<p>I just got accepted into UCSB and UC Davis, and ultimately want to be a physical therapist. I run track and field (long & triple jump), and will be on the team whichever school I go to. Here are the pros and cons:</p>
<p>UC Davis</p>
<p>PROS: Kinesiology Major. Offers Grad School. Less of a party school, more concentration on studies. </p>
<p>CONS: Cold weather (don't normally perform well). Over 7 hours away (driving) and an hour plane ride, which would get expensive coming home for holidays. I've heard on the weekends alot of people go home, and the town shuts down at like 9pm. Not much to do in the town? </p>
<p>UCSB</p>
<p>PROS: Mild weather. Beach. Little under 3 hours away, easy to drive home for holidays. In the area I want to live when I get older. Good area to intern for physical therapy. Social life is good, parties are available, but there are places to get studying done and relax. </p>
<p>CONS: They only offer an Excersise Science minor, which means I'd have to go onto a Grad School for 3 more years to get my Masters somewhere else. Less "academically prestigious"?</p>
<p>ANY advice? insights? arguments? I have about 3 weeks to decide!
Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Sounds like UCSB is the much better overall fit for you (minus the major). Does major really matter for entrance into physical therapy school, or is it akin to med school where majors don't really matter?</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you are not limited to staying at your undergrad institution when it comes to grad school...</p>
<p>Have you visited either school? It seems like you have a few misconceptions about UC Davis including the social scene. Granted it is not as large as UCSB, you will have no problems finding parties or a social scene in general.</p>
<p>Therefore the real question is whether your major or the climate is a more important determining factor in your decision.</p>
<p>The 2 schools have different environments as you noted, tend to attract somewhat different students, and so on. I suggest that you visit both if possible, staying overnite with friends from your HS. </p>
<p>Keep in mind, too, that even if you are 100% convinced that you're going to be a PT a lot of people enter college with one thing in mind and switch. Maybe you'll find something you like a lot better, maybe you'll find out you hate the physics and calculus classes you need to take, whatever. So I'd be cautious about making a decision based heavily on your intended major.</p>
<p>Bottom line, though, both are good schools. Realistically, no matter which one you go to you'll probably be happy and glad you chose it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I run track and field (long & triple jump), and will be on the team whichever school I go to.
<p>Davis...cold weather??
Son took Davis off his list because it is too hot there.
He also has a friend who is on the track team at Davis and really likes it.</p>
<p>Some students have a hard time studying at UCSB because they get sidetracked by their social life.
UC Davis has a Greek system and plenty of students living on campus. There is an active social life there, just not quite the party scene that you'll find at UCSB.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Too cold in the winter and too hot/humid in the summer. Close to Sacramento weather.<<</p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>I'm a Davis alum and in my four years there the summer weather was hot but not humid. It's a dry heat. Moreover nearly all of the hot days are in July and August when the undergrads aren't there anyway. Undergrads get a few hot days right after they show up in late September and a few more just before they head home for the summer, but that's it.</p>
<p>Typical winter weather is cold rain or fog. They say it gets cold enough to snow there maybe once every 10 or 20 years. It never snowed while I was there.</p>
<p>If you want parties, Davis has parties. Overall. I think UCD provides an excellent college experience because it's a nice self-contained college town - perhaps the only true college town in California. Everythng you need is right there, plus it's located half way between the ski slopes of Tahoe and the bright lights of the Bay area.</p>
<p>Davis definitely isn't cold, and parties are definitely not lacking. Neither is it a commuter school. Make sure you visit both schools because yes they are different, but not for the reasons you mentioned above.</p>
<p>
[quote]
>>Too cold in the winter and too hot/humid in the summer. Close to Sacramento weather.<<</p>
<p>I'm a Davis alum and in my four years there the summer weather was hot but not humid. It's a dry heat. Moreover nearly all of the hot days are in July and August when the undergrads aren't there anyway. Undergrads get a few hot days right after they show up in late September and a few more just before they head home for the summer, but that's it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Cold and humid depends on what you get use to or your perspective. Sacramento is humid enough that they have to spray for mosquitoes in the summer. But not as humid as the South. I go skiing regularly pass Davis/Sacramento, on my way to Tahoe for more than 4 years.</p>
<p>^^Spraying for mosquitoes is not an accurate measure of humidity. Lots of dry places have mosquitoes. And if your experience with Davis/Sacramento weather consists of driving through on your way to skiing, that means you are passing through in the winter, which tells you nothing about how hot or humd it might be during the summer.</p>
<p>As you can see in the hot afternoons during the warm summer months, the relative humidity in Sacramento is down around 30%, which is quite dry and comfortable compared to humid places where it can be above 80 or 90% in the afternoons. Like I said, it's a dry heat.</p>
<p>I'd go for the major you want. There isn't enough difference between two UC's to warrant giving up your major. It's not that expensive to drive from Davis to LA. It's a straight shot down highway 5.</p>
<p>Personally I think UCDavis would be a better fit, I know that davis just got in division 1 for sports, not sure for all of them. Also they have great interests in your subject. Plus they have oppurtunity for research on exercise biology, and what not. Perhaps I may be a biased since the college is gorgeous and the town is very adorable. You should definitely visit the colleges. They are really different. To me UCSB is more into marine biology and the arts.</p>
<p>Thanks guys for all the advice, it really is helping with my decision.</p>
<p>I've visited both schools and like them both.
Personally, davis was definitely a more of a college town whereas sb seemed more like a vacation spot.</p>
<p>I think Davis would offer me alot more academically (in my specific area of study) and athletically, I'll just need to get used to the cold weather in the winter. </p>
<p>Does anyone know of train/amtrak opportunities that travel from Davis to the Los Angeles or San Luis Obispo area? :)</p>