<p>I'm need so advice on choosing a UC. I was accepted to UCI as a Criminology, Law and Society Major and Political Science Major at UCSB. I want to minor in Accounting. I goal is to eventually go to law school (hopefully one of the ivy leagues if possible). I just want ur opinion on either or both schools regarding environment, students, opportunities, professors, or anything else you may know.</p>
<p>Thank you very much!</p>
<p>Wow, what a tough choice. </p>
<p>That unusual major at UCI sure sounds interesting, and UCI has now started up their new full business school. But for accounting, UCSB’s accounting minor program would be fine also.</p>
<p>I guess it depends upon whether you want more of a metropolitan school in a big city or a university where the school is “the thing”. The first describes UCI (which would be more attractive if they actually called it University of California at Newport Beach), which it is right next to. It has more students that live locally and commute than UCSB does. UCSB has the campus right on the beach, and is much more of a “students all live at the school or right next door in Goleta” type of place–and head into Santa Barbara mostly just on the weekends.</p>
<p>UCSB is probably ranked ever so slightly higher, but for you, I think I’d choose UCI instead because of the very unusual major, which will really stand out on applications for law school–and because a minor in accounting would be from a full-fledged undergraduate business school–and this program is likely to gain in stature over the next 10 years or so.</p>
<p>Good luck with your choice.</p>
<p>Irvine is NOT a “metropolitan” school. It is a commuter school in the Irvine “bubble” and is not nearly as diverse as some of the other UC’s. </p>
<p>I would choose UCSB in a heartbeat. Unless you were majoring in English or the Sciences. UCSB has a stellar pre law program as well.</p>
<p>[UCSB</a> Law and Society Program :: Prospective Students](<a href=“http://www.lawso.ucsb.edu/prospective_students.php]UCSB”>http://www.lawso.ucsb.edu/prospective_students.php)</p>
<p>Thank you Calcruzer and vociferous for your advice. I just visited the UCSB campus today and will visit UCI this thursday.
I heard today that the Law and Society Program at UCSB has been closed.
Both of u say that UCSB is slightly higher in rank compared to UCI, but this 2009 list of top universities in the nation ranked UCD and UCI as 44 and UCSB as 45. I don’t know how true this really is.
So far, I do like the UCSB campus and just need to go see UCI too.</p>
<p>When it comes to the UCs and undergraduate programs, generally the ranking is:</p>
<p>(1) UC Berkeley
(2) UCLA
(3) UCSD
(Tied for 4th through 6th): UCD, UCSB, and UCI
(7) UCSC
(8) UC Riverside
(9) UC Merced</p>
<p>UCSF has no undergraduate programs, just medical graduate programs.</p>
<p>The three schools ranked 4th through 6th above are essentially equal in “prestige”, but UCSB has been generally the better known because it is the older of the schools (older than UCI that is) and because it is on the coast while UC Davis is not–but is instead out in the central valley (though not that far from San Francisco).</p>
<p>As far as UCI being a commuter school–that has been true for 20 out of the past 25 years or so, but they have been making efforts to build more of a on-campus presence during the past 5 years (although, this may change this year due to budget concerns, and the fact that they are taking more local students for this reason).</p>
<p>I think that vociferous is correct in saying that UCSB is definitely in its own community as opposed to being inside an Irvine “bubble”–but then that was kind of my point–that UCI blends more into the larger Orange County suburbs, while UCSB is kind of its “own place”.</p>
<p>I think once you visit UCI this week, you’ll understand the differences clearly and be able to make your choice. Best of luck in picking the one that works best for you.</p>
<p>After visiting, go where you think you’d fit in best.</p>
<p>i want to get into college and graduate with a mrine biology major. would UCSB be a good college?? it looks like they have alot of aquatics classes</p>
<p>If you are a social person, skip UCI. It is a largely commuter schools without much of a social scene for most. SB could not be more different, it is a highly social, major party school. They are vastly different in temperament and these 2 should be easy for an individual to chose between.</p>
<p>SB attracts many top profs as Santa Barbara is such a great place to live. Not sure undergrads see most of them, however.</p>
<p>^
You really think these profs can afford SB and Montecito homes?</p>
<p>It’s probably tougher for new professors, but UCSB has been poaching top professors for a while now, who are probably already wealthy and would jump at the chance of living in Santa Barbara. One of the recent examples I remember is Michael Gazzaniga, one of the top neuroscientists in the country who left Dartmouth for UCSB a couple years ago.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In this thread alone, there’s at least one poster who appreciates the sheer irony of this. </p>
<p>Doesn’t this neuroscientist know that he’s giving up teaching at the “finest undergrad school in the country,” the fact of which has been scientifically verified by many “in the know” as well as “credible” rankings and surveys?? <em>tongue firmly planted in cheek</em></p>
<p>I was told ad nauseum that each and every single Dartmouth professor prioritized teaching over research. How on earth can we explain such a move?</p>
<p>
Same with UCI. Professors get subsidized housing to live near Newport Beach. It depends on their preference. I think there are more jobs near UCI vs Santa Barbara.</p>
<p>I graduated from UCI (years ago…LOL), but I would choose UCSB. </p>
<p>UCI’s location is OK, but Santa Barbara is …well…Santa Barbara. :)</p>
<p>No soap operas about Irvine, that’s for sure…</p>
<p>Although I’d still vote for UCSB…</p>
<p>UCI has the Bren Center (lots of entertainment opps) and has the huge Irvine Spectrum nearby. It also has the warmer beaches. So, if that is your choice, you won’t be bored. However, the traffic is nasty which is why some kids who could commute, do choose to live on campus or in nearby apts.</p>
<p>About 37% live on campus. That doesn’t mean the rest commute. There are nearby apts that many rent. Like I said above, the traffic is so bad in the morning and afternoon, that many students who live in OC choose to live on/near campus rather than having to waste that much time on area freeways.</p>
<p>The ex-Dartmouth professor voted for Santa Barbara, CA over Hanover, NH. What a shocker!</p>
<p>The lesser stars on the Dartmouth faculty that he left behind are still unfortunately stuck in snow country…</p>