I submitted my SIR to UCSB but just got accepted off of the waitlist for UCSD and have absolutely no idea where I want to go now…
UCSB Pros:
-UCSB is four hours away from my hometown
-I heard it is an awesome college city
-The location is great (the ocean is right there!)
-It is a really good school (ranked #8 public schoolon usnews!)
-Strong but not domineering Greek Life I may want to be a part of (Only like 10% of the student population actually participate in greek life)
-Really nice people and plenty of Facebook pages and group chats
-Totally a welcoming and friendly environment
-Not as competitive as Davis in terms of pre-med, but still has plenty of opportunities (like volunteering!)
-THE WEATHER
-Reaaalllyyyy cool intramural clubs (like surfing!)
-I have been able to directly contact a few current UCSB students because they reach out to prospective students more
-It is a party school, so I would definitely be forced out of my comfort zone (and hopefully make some friends)
-Financial Aid is really nicely laid out (easy access and easy to understand)
-“Work hard, Play hard” mindset, which may not really be a bad thing…
-Pre-Bio Major
-Picked an orientation date
-Already have great roommates and some friends
UCSD Pros:
-A really good school
-Has a med school soooo v
-Strong pre-med programs and volunteer opportunities
-Grandma lives here!
-It isn’t a party school so I would be forced to focus on studies more
-BUT, it is still college… so I am bound to have some fun
-The Greek Life seems absolutely adorable and friendly, and kind of what I am looking for…
-The weather
-The people there are more like MY kind of people
-Great online resources (honestly, they’re really helpful)
-More comfortable environment in terms of not SoCal/ABG stereotypical……
-Cheaper cost of living (by a few hundred dollars… but the tuition is like $100 more)
-Location is still great (it’s a city!!!<3)
-Overall cheaper
-The FOOD
UCSB Cons:
-It is a party school, so I would definitely be forced out of my comfort zone…and may end up feeling completely out-of-place (I am relatively shy and antisocial… but don’t want to be haha)
-I could get caught up in the nightlife and end up with terrible grades (considering I have spent my adolescence in complete shelter from all things “fun”)
-I don’t know anyone who attends the school
-A lot of the online resource videos and youtube videos I found were primarily concerned with displaying either the Greek Life or party scene
-SO MANY ATTRACTIVE, MODEL-WORTHY PEOPLE (I don’t want to feel like I am still in high school comparing myself to the “popular kids” #immatureinsecurities)
-4 hours is still kind of far…
-I was so ready to leave Cali……. Idk if I wanna go back to SoCal to LIVE there for four years….
-No offence, but half the girls there seem like hoes…. And like 25% seem completely antisocial…… the other 25% seem pretty cool though c:
-Higher crime and sexual assault rates
-There doesn’t seem to be a lot to do…
UCSD Cons:
-It may be a little more difficult to be social (I would have to find the parties… I am sure the parties won’t find me haha)
-In fact, it may even be “UC Socially Dead”
-It is ranked lower than UCSB (barely)
-Undeclared major (Of course, that’s not a big deal, but it was super easy switching my major for UCSB)
-Everything is slightly more…. Independent? (The current students are a little less inclined to help than the social SB students—and I could use all the help I could get)
-COMPETITIVE (It may be harder to get a higher GPA)
-It’s not new or exciting. I’m familiar with California
-So much to do (SIR, orientation dates, residency paper and information, test scores, etc.)