UCI or UCSB?!?!?! Help :/

State Forums
1

Hey everyone! So I currently go to a CC and I have narrowed down my choices to either tranferring to uci or ucsb this fall. I had some questions and was wondering if anyone could help answer them! I also would love to share my opinion on both and I know its my decision (because everyone keeps telling me that) but I would like the input of others who understand the schools more/may have some good insight!

UCI:
pros:
-has way more interesting classes I can take for my major
-good greek life
-I know the campus and the city/surrounding cities well
-my family/friends live there
-would probably end up studying abroad my senior year

cons:
-my family/friends live there
-I currently live there at home (but I would move out and move into the dorms)
-not much social life(that I am aware of)
-could be same old same old since I already live there
-I want to make new friends and not fall back on old ones when times get tough/lonely

UCSB:
pros:
-fun school
-greek like is good
-location is on the beach
-new enviroment and place to explore
-I hear people are super nice there(?)

cons:
-class options for my major are generic and boring
-I don’t like being over an hour away from home
-I do not like the town of SB
-have to get a B or better in pre-major courses in order to actually be in my major

So basically SB: I have a fun social life, take average/boring classes, risk not getting into my major by not getting B or better in Pre-major courses

UCI: take interesting classes, have an average social life, same old same old, but still get to move out and possibly study abroad.

Questions:

  1. My major is psychology, anyone know if those pre-major courses at UCSB are hard?
  2. Do you know which sororities let in a good amount of transfers at UCSB, if any?
  3. Opinions on going to a UC in their hometown?

This was a lot lol but thank you for your time!!

2

Are the class offerings really that different between the two schools?

To me, these two schools are pretty different. For UCSB, I find IV to be your “typically college town,” which I personally find appealing in a school. UCI is nice campus, but I find the surrounding area to be pretty sterile.

As for the pre-major class issue, I like to assume if the school lets you in, then you are certainly capable of getting Bs or better.

Good luck!

3

both are very good. I am not sure what give you the impression your coursework at UCSB would be boring but, that’s probably untrue. You seem to want the ‘college’ experience - of which you’ll get about 50% living at home and commuting to UCI. As long as you can afford to live in the SB area without incurring debt, that’s where I’d go.