<p>Alright I want some input from you guys,
I've been accepted to both and I'm a Chemistry major. Both schools are pretty close when it comes to my major. UC Davis is 6 hours away where as UCSB is an hour away. I might be leaning towards UCSB because it'll be easier to move to, has a higher graduation rate, and a promising party life (with moderation of course). UC Davis has a pretty good college town going on for itself, parties do happen there, it's a quieter atmosphere but it kinda feels right. I know that a UC education is hard regardless but I feel that Davis will be a lot harder, and I'm thinking about grad school, I have a 3.4GPA. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>I don’t know if Davis will be easier. UCSB is a hair higher in chem in ratings, but it is a tiny amount. It gets bigger if you look at the NRC ratings, though, which only come out every 15 years or so (here are those from 2010:) <a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: English Language and Literature”>http://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-English/124728/</a> the ranking by clicking on ‘s high’ is the normal, scholars think these are best, the r ranking is schools that have the same things scholars rank highly in other schools but are not the same ‘name’ or something. UCSB is tied at 14 with U of Chicago, Davis is at 30. </p>
<p>These are GRADUATE programs, but show the kind of resources on campus and since UCSB just has so few graduate students, I have been told that the undergraduates get tons of opportunities otherwise filled by graduate students.</p>
<p>Since these are graduate programs, they are a little different, but these are ranked by educators and scholars, not by a guy who just took statistics (USNews)…</p>
<p>Anyhow, I personally just like the atmosphere of UCSB better, but I love the town of Davis as well, and the campus there is lovely, too.</p>
<p>I like both your choices.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a fun alcoholic college experience, then UCSB is the way to go, hands down. However, if you are really thinking about your academics, then I suggest UC Davis. It is more prestigious overall, and there will be fewer distractions. Partying does get old, trust me, and by the time you are a junior all you will be thinking about is academics. Also, undergraduate and graduate rankings are not the same. Furthermore, you will not be given the same opportunities as an undergrad than a graduate student. If you look really put effort into finding opportunities such as research position, then you will obtain one. UCSB and UCD are both great UC’s but their atmosphere is very different. Pick the school that fits you the best.</p>
<p>@Wassupman99 Oh, please. UCDavis is one rank above UCSB in US news (Davis is tied at 39 and 40 with San Diego, UCSB is tied at 41), and UCSB has a lot of departments ranked more highly than Davis’s in NRS (actual scholars and industry rankings, not a random guy who took a statistic course.) If UCSB students are putting the nation into the dust on Materials and ME and ChemE etc and getting drunk every night, I’d say that speaks for their fortitude, but in reality the image is overblown by the outsiders who come in twice a year and take away stories of rages they themselves create. </p>
<p>UCSB has MORE opportunities for undergraduates than most schools because the graduate programs are so small, the undergraduates get the opportunities.</p>
<p>I think Davis is excellent and one of my sons may end up there. The town is charming and the students are friendly. However, UCSB is called ‘paradise’ by its students, who love their school every bit as much as Davis students love theirs. I do agree that you should go where you want to live for four years, between the two.</p>
<p>UC Davis has departments that are ranked higher for graduate programs than UCSB, but UCSB also has departments that are ranked higher than UCD. We can all agree on that. However, the statement above saying that UCSB has more opportunities for undergrads than most schools because the graduate programs are so small is absolutely false. Smaller graduate programs will have fewer opportunities for undergraduates, but I assume this means there is more individualized attention for graduate students. Finally, undergraduate students will not be given the same opportunities as graduate students. </p>
<p>Look for the university that will give you the best undergraduate experience. You will have plenty of time to worry about graduate school later.</p>
<p>@Wassupman99 we were told that at UCSB by students with those opportunities, pre med students shadowing doctors, etc. It sure seemed true, but I can’t independently verify, of course. There is a ton of research and funding on campus and there are few graduate students, yet the work gets done.</p>
<p>In any event, here is some stuff for Chem major undergrads at UCSB <a href=“http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/sites/www.chem.ucsb.edu/files/sitefiles/undergrad/research/ResearchandInternshipsSheet.pdf”>http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/sites/www.chem.ucsb.edu/files/sitefiles/undergrad/research/ResearchandInternshipsSheet.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://ceem.ucsb.edu/programs/ugrad-research”>http://ceem.ucsb.edu/programs/ugrad-research</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/undergrad/current/scholarships”>http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/undergrad/current/scholarships</a></p>
<p>some aren’t very specific, more a procedure for asking professors if you can work on their research etc. </p>
<p>However, I was responding to the : “If you are looking for a fun alcoholic college experience, then UCSB is the way to go, hands down.” </p>
<p>That seems a little biased. Those are UCSB students who are advertising their school, who already have those opportunities. I can say the same thing about research, funding, and graduate students about other schools. </p>
<p>And the part about UCSB essentially being a drinking school when it is higher rated in the OPs field? I am biased, I attended UCSB undergraduate, and my niece did recently, and my brother did. We all loved it. You attend Davis, I would suggest you are biased as the UCSB students talking about their undergraduate internship opportunities. However, there is no need to insult a good school.</p>
<p>By the way, you might want to check out UCSBs ranking in physics in the NRC rankings: <a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Physics”>http://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-Physics/124754/</a></p>
<p>You have to click on the highlighted heading ’ s ranking high’ to make them all line up by ranking instead of alphabetically.</p>
<p>@collegevetting thank you very much for the input I appreciate all of that, this is a really hard decision for me since both schools are pretty close to each other when it comes to my major. I’m basically choosing which environment I want to immerse myself in. However you’re not the first person to tell me about undergrad research opportunities, which makes me believe it must be promising. </p>
<p>@Wassupman99 thanks for that, I do care about my academics, but I also want a fun undergrad experience. The “full college experience” sort to speak. I’m a person that likes both sides of studying/having a good time. Davis isn’t a party school but it definitely has its own charm that is also beckoning. UCSB on the other hand is kinda what I’m looking for, I’m actually a Junior Transfer so I would only be there for 2 years.</p>
<p>I suggest the OP visit both schools to get a sense of which is a better fit. Also talk to the dept advisor to find out face-to-face about the opportunities for research. You could also look into whether there is a chemistry related club of some kind and reach out that way. Find the email of the club president and contact them - “I’m going to be visiting X on May 10th as a prospective chemistry student; I was wondering if you had 15 minutes to meet for coffee so I could get a student’s perspective on the program.”</p>
<p>@mikemac Kinda late for that, since he has to pick by today lol</p>
<p>@diegamos As a science major, you’re gonna need to go to grad school, so undergrad ranking doesn’t matter much, especially with such a minimal difference. I’d pick SB based on the more balanced atmosphere, but that’s just my opinion. Go where you’ll be the happiest.</p>
<p>@Lilliana330 actually, not too late. Read the title of the thread again. </p>
<p>Junior Fall 2014 Transfer </p>
<p>Deadline to submit a SIR for junior xfers is June 1st. Today is not June 1st ;)</p>
<p>@mikemac Oops missed that part lol…I still stand behind the rest of my post, though. :P</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for posting and giving your opinions, it really helped me out formulate some pros and cons. My final decision was UCSB. I decided UCSB because I thought that it could give me a better balance between having fun/social life and education. I thought of my friend who went to University of Washington who ended up transferring because he was so unhappy. Since I only have two years of undergrad left I didn’t want to risk going to Davis and being unhappy because I hear that there isn’t much of a night life there. I’m sure I would have SOME fun at Davis but SB seemed more secure. I hope this thread helps out anyone else in the future to get an idea of what they want from their undergrad experience. </p>