I recently got into Conn College (a small liberal arts school) off the waitlist and am currently committed to UCSB. I’ve never visited Conn College and have lived in California my whole life so any input you have about the school and even how the East Coast culture is different from California (Bay Area) would be appreciated. My major is currently Undeclared but I’m most interested in Environmental Studies, Economics, and Political Science. Most people that I have talked to about my decision in my area have never heard of Conn College, so they aren’t the biggest help. Conn College gave me a good financial aid package, so it’s still a few thousand more than UCSB but it’s not a huge difference. I like the idea of small classes at Conn College, but I’m unsure if it would be too small as I love socializing with different groups of people. I also noticed that Conn College isn’t very ethnically diverse and wonder how that would be for me since I’m half Asian and grew up in a diverse area. What worries me about UCSB is that it be might too big as I love discussions in class and may not get that in the huge lecture classes. I also worry a bit about the party school reputation as I’m not the biggest partier.
Any advice?
I love a lot closer to Conn College than to UCSB. Consider the weather too. Believe me, the winters in CT are much different than those in SB.
For those majors, I think UCSB is a winner.
There probably could not be more different schools. UCSB is often known for its socially active students who do host many parties while Connecticut College is known for its slightly artsier and preppier vibe. You may also want to ask around in the Connecticut College forum for more information or check out some youtube tours.
As a Connecticut native, the biggest difference is probably the seasons. We have all 4 seasons in the state which includes beautiful autumns and snowy winters, which I understand is not as common in California. In all honestly though, there is probably more for college students to do in the surrounding town of Santa Barbara than New London. It’s not really a college town and although there are some hiking spots, aquariums, and mini-attractions nearby, I imagine that Santa Barbara has a more vibrant social life. You can probably check out the diversity statistics on their respective school websites.
Take this with a grain of salt because I have merely visited during the summer, but it struck me that many of the students were of upper middle class and the campus seemed too small and close to home. As a person who is very active extracurricularly, I didn’t want to be limited so you should check out if your EC interests align with the ones that they offer. Have you visited other small or similarily sized schools? They may offer you a metric for comparison in case you aren’t able to visit.
Perhaps I am letting my bias show, but I am of the personal opinion that you shouldn’t commit to a college that you have never visited and I think there would be less of a buyers remorse if you commit to a school that you are more familiar with. Plus I think it would just be easier than moving to the other side of the country. There is plenty of time for traveling and whatnot during study abroad.
Anyhow, as you find out more about the college you may change your mind. One thing that they did consistently mention when I visited is a program called CELS, could be looking into, but there may be an equivalant career or internship program at UCSB.
Best of luck in your decision.
CT winters have been dreadful for the past few years. It would be a tremendous change from California.
Winter might seem picturesque and charming from afar. But trust me. It’s not.
Two very different schools - a large public, and a small LAC. It is tough now as you can’t visit when school is in session. There is something exciting about going far away for college. But it can be tough as none of your college friends will live nearby. One of my nephews went from CA to Boston for college and loves it, even with the miserable winter this year. Don’t make the decision on weather alone. Winter is definitely doable.
A small school can be a great fit for many kids. But only you can decide that.
Remember to consider travel costs when comparing, if money is a concern. And make sure to ask if the package is definite for all four years.
Good luck!
My daughter picked up and moved from CA to the East Coast for Brown, sight unseen. She was really into the away experience. She like experiencing the other coast and the weather didn’t bother her. In fact she moved to the midwest for grad school and liked that too. She has only been back for internships.
I just met one young woman from Conn College in CA who said she had a great experience but we didn’t toak enough about it to get into here. I also think she was from the East Coast. You have to think if you are going to be okay with the experience even if it isn’t all to your liking. But I also think there is no need to worry about partying at SB. You can choose where you go and what friends you make. There are plenty of serious students. And they are great for Enviro Studies.
Conn College was one of the safeties my D looked at, as one of her close friends just finished her freshman year, and loved it.
While it may not be as diverse as you may be used to, it is still a LAC with very accepting people. And there are plenty of socially active people on campus.
We just had her friend over for dinner, and she was asking D why she chose Stanford over Yale. When D pointed out the weather in CA, her friend told her “But there is no drought in CT - you can run through the sprinklers on the manicured lawns every morning if you like.”
You have very good choices. Presumably you did your research on both schools before applying - did you internally rank them ahead of time? Go with your gut.
What if you enrolled at Connecticut as an undergrad with an eye to go to UCSB for grad? I’m partial to LACs but as those above have said, the Northeastern winters are tough.
I’m from the Bay Area and moved to the southeast in my 20’s. It was a huge cultural shock but for me, but I treated it as an adventure and I’m glad I did it. On the flip side, I’ve known a number of west coast people who didn’t do well with the transition and moved back to a coast. Take that for what it’s worth. My POV: as long as you are open to the different cultures and are accepting/respectful of them, you’ll find a home, be it in Santa Barbara or New London. And heads-up, Santa Barbara is a totally different culture from the Bay Area.
My youngest D, who’s all about science, is a rising sophomore at a local LAC. The small classes and personal attention are a really different experience for her, having come from a large public school. For the entry level science courses, I do think it makes a difference.
If you’re really on the fence then visit the campus.
Whichever you decide, you’ve got a fantastic college experience ahead of you.
Good luck!