<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I have been accepted to both UC Santa Barbara (in the College of Creative Studies) and UC San Diego. I applied for a Physics major. I also want to double major or minor in Computer Science, which is also of high importance to me. However, I'm not sure which university to go to, or which university would be better for me...If it helps any, I want to go on to graduate school in Astrophysics... Please help!</p>
<p>UCSB sounds good but you can do well at either place. Visit each and try to sit in on some classes if possible.</p>
<p>Both are pretty good schools for undergraduate in physics. I would give the nod to UCSB. Their graduate department is very highly ranked (#10). They have a top notch astrophysics program and are the leading university for work on developing laser diodes. Prof. Hartle from UCSB has written a book on General Relativity specifically geared for undergraduates.</p>
<p>Visit both schools - make an appointment and talk to professors in the Physics departments as well as both undergrad and grad. students.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>Santa Babara has the edge in physics over SD, not to mention the campus is gorgeous. No one can really decide which one is better for you, but keep in mind that SB is a pretty big laid back “party” school which SD is pretty competitive with a bunch of premeds and prelaws.</p>
<p>I have a feeling I’d fit in more at UCSD…</p>
<p>I’m wondering how UCSB’s CCS Physics department compares to UCSD’s Physics Department, and how UCSB’s CS department compares to SD’s CS Department…</p>
<p>Is there a large tradeoff from choosing SD over SB?</p>
<p>Is there more opportunity for research/internships at CCS than at SD?</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies, and thanks in advance for any more!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you have the option of being in a separate dorm with all CCS students at UCSB, which could simmer down the whole ‘party school’ aspect. And at a school that big you would find your niche no matter what you were interested in. </p>
<p>I would choose UCSB in a second- it is in arguably the best location possible for college and CCS gives you some awesome access to professors, facilities, etc.</p>
<p>MadhavS:</p>
<p>I should be studying for Law School finals right now but I can’t help but spend 5 minutes to help you:</p>
<p>CCS in general is an amazing place to go for an undergrad degree. I have a feeling that CCS Physics is among the best undergraduate physics programs in America and it’s certainly the most unique. I really doubt that UCSD’s physics program is as good for undergrads. CCS also has a computer science program (from which I am an undergraduate and I loved) which is closely connected with the College of Engineering at UCSB. I can’t really compare the two CS programs because CCS’s CS program is so different from any other CS program anywhere. I really encourage you to visit UCSB/CCS and talk to professors and students there (everyone at CCS, from the Dean down, is interested in talking to prospective students). If you’re the type of student CCS was designed for, you’d honestly have to be a fool to go anywhere else. In terms of physics, there is no “tradeoff” between UCSB and UCSD and CCS gives you more research opportunities than I’ve ever heard any other school give its undergrads. </p>
<p>For more on CCS visit their websites [College</a> of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara](<a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu%5DCollege”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu) and [College</a> of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara - Physics - Home](<a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/physics]College”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/physics) and perhaps check out the wikipedia article [College</a> of Creative Studies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Creative_Studies]College”>College of Creative Studies - Wikipedia) . There’s also this enlightening discussion on these boards from a few years ago: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/456028-ucsb-college-creative-studies.html?highlight=ccs[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/456028-ucsb-college-creative-studies.html?highlight=ccs</a> . If you want to get in contact with current students and faculty Christopher Wilderman ( <a href=“mailto:christopher.wilderman@ccs.ucsb.edu”>christopher.wilderman@ccs.ucsb.edu</a> ) can get you in touch with them.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>