UCSB Party School?

We are from the East Coast and our son has been accepted into Chem Engineering at UCSB and UCSD as well as Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly. Our son has been very focused on going to college in California and we know that these are all excellent options academically. However being from out East, we do not have intimate knowledge of the California schools and are trying to parse the truth from innuendo about the social life at these schools. UCSB is known here as a “party school” while UCSD is thought of as being devoid of a functioning social life. While we understand that engineering students won’t often have the luxury of partying too much, we would like to get the perspective of those in the know. Thank you for your valued feedback.

There is definitely some truth to your statements for sure, but you can seek and find the party life at UCSD if you want to, and you can avoid the scene easily at UCSB as well.

I just asked a similar question to my friend/neighbor whose son is in his first year at UCSB (mechanical engineering major). This is what she wrote:

S wouldn’t know about the party scene. He doesn’t party at all. Every Friday and Saturday night he plays board games with a huge group of friends. There are lots of non-partiers. Something for everyone. Everyone can find their niche.

I myself went to UCSD 25 years ago and definitely found it devoid of a good social scene for me. I felt pretty isolated in La Jolla and kind of like there was no “there” there on the campus. It gave me a lonely vibe. So lonely in fact, I transferred to UC Davis, which I loved.

UCSD is not at all socially dead if you look for it. Join clubs and orgs, or make friends. The people who complain about UC socially dead are the people who stay in their dorms all day or lock themselves in the library.

I love America. Only here would a decision between spending 4 years in La Jolla versus Santa Barbara be viewed as a problem.

Congratulations on your acceptance to two outstanding universities. As a future Chemical Engineering major, you have no wrong choice

Isle Vista is party central, but not for devoted engineering majors. In my opinion, the key at UCSB for your son will be to find housing–whether on or off campus–that is not heavily involved in the partying scene.

I graduated from UCSB, and my best friend went to UCSD. There’s definitely some truth to both reputations. UCSD turns into a bit of a commuter campus after freshman year, with most kids finding housing off-campus in the neighboring area. It’s a gorgeous area, however it can feel a bit isolated and lonely on weekends. She had a mostly positive experience, though she was outgoing and determined to find like-minded friends. Even so, she spent many weekends visiting me in SB and there was no question that SB offered a better “college environment”. In SB, most everyone lives in Isla Vista after freshman year, so the college town environment can create an opportunity for block parties, etc. However, the streets in Isla Vista are almost “themed” in a way— with most of the parties taking place on Del Playa (the street across from the ocean). The further the street is from the ocean, generally the more “mellow” the environment. If your son isn’t interested in parties, he can find like minded people and choose not to live on Del Playa (or choose on-campus housing). My experience at UCSB was wonderful. Always something to do (outdoor concerts in the park, board games at friends, studying at the beach), but surrounded by really smart and academically oriented students. There are plenty of gamers too if he’d rather be indoors gaming. In the dorms, he’d be surrounded by lots of different types of people, but he’d find his people through his major, clubs, etc and find his way. UCSB is typically in the Top 10 for happiest students and I’m never surprised. There’s truly something for everyone, and great year round weather. I hope that helps! Good luck to your son! :-).

I’m familiar with both campus environments and I agree UCSD is more of a commuter school whereas UCSB has a better collegial feel because it is more isolated and students live either in dorms or Isla Vista right next to campus. Serious students can easily avoid parties at both schools IMO. UCSB year one and two you can live on campus and on scholar floors. Year three and four you will probably live in IV so it is more about finding a non-partying roommate which I think should be easy for a ChemE major.

Our son is an ME at UCSB and has avoided the party scene. Engineering is very demanding there - for an engineer it shouldn’t be too hard to avoid the party scene. They work pretty collaboratively too, so their seems to be good support among students. UCSB’s graduate ChemE program is one of the tops in the country, so I’m sure some of that filters down into the undergrad too. UCSB’s housing situation is far better than UCSD or Cal Poly. With their 2+2 program, you are guaranteed 4 years in university housing. First 2 years are in the dorms, the last 2 in university-owned apartments. They have a lot of nice apartments, which as parents we have been very happy for. All 3 of the schools you mentioned are excellent. Cal Poly’s ME program is supposed to be particularly good.

UCSB is the picture of a quintessential California School. Happy kids. Four years of housing. Or living on the beach. Top rated accedemics. As a CA resident, it’s no brainer where most kids would choose, if they were lucky enough to have the choice.