<p>Anyone currently in the marine biology program? I'm really struggling to make the decision between UCSB and UCSC. </p>
<p>I would love it if someone had any insight regarding how hands on the program at SC is, how abundant the undergrad research opportunities are, what the lab's like, etc. Just anything/everything you can think of. </p>
<p>I'd greatly appreciate an insider's view on things. Thanks!</p>
<p>I am an Ecology and Evolution major (but I’m practically Marine Bio). I think we have a really amazing program here. As an undergrad you have a lot of different opportunities to volunteer in labs, including some nation (possibly world) known labs with marine mammal physiology and pinniped cognition. The EEB (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) faculty is really nice, and I’ve never had a problem approaching any of them for help. </p>
<p>Monterey Bay is one of the most diverse and productive areas of water in the world, so it makes it an amazing location to do all sorts of marine related research. If you do end up choosing UCSC I would also recommend trying to volunteer at the Seymour Center. I started volunteering there in October, and have loved being there. It has given me a wonderful opportunity to meet a lot of the researchers that don’t normally teach classes and get to know a lot about the research that is being done here. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll do my best to answer them!(:</p>
<p>To add to that (I’m also an EEB major), most marine bio majors here get diving certified and get to take classes that require diving. If you get to know some of your TAs (especially in upper division classes), they tend to go on dives a lot too, so chatting them up is great and gives you the opportunities to get involved in research that way as well.</p>
<p>And yeah, most of the faculty in the EEB department (which includes marine bio) work out of the Long Marine Lab/Seymour Center/Center for Ocean Health, so getting involved as a volunteer/intern there is a great way to get to know faculty and again, maybe get involved in their research.
In terms of classes, most of the labs are off campus at the LML/COH, which means you are even closer to the ocean and labs that professors are actually working out of.
Overall, I think it’s a great program and is in the perfect location for such a major.</p>