<p>I got rejected from Cal, and I'm appealing my admissions decision, so I'm effectively waitlisted. In the meantime, I have to decide between UCSB and UCSD to submit my SIR. I want to go into physics, and I think I would stand out better at UCSB, which hopefully will help with grad school (because they have Nobel laureate professors with collaborators at Stanford, Princeton, Caltech, etc. and I'd like to go to one of those schools there for my masters and PhD). On the other hand, UCSB isn't as prestigious as UCSD, I'm a little ashamed that I didn't get in anywhere better, and everyone I talk to is appalled that I'm even considering UCSB. Suggestions?</p>
<p>My biggest concern about UCSB is the social atmosphere, because despite my crushing lack of options I am a very studious person, and I know that their physics program is great, but I’m not sure if I want to go somewhere with a lot of partying and a too-relaxed atmosphere.</p>
<p>UCSB is by no means a bad school and is an excellent school if you’re in for a Physics major. I’ve heard nothing but good things about SB’s Physics program. I am sure SD’s Physics program is pretty good too… I’d say go visit the campus and get a campus tour, see which one you like more and go with that one.</p>
<p>Regarding the partying at UCSB, I’ve talked with my engineering teacher and my counselor who both went to UCSB and they both say it is more than easy enough to stay out of the party scene should you choose to do so… there are lots of people at SB who are in it for studying and not plain partying (like me).</p>
<p>I would check out the physics major in the college of creative studies at ucsb. Had I to do my undergrad over (I went to Cal) I would go there in a heartbeat. </p>
<p>The physics department at UCSB is superb. I do not think you can get a better undergrad experience anywhere. I know many, many people who attended schools such as Cal, Stanford, Harvey Mudd etc… that have told me that they too wished they had attended UCSB for physics. Many of my classmates in med school attended UCSD. They found it very boring with no “college atmosphere”. UCSD is a place to attend grad school- not to have a true undergrad experience.</p>
<p>My son will be attending the CCS for math and turned down Cal, UCLA etc… after visiting UCSB. </p>
<p>And no one is going to force you to party all the time. The serious students avoid IV most of the time, but it is there if they want to blow off some steam. There are plenty of parties at Cal, UCSD as well- they just are less visible.</p>
<p>Carol Greider (UCSB '83) was a CCS Biology student during a time when there was much more lawlessness in Isla Vista, and the academic quality of students was much worse, and she won the Nobel Prize last year. Just a little anecdote to show that despite the environment, you can be very successful. I think the active social atmosphere contributes to student happiness which makes them more successful as well.</p>
<p>I got in to the College of Letters and Science. I’m still able to take physics classes at CCS, right?</p>
<p>
You’ve missed the point of CCS. They only offer a handful of classes themselves. The real point is that they make a large U seem like a small college; you get personal attention from the CCS advisors and a faculty member, they remove restrictions so you can take pretty much any course you want (even grad-level), they help you find research positions and the like. See [College</a> of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara - What is CCS?](<a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/welcome/]College”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/welcome/) for a program overview and the student handbook at <a href=“http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/handbook/[/url]”>http://www.ccs.ucsb.edu/handbook/</a></p>
<p>Non-CCS students may enroll in CCS classes if space is available.</p>
<p>@ acadude, wow, I am in the EXACT same boat as you…I started reading your post and was a little freaked out because I though I wrote it and just didn’t remember haha. I was rejected form cal (my first choice)now I’m appealing and debating between UCSD and UCSB for physics. Everybody thinks I’m crazy for even considering UCSB because they just see it as a party school.</p>
<p>My major concern is if I decide to change my major and go into geosciences, would UCSB still be a stronger candidate than UCSD? And how beneficial is the honors program at SB? I got in to the honors program there but not at UCSD. Do you really get more research opportunities/time with professors through the honors program?</p>
<p>UCSB is not that far behind UCSD as far as ranking goes. Seriously, ranking for undergrad doesn’t even matter when you’re talking about 2 schools ranked so near each other. If you’re trying to decide between Harvard and UCSB then there’s an obvious choice. But between these 2 schools, the ranking and prestige isn’t a big factor and shouldn’t be what you use to decide. Go to the school you like the most and will have a better experience at and will succeed. I also have to choose between the 2 and I am choosing UCSB because it is awesome there and I know I’ll have a better college experience there than SD. It fits me more than UCSD, so pick which ever school fits you best.</p>
<p>[Rankings</a> - Physics - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-physics-schools/rankings]Rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-physics-schools/rankings)</p>
<p>gratz school, but some professors teach undergrat. According to this, SB is a bit better than SD in physics program. And i’m going there for phyz major myself 
hope to see you there</p>
