Can anyone tell me what they’ve heard/ the reputation UCSB and its Honors Program have in other places? I’m from California and this schools seems to get a lot of hate and judgement based off of its “party atmosphere” within this state. It’s looking VERY likely that UCSB is my best option at this point, and to be completely honest, I’m having a lot of anxiety over it. I never once thought that I would be at this school, but it’s still a UC and my parents are really pushing it. Any opinions or advice would be very much appreciated.
The opinions of your HS friends are not an accurate guide to how grad schools and employers look at UCSB. That said, in your other thread you said you got into NYU and it was always your dream school. Sounds to me like that is the option you should take.
I cannot seriously commit to NYU with my London dilemma; therefore, I am looking at other options in order to avoid being left with no school to attend. If I had it my way, I’d be at NYU in Manhattan and everything would be settled by the end of May. However, things just don’t always go as planned.
I also got honors 
I went to the UCSB spring spotlight and the CLAS Honors program panel. The honors program advisor stated that they only selected a limited number of freshies into the honors program at entrance. The honors program requests the top applicants from the pool every year. They take the people with the highest GPA, tests scores, and stats.People like statistics so let me say that UCSB expected approximately 300 freshman w/honors to enroll by Fall 2016. A common question they get every year is "does honors specifically make academics harder on the student?"All of the current honors students at the panel said that honors program did not hinder their GPA in any way. In fact, honors does the exact opposite! It provides people with the incentive to work hard for a >3.6 GPA. If you are worried about getting a high GPA, remember that the admissions officers did not accept you into the honors program as a freshman for no reason. They truly believe you van handle the caliber of their academics. Also, with this privilege, you can go up to the professors, tell them you’re an honors student, and they’ll know what you mean 
with honors, you get to work closely with the profs, and attend seminars/sessions with your prof(instead of a TA). Forming connections with the profs=Good grades. Really, participating in honors helps pad your GPA. You take the same tests and finals as everyone else, so in no way does honors make the curriculum more challenging for a student. Honors experiences basically aid you. A tour guide I talked to was also in the honors program. She said that being accepted to honors is definitely a great reason to attend UCSB since you get a private-school-like education in a public school.
Congrats on honors not many people have this opportunity!
As for that party school reputation, UCSB parties no more than any other college(I know shocking right?). This is because UCSB is a substance-free, tobacco-free campus. Police monitor the campus so people are pretty safe. Of course, there are some exceptions and some people are bound to break the rules. The reason why people perceive UCSB as a party school is because of the substantial amount of college students that live in Isla Vista. If I remember correctly, there are about 18000 college students that live in Isla Vista(comprised of students from UCSB and SBCC). Furthermore, UCSB’s average admitted student GPA is 4.2 for Fall 2016! Also, the average SAT rose by double digits this year. If anything, the students definitively prioritize academics over partying. Besides, since you got into honors, you get to live on a scholar’s floor. You’d be surrounded by students who definitely value studying for finals over smoking pot. UCSB typically has well-rounded and generally very content students. #1 happiest UC. Top 5 for happiest campuses. #8 public school. There’s something about living by the beach that brings out the best in everyone
Sorry if I wrote too much/didn’t answer your questions! I just loved the UCSB vibe and the people so much! Some rumors like the party school reputation definitely needed some clearing up…I support UCSB all the way UCSB is one of my top two, but after spring insight and conversing with a couple of Gauchos, I don’t think I’ll regret attending 
@awsumpawsum We were at that panel as well, and you did a great job explaining it! One thing my daughter really liked is the choices- for those not in the know- to stay in Honor’s you have to do so many “experiences” (number is based on when you come into the program). There are several different ways to get those experiences, so what might be great for one students might not work as well for another- but it is okay because they can choose a different way. For example- you can study abroad, or you can participate in small discussion groups with the professors, or as upper classmen you can do contracts- which can be creative and basically just show a deeper grasp of the class you are taking.
Possibly the biggest benefit of the Honors program is priority class registration. You can end up with a pass time to register for classes nearly a week earlier than some other first years. That can relieve a lot of stress.
There are plenty of kids that don’t party and also plenty of kids that do. But a great thing about UCSB is that both types seem to have a great time. My kid is the kind who doesn’t party, but can’t imagine being happier anywhere else.
If you decide to go to UCSB, you should be ready for acquaintances to say “Oh, that’s a party school” when you tell them. So you need to be comfortable with that - we were because we talked to people we knew who were currently going there and had graduated from there. The culture is being toned down and the university is taking proactive steps to make that happen. That said, being social is not a bad thing and becoming a well-rounded social person will help you through life.
If you can do FSSP in the summer, that is a great program that really makes UCSB an excellent choice for incoming freshmen.