<p>Hi, I got into UCSB regents program and also Cal.
UCSB would basically be a full ride for me, but at Cal I'd have to take out loans.</p>
<p>I'm also shy and quiet and first, but can be quite talkative when I get comfortable around people. I like to go out and socialize, but I don't think I like to party. </p>
<p>SInce SB is known for its wild parties and such, will I not be able to fit in?
I feel like the atmosphere at SB is more chill and relaxing, while Cal is more stressful and competitive.....</p>
<p>And yes, I know that there "many types of people at EVERY school", but generally speaking, will it be hard for me to feel comfortable, find people who are similar to me?</p>
<p>And for both schools I'm undelcared - letters and science</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>All of my SB friends say the party atmosphere is so exaggerated that it overshadows the academic reputation of the school. If you don’t want to party, you will fit in. If you do, you’ll fit in. Isla Vista is the where the parties are at, not really at UCSB. I visited the campus and everyone was really nice and social. </p>
<p>Of course I only have 3rd person info here, so I’m not as credible as the UCSB students that have already attended for some time :D</p>
<p>That’s funny my close friend from high school was in a similar place. She wasn’t a partier either, very shy, didn’t even open up to people in high school. She chose to go to Cal despite the full ride to UCSB. She’s pretty much an avid partier now. In fact I think she parties the most out of most of my close group of high school friends o.o. It really goes to show you that college is really what you make of it. SB just gets that rep because of IV, the parties are just a lot easier to find. However if you don’t choose to party, then you just don’t go to IV. It’s as simple is that. You’ll definitely find people who are similar to you, after all, 20-30 thousand students attend :P</p>
<p>Kids 18-22 are going to be about the same no matter which school you go to, meaning you’ll find a mix. There are raging parties at Cal (walk down fraternity row after any football game, for instance, and I think it can put IV parties to shame). There are serious and intense students at UCSB. So I wouldn’t believe stereotypes that say each place is all of a certain kind of student.</p>
<p>After being plopped into a new situation, regardless of which college choice you make, the future is going to be up to you and not the school. If you sit in your dorm room behind closed doors and keep to yourself you’ll have one set of experiences. If you join the people on your floor for meals, hang out with them in the evenings and on weekends, you’ll have another. Same with classes; if you get to know a few profs you’ll get some great guidance and good recs for future jobs or grad school. If you never go to office hours then that won’t happen.</p>
<p>If working on your shyness is something you want to do, then each school offers counseling (both 1-on-1 and group). Shyness is a common thing people want to work on, and with a quick look on their websites I see that both schools offer shyness or social confidence workshops and groups. Again, what happens is up to you – nobody is going to call and invite you to attend.</p>