<p>Hello everyone! I just got admitted to UCSB for class of 2014, and I was hoping a few UCSB people can give some answers regarding these few questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I would party every once in a while, but if I'm not really a complete party person and would prefer to stay in most days or do something else, are there other activities or opportunities to have fun around the area?</p></li>
<li><p>Since UC Santa Barbara has the reputation of being UC Santa BABEbara, would it be hard for me to find friends seemingly because I have of a type of Ellen Page vibe and doesn't really care about aesthetics and dressing up and "looking good?"</p></li>
<li><p>I came from a high school with not a lot of Asians, so for college I was hoping to make a lot of Asian friends. But since UCSB is a mainly Caucasian-heavy school, would there be chances for me having Asian friends? Are there any Asian clubs and organizations?</p></li>
<li><p>And lastly, how is the food at Isla Vista? I heard it's amazing Mexican-wise, but is it diverse enough to have Asian cuisines as well? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I hope some of you can give me some answers regarding these questions, and thank you! Go Gauchos!</p>
<p>Now, ‘Santa BABEra’ is one I’ve never heard… </p>
<p>There are multiple other threads about the party school bit if you search the forum. In summary, UCSB has exceptional social opportunities, and it is up to you to be mature enough to find your own balance with schoolwork, since that is also exceptional (and therefore challenging). However, yes, there are students who are not interested in parties, and there are many other things to do, and many students who don’t party. More use partying as a study break, and both study hard and enjoy what Santa Barbara has to offer.</p>
<p>There are a lot of Asians at UCSB, and I understand there is on campus Asian food as well as off campus but I can’t address that as well as current students might be able to do. I would open my horizons to all ethnicities there, personally, for a fuller college experience. </p>
<p>1) if you don’t want to party, the parties are not going to come to you. There plenty of things to do other than partying. You can to IV theater and watch free movies, there are comedy shows, and there are always activities on friday nights in the residential hall you live in.</p>
<p>2) completely false. No one will judge you here based on what you wear and what you look, just be yourself. Have a open mind when meeting new people, it is not hard to find friends here.</p>
<p>3) I came from a heavily asian-populated high school, and this was one of my biggest fears before coming to UCSB. Honestly, please don’t go to college having a mindset to meet “lots of Asian friends.” College if for growth, it is for coming out of your shell and meeting people of all kinds. Almost most of my friends were Asians back home, but here, I only have a few. p.s. The Asian population here is starting to grow. </p>
<p>4) This is honestly the biggest down-side of IV, not a big variety of cuisine to choose from, especially Asian cuisine. They have a decent boba and your typical teriyaki chicken over rice place here, which is pretty good. If having Asian food is a big factor for you, IV is not the place. BUT, you should not choose a college based on this. </p>
<p>I’m also considering UCSB against UI Urbana-Champaign. What’s really scaring me is popping that Asian bubble because I’ve grown up in one my entire life. My school is 80% Asian and I’m so scared of UCSB because I hear it’ll be a big difference, unlike UIUC which has a huge Asian population. So, I guess my question is, for other UCSB students who also grew up in Asian bubbles, how big was the culture shock, if any? And, do Asians also group together, or does everyone seem to mostly be mingling with other races?</p>
<p>@shomesho If you want to mingle, everyone else won’t think twice. The non-mingling seems to come from select Asians who are afraid to pop the bubble… For example I understand there is an ‘Asian interest floor’ in one of the dorms, but there has never been any interest in a floor EXCLUDING anyone… There are threads on this. I am not Asian nor a recent student, so beyond saying that 24% of the student body was Asian last year, if I remember right, I will just find the most recent thread and link it for you. In short, Asians who have gone there and post here don’t think it is a problem.</p>