<p>Statistically, both these schools are a match for me, I’m just trying to decide which would be a better fit. So if you could, please answer the following:</p>
<p>Which one has the better Communications or International Relations program?</p>
<p>Which ranks higher when it comes to aesthetics/the beauty of the campus?</p>
<p>Which has better networking or chances to get a job after graduation?</p>
<p>Ranking of overall student happiness?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>UCSB is better for communications.
UCSD is better for International Relations</p>
<p>Campus wise, they are both great, however I prefer UCSB bc it is right on the beach. You can just walk there in like a minute. While at UCSD its on a cliff, and its a longer walk or a quick drive.</p>
<p>UCSB is extremley helpful when looking for a job, and provides great opportunites, but UCSD is close to a major city and has more prestige. So you can decide what is more important.</p>
<p>UCSB students are usually considered happier. UCSD is all about academics, while UCSB is more into the college experience, while still being amazing academically.</p>
<p>UCSB is way better in my opinion. College is more than academics. Also UCSB is an amazing school. The students are really intelligent but know how to have fun.</p>
<p>Depends on what you're looking for. I personally haven't heard that the students at UCSB are particularly intelligent, but I can't say that with any certainty, not having ever been there myself. UCSD is generally considered a better college in terms of prestige, and if undergrad is going to be your terminal degree, that DOES matter in the job market. But if you're going to grad school afterwards, where you go for undergrad doesn't matter at all.</p>
<p>UCSD is a very studious school, but I personally love it. I have friends who know how to have fun as well as who know how to get down and study (which is nice because study parties are really helpful for me). I don't know much about the communications major (except that it's pretty popular here) but I do know that International Relations is pretty highly regarded.</p>
<p>What I've noticed is that there are a lot of people who don't like it here and a lot of people who love it here. I fall in the latter category, and I've noticed that most of the people I know who fall into the latter category are in my Christian fellowship. So... interpret that in whatever way you want? I mean, not to say that there aren't people here who like it and who aren't in Intervarsity, but that's just an interesting general trend I've observed. So perhaps if you're looking for more of a party scene, you'll like UCSB better.</p>
<p>I LOVE the beaches here at UCSD. The sand is soft, the weather is perfect, and the sunsets are gorgeous. No idea what the beaches are like at UCSB, but if they're anything like Santa Cruz, I definitely recommend La Jolla beaches by a mile. But if they're better, then I would recommend checking them out for yourself if that's at all a factor in your decision.</p>
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No idea what the beaches are like at UCSB, but if they're anything like Santa Cruz, I definitely recommend La Jolla beaches by a mile.
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<p>What exactly is wrong with the beaches in Santa Cruz? I'm interested because I was thinking of going there.</p>
<p>Oh, they're not like terrible. The Boardwalk is cool, and the beach is fine. But the sand is not nearly as clean or soft as in La Jolla, and the weather down here is gorgeous for days at the beach.</p>
<p>I don't think that the beaches at UCSB are like Santa Cruz because UCSB is in SoCal and Santa Cruz is definitely Northern California. Santa Cruz can get verry cold, depending on when you go. It does have some nice beaches though- you just need to look for them.</p>
<p>I haven't been to UCSD, only UCSB.. My brother seemed to pretty happy there. I would think jobs might be more impressed with UCSD (Although my brother got a job at IBM not too long after he graduated). You should probably visit both campuses to get a feel for them.</p>
<p>I have heard impressive things about the Communications department at UCSB, from people in the field. Here is a link to an article ranking their graduate program tops in the nation: <a href="http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/display.aspx?pkey=1222%5B/url%5D">http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/display.aspx?pkey=1222</a>
I am a UCSB alum, as well as having a daughter attending there now. It is a beautiful place, right ON the beach, unlike UCSD or UCSC. Kids there like to have fun, but you'll find serious students as well. There is a bit of social pressure, however, as many of the students are quite wealthy or at least spend money as if they are!</p>
<p>I am in a similar situation as ocean, except with engineering. I really love UCSB, the campus is amazing, but I was worried that it wasn't as academically prestigious as other UC's, like Cal or LA. Any comments?</p>
<p>However, I came down to the same conclusion that fish0matic posted. As long as you plan on attend grad school (like me) your undergrad school doesn't really matter as long as you do really well and kick @$$ academically so that you can GET INTO a good grad school. Imagine that you are 45 years old and someone asks you where you went for college - your going to name your grad school, not your undergrad school.</p>
<p>The point of this being, just go somewhere that is somewhat prestigious and you believe you will have better spent your 4 years. I like UCSB because of their AMAZING campus and nice college town Isla Vista. I have visited UCSD and i can honestly say i was very disappointed. sure, location is nice, but the campus itself i found ugly. dead trees and wood chips everywhere. it was very bland and boring, with the exception of one main quad where they have a bookstore and a nice theater multi complex. the dorm rooms themselves were also disappointing.</p>