<p>So I am waiting to see if i get into the College of Creative Studies for Literature at UC Santa Barbara, but if I get in I am not sure the college is worth the extra cost over Cal Poly SLO's English major! I would appreciate opinions!! Very much so!!</p>
<p>What do you want to do after college? Have you visited both schools?</p>
<p>I have visited both schools and I love them both, I’m just concerned about UCSB’s party school reputation. After college I might want to go to grad school or I might want to get my teaching certificate, so I am just very confused about what to do. I’m also worried about not being able to keep up at UCSB’s CCS program since it sounds so intense, but I have never had grade problems in the past. haha lots of information</p>
<p>*I am not sure the college is worth the extra cost *</p>
<p>If the extra cost will paid for with loans, then definitely choose SLO. Newly graduated English majors often don’t earn much for awhile. Avoid debt.</p>
<p>However, if your parents will happily pay for either, then choose whichever one you like best. SB does have a party atmosphere, but so does SLO. It’s up to you to have serious-minded friends and a good work-ethic. It doesn’t matter what partyers are doing.</p>
<p>You should go to the reception they have for CCS and talk to current students and profs about your concerns regarding the party atmosphere and rigor of the program. Nobody can promise you that you won’t be influenced by the parties, but plenty of kids manage to do just find; in fact there are even complete non-drinkers who find the school just fine.</p>
<p>I have no first-hand knowledge of the CCS program, but my understanding is that it aims to be like “grad school for undergrads” in that you are expected to work hard and show initiative, but take classes you want including grad level and have closer ties to faculty than the average large-college student. The extra work isn’t for everyone, and you should ask CCS students at the reception how hard they perceive it to be relative to the standard undergrad.</p>
<p>Wait and see if you get in first. After that, I’ll echo mikemac’s advice to go visit and talk to the professors and students in the CCS program. It’s a very unique environment, and not just another English department. </p>
<p>I see the CCS as a great choice for a California student who wants to head to academia. CCS has an excellent reputation nationwide, and graduates do very well with grad school admissions. If you think you want to teach K-12, though, then the reason to enroll is because you want to be in a highly academic environment. If that means taking out loans greater than what a starting teacher earns in one year, that might be too expensive a luxury.</p>
<p>Good advice(: I did get to talk with current CCS students and I think iit would be a great program if I can get financial aid in scholarships or grants. I guess I am also concerned about the CCS group being so close knit, it doesn’t seem like they have too many other friends outside of their college, and I am more the i want to meet everyone and have lots of different types of friends kind of person, but I guess it will be whatever I make of it(: College is just SUCH a BIG decision you know? I don’t wanna go the wrong way haha</p>