UCSB college of creative studies

College Search & Selection
1

<p>U.C. Santa Barbara's college of creative studies (CCS, at <a href="http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/&lt;/a&gt;) seems like a great program; it appears to offer both liberal-arts-college-like student-professor interaction, and at the same time has the wide course selection and social scene of a big research university. </p>

<p>I know UCSB is widely seen as a party school, but I also know that some of its departments are internationally recognized (most notably its physics department, which apparently is second to none, but also some of its other departments like the computer science departments and the various engineering departments). But I recognize that departments are famous because of their graduate school research accomplishments and wonder how much of this recognition carries over to the undergraduate side of the university.</p>

<p>So I have a few questions:</p>

<p>How would someone who studied at UCSB be seen by those who matter--employers, graduate/professional schools and the like? In other words, would it count against a person to have studied physics (or some other field in which UCSB is "good") at UCSB in terms of employment and/or grad school? </p>

<p>Do y'all think studying in CCS would change the above--and if so, for better or for worse? </p>

<p>(A word about CCS: CCS students graduate with either a B.A. or a B.S. in "creative studies: field of concentration." The CCS web site says that students usually complete courses similar to the normal letters and science curricula requirements, and often take graduate classes and/or do research. On the flip side, I wonder if some people might see "UCSB... creative studies" and think "touchy-feely party major").</p>

2

<p>Oh yeah I don't mean to sound like all I care about college is employment/grad school--I definitely want to learn a lot and have fun in college. I just wanted some input on the employment/grad school aspect of college.</p>

3

<p>The UCSB College of Creative Studies is a great option. And studying at UCSB will definitely not "count against" anybody! I know people who have gone on from UCSB to all kinds of great schools and jobs. I think employers and graduate schools know that UCSB's party reputation does not represent the experience of everybody, all the time. I also think the advantages of being in the College of Creative Studies will seriously outweigh any potential risk of having people judge you negatively based on the name. I think most graduate schools know what the College of Creative Studies is. And any employer who doesn't know what it is and is superficial enough to reject you based on the name without bothering to find out about it is probably not worth working for.</p>

4

<p>Let me just say the College of Creative Studies at UCSB is phenomenal. You do get all the good stuff from the LAC's in a big research university. Let me say though that along with the benefits it's very intense course work. You get opportunities that no one else in the university gets. You get to meet your professors which will help whenever you need letters or recommendation. There's just so many benefits to joining, I don't know why you wouldn't want to.</p>

5

<p>bumpingggg</p>