Looking at studying abroad in University of California

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hey, so I’m looking at studying abroad at University of California but I have to pick 3 campuses. I understand which different campuses are known but i’m more interested in the social aspect of the universities. Which campuses do you guys recommend? I surf and skate in my spare time but I’m also an A grade student. I’m thinking UCSB, UCLA and kind of stuck on the last choice. Also for each campus where is the better place to stay? I’ve heard for UCSB, Isla vista is a good place to stay but can also be difficult to find accomodation.

2

I would recommend UC Berkeley for your 3rd choice. It’s a famous campus, beautifully situated on the other side of the bay from San Francisco. No skating and very limited surfing, but you’ve got great hilly trails behind the campus for hiking, sailing on the SF Bay, all the excitement of San Francisco, the wine country a couple of hours away, the coast… It’s a very interesting, beautiful area.

By the way, if you plan to surf anywhere in California – including Santa Barbara or LA – bring a wet suit (or prepare to rent one.) The Pacific is cold. (Unlike what you’ve seen in the movies.)

3

UCSD is great for surfing and it’s in a gorgeous area.

4

thanks for the info and replies guys.

5

If you go to southern California, find somebody who has a Costco membership (it won’t be hard)- they sell really good quality wet suits at a very affordable price! My SIL, who has been surfing since her HS surf team (yup, that’s a thing out there- and their away meets are at amazing places…), swears by them.

6

UCI is next to Newport Beach and about 10 minutes away from Huntington Beach is also known as Surfcity.

7

Santa Barbara is the dream. Have fun!

8

Uci and ucsd for surfing, plus one. Is it a year or a semester abroad ?

9

I’ll be studying abroad for a year and thanks for the info

10

You can carry your surfboard from any UCSD dorm room and walk down to the beach to surf.
The dorms on the west side near North Torrey Pines Road are closer.

See map:

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8800604,-117.2340135,15z

And UCSB is closest to the beach:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/University+of+California,+Santa+Barbara/@34.4139629,-119.848947,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x4e956b7e5cb6cec2

11

Wow, I don’t recall the dorms being that close to the beach at UCSD unless they’ve added dorms on LaJolla Shores.

12

Don’t be offended. She deleted her post.

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/feature/uc_san_diego_rides_wave_of_recognition_as_top_surfing_school

https://recreation.ucsd.edu/registration/index.php?location=list&user_area=3&main_cat=100&sub_cat=212

http://theodysseyonline.com/uc-san-diego/ucsd-beach-guide/62294

Walking to the beaches from UCSD takes some time. But there are other options: campus buses, city buses, car pool.
Some students do walk together though. Students used to be able to walk straight to the beach 10-20 years ago. Now the residential homes block that beach access.

13

My kid took surfing class there even before she had access to a car. And Mr GOPRO was a surfer guy there, that’s what attracted him to UCSD before he became CEO.

14

Thank you so much for this info guys, it’s actually helped a tonne!

15

UC Santa Cruz.

16

http://www.ucsc.edu/about/mascot.html

Go Banana Slugs!