<p>UCSB has one of the best physics programs you can take as an undergraduate anywhere. We have 4 nobel prize winning physics professors. I’m a computer science major in the engineering department and I have taken a few of our physics classes and they have been phenomenal. Some of our general education classes are a joke, but the physics program is great. The party scene is really made way too big of a deal. Sure there is a lot of partying in Isla Vista next to the school, but if you don’t go looking for a party, you won’t even notice. I have never gone to a party here and I don’t drink at all and I love it here. There is still a lot to do if you don’t want to party, and if you are avoiding partying it is very easy to do.</p>
<p>What are weekends like at UCSB? I know at UCSD a lot of people leave and the campus gets pretty dead…Is it similar at SB or are there a lot of activities going on at the school? And are there a lot of things to do off campus that don’t involve hardcore partying in IV?</p>
<p>i just stayed four nights on del playa… let me tell you if you want to party, walk down DP. if you dont want to party, i would say stay in your dorms and learn to be a heavy sleeper. </p>
<p>there were live music shows on the street, huge parties door to door, and people just walking around partying in the street all week long starting thursday to today. it was a little extra intense this weekend because it was the ghost of floatopia, which was off the hook…</p>
<p>anyways, if you want a very quiet place to go to school, go to ucsd. you can find that at ucsb as well tho, but you also get that social aspect</p>
<p>@danamarin I used to be in the same boat as you and the OP, but really when I actually did my research and talked to friends who go there and other CCers, I opened my mind about it and stopped using the party thing as a deterrent. From most of my friends who goto UCSB, they told me that there are plenty of things to do on campus if you choose not to party. There are alot of activities and events that go on and the tour guide I had during spring insight told us about the party reputation and how it got it back in the 70s and how it shouldn’t be a deterrent since every school has it’s parties. It’s just UCSB has a bigger rep due to IV. However when it comes to on campus, it’s pretty much the same as any other UC. The tour guide told us about many activities that go on such as movie nights, game nights, etc so there are many other things to do other than partying and it’s VERY easy to find. I don’t know about UCSD though so you’ll have to talk to someone there.</p>
<p>If you go to SB, you will not stay out of the party scene. My best friend went last year and went straight edge, came back popping pills. Definitely a problem. I feel like UCSD would be a better place for you if you are studious. More prestigious, overall its just going to work out more nicely.</p>
<p>
Yes, it is inevitable that what you (as an anonymous poster) claim your friend did will be the experience of every other person to attend UCSB.</p>
<p>Yes of course…haven’t you heard!!! </p>
<p>Even the noble laureates from UCSB started popping pills and walking around Del Playa on Friday nights.</p>
<p>Yo, UCSB 09 Grad here. I am a Physics and EE major. Let me make it clear that I am definitely rooting for my alma mater. You should go to UCSB. Why? The nobel professors actually teach classes. Just imagine learning compound semiconductor from Dr. Herbert Kroemer himself! Dr. Joseph Plolchiski, who is HUGE ( I mean it) in String Theory teaching UNDERGRADUATE level physics. You will be learning condensed matter physics from Paul Hansma, who is protege of Charles Kittel. </p>
<p>I myself took and went to courses and seminars taught by all these professors, at least once a year. If you really like physics, you know what I’m talking about and you know what does sitting in a lecture taught by the these Professors mean to an undergraduate student.</p>
<p>Regarding to party scene at UCSB. The girls are hot and you will have a good time when you want to go to a party. I can tell you that the party scenes at the IVYs and MIT/Stanford, Cal, UCLA are as big as that in UCSB, if not bigger. It is YOUR choice wether you can balance your life. If you have no self control then it is no use anywhere you go because there are no schools that don’t have huge party scenes. Ask around, my friends at Stanford, Wharton, Harvard all said there are parties non-stop at their schools.</p>
<p>As far as I know, UCSD physics is not even in the same ball game as SB physics. I am talking strictly from academic reputation ( such as # and quality of publications, # of citations), prestige, as well as accessibility to professors who are leading figures in their respective field of researches.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions, let me know. Hope this helps. </p>
<p>PS. To the dude’s best friend who got into poping pills, I’m sorry to hear this. But I don’t think your friend is ready for college. Let’s say if he/she got into a school in which there are absolutely no drug problems and no parties, you think he/she can survive once he/she is throw into the real world? You can’t be protected in a virtual world. Plus, like I said, it is prevalent in every school. You just need to hang out with the right group of friends. BTW, If you want to compare drug scene, then Cal is MUCH MUCH worse.</p>
<p>There are threads where soccerflocks17 posted trying to get people not to come to UCSB so he can get in on appeals, Lol. Anyway, I partied at UCDavis during my senior year of high school almost every weekend and came to UCSB during Fall. Its almost been a full school year and I haven’t been to a single party. Definitely easy to stay away from the party scene</p>