties take place and how hard would it be to get into one? Also, being from OOS and living off campus, would it be difficult to find parties? </p></li>
<li><p>Girls. I'm sure most guys have had this question. From what I've heard the looks of a girl vary pretty widely. </p>
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<li>I have friends that go to other universities (I took a gap year) and hear about the parties, frat life, etc. Are the majority of girls looking for steady partners/relationships, f*** buddies, or drunken one night stands?</li>
<li>Are most girls in general and also freshmen (address each seperately, please) already in relationships or are they single and ready to mingle.</li>
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<li><p>Drugs. I assum it's fairly easy to acquire drugs at UCSC. Are hallucinogens popular at UCSD (shrooms, LSD)?</p></li>
<li><p>People. Are the people generally nice/easy to befriend?</p></li>
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<p>(I’m a high school senior from San Diego going to SC next year, my answers are all based off of the tons of research I’ve done, what I’ve heard from a friend who’s there currently, and the campus tour I took a few weeks back)</p>
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<li><p>From the tour I took, I never caught so much as a whiff, but I wouldn’t be surprised if your experience was different. You might want to warn them just in case, I suppose. Otherwise, avoid the redwood groves?</p></li>
<li><p>There are 10 residential colleges. Just about everyone says that Cowell and Stevenson are the party colleges. You’ll be able to find parties if you dorm there, basically.</p></li>
<li><p>no idea, also I don’t care.</p></li>
<li><p>probably. If it’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it. Don’t worry about availability.</p></li>
<li><p>Yep :] From all I’ve heard, and being a CA resident (and having heard about how people’s attitudes in other places are a bit different), people are very friendly. Basically, it’s really laid-back and relaxed.</p></li>
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<li><p>I really doubt that you will smell weed just out in the open at SC. People don’t want to get busted, so most of the time smoking is confined to dorm rooms (which you can definitely smell and/or get busted) or out in the woods at night. I think 90% of the time I smelled weed at SC was in the dormrooms and some students are HORRIBLE at trying to hide it. This happens everywhere, though. I’ve visited my friends at Berkeley and the hallways of the dorms reeked of weed. Your parents won’t notice anything on campus and you can always blame the smell on skunks/nature.</p></li>
<li><p>Most of the parties happen off-campus. That’s because dorms have pretty strict rules with noise and if you try to throw a party on campus, it will probably get shut down quick. It’s a little easier at some of the on-campus apartments, but those normally get shutdown as well. That being said, you need connections to get into nearly all of the off campus parties. Santa Cruz isn’t a college town, so there are tons of houses where non-college students live. You can’t just go driving by houses looking for parties. If you’re a decent looking girl, then getting into/finding parties is pretty easy. If you’re a dude without any connections or friends with connections, you probably won’t go. If you really want to go to a big party, then my advice is to either join a frat or make as many friends as you can and quick (especially girls). Otherwise, the best you can find is probably a chill hangout at someones place with drinks and etc (some people prefer this).</p></li>
<li><p>So you’ll never find an answer for this question. All girls differ and college is a mixed bag full of all of them. I think you’ve been watching too many movies/tv shows about college.</p></li>
<li><p>Again, you need connections. You can probably acquire stuff through friends, but there’s not just some type of open market where you can buy this kind of stuff on campus. I think you might be thinking of UCSC as a place that only has weed/parties and not much for the academia.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, generally people are pretty nice and are open to meet new people. It’s college, people want to have a good time. Act like yourself and people will appreciate that. I’ve seen so many kids try to reinvent themselves to be the “cool kid” when they start college and those are the students who always have the worst time. People don’t want to be friends with posers.</p></li>
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