<p>Excluding UCLA, which of the UCs do you feel has the best mix of a social life and academics?</p>
<p>UCLA is a reach school for me (I'm OOS), so I'd like to explore other options such as SD/SB/Irvine/Cal. I've visited all of the campuses, but campus tours don't really give you a good look on student life.</p>
<p>well, ucsd academics>>>>>> social. even the frats are 20 min drive off campus or something</p>
<p>UC Davis. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>all of them EXCEPT UCSD and UCI (so i hear). I think the best mix, if you're into social stuff AND academics, is UCSB. SB is really underrated academically and has a great social atmosphere.</p>
<p>Crap. I didn't apply to Davis.</p>
<p>I was swayed by a relative that Davis was quite similar to Texas A&M: hickish, out in the middle of nowhere, the Aggies (like TAMU) with nothing much to offer academic-wise. Regardless, I should have applied.</p>
<p>hold on - both texas a+m and davis have really good engineering programs. in fact a+m is like #2 or 1 in the nation for petro</p>
<p>that is true. my bad, i'm just so ready to get out of texas that nothing looks good to me anymore.</p>
<p>UC Santa Barbara</p>
<p>San Diego and Irvine, if you are good at making friends.</p>
<p>i'm OOS. is it hard to make friends there?</p>
<p>Not if you're asian...</p>
<p>HAHAHAH, trust me miss blue sky you're much better off at UCSB then UCI or UCSD.</p>
<p>Heh, asian.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter at all whether you're OOS or in-state. It all depends on how outgoing you can be, how many social events you attend, whether you want to take risks to meet new ppl, etc..</p>
<p>No, it won't matter if you're OOS or not. It makes you more interesting.:) At Orientation you might feel isolated though... it's ok.</p>
<p>I'd have to go with UCSB and UCD. SB was ranked #3 on playboys list of party schools, and from what I've heard Davis is a pretty chill place. As someone who attended Arizona State (#1 on that list thank you very much) last year I can tell you that it was impossible NOT to make friends. However each to his own, I'm sure you're going to find a different student make up at sb/d than at i/sd... just be outgoing/chill and u'll meet people.</p>
<p>Are you going to get a car? You'll definitely need one in SoCal. Kinda difficult to always bum off rides from others for socials.</p>
<p>
[quote]
UCLA is a reach school for me (I'm OOS)
[/quote]
You are aware that a UC OOS is over 40K/year, right?</p>
<p>I'm quite aware of that. It's still better than Texas.</p>
<p>miss blue sky you blew it not applying to UCD. If you like sports, sororities/frats and a good social life it is the most balanced along with UCLA and UCB. UCD is not in the middle of nowhere and is an excellent academic school with a great chill environment. UCSB is a really fun place, BUT you need to be a disciplined person to go there. The partying is pretty much 24/7. That being said you need to understand the UCSB environment. It is not a good sports school, (the administration could care less about sports) and sorority/frat life is there but not big. SB is a beach/party school. I've been to all of the UC's except UCSC and UCR. IMO UCI and UCSD are on the dead side (quiet, commuter environment, little to do on weekends) so if you get into SB go there. It's too late for you to apply to UCD now. Thank your relative for that one, and tell him to update his knowledge before giving advice in the future.</p>
<p>It is not a good sports school, (the administration could care less about sports)</p>
<p>While the administration might not be that supportive of sports, we are a really good sports team. Our men's soccer team is ranked #1 in the nation (and won the national championship this year), and we have the #3 ranked men's volleyball team in the nation currently. We probably had the greatest celebration for a soccer championship ever too.</p>