UCSB vs Univ of Minn

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Barbara
1

<p>Okay besides the surf vs snow compare..any thoughts? D is looking at a BA in Biology at both school. U of Minn seems to have a better program for travel aboard and classes don't seem as impacted. Also cost is about the same (even being out of state from Cali). Big city vs small beach town</p>

2

<p>Wow, now there is a disparate pair of choices…</p>

<p>I can’t speak to U of Minn except that I didn’t understand it to be as highly rated as UCSB, but I don’t specifically know about their respective biology departments. Travel abroad I think you can do through any school, not just the one you attend, although I believe UCSB is pretty proud of theirs. You do have to make sure the credits apply back at your home campus. </p>

<p>Impacted is something to consider… but they are so different I would think one would just appeal to you far more than the other. Have you visited both?</p>

3

<p>ARWU actually has it ranked higher that US News. From an endowment standpoint I think U of Minn has more $$4 but both are generally good schools. Travel abroad just seems so closely thru the UCs…like they are making a profit on the program. Really biggest concern is the emphasis on the party scene. What else is there to do near campus other than the beach? What other nearby entertainment options are there for a student without wheels? </p>

4

<p>I’ll link another thread, because I am not a current student, but this has come up before. (I just took a detour and googled ‘ARWU’. I have never seen U of Minn ranked above UCSB, but sure enough, that one does. I’m more familiar with domestic rankings.)</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/1565852-too-much-partying.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/1565852-too-much-partying.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Minnesota is richer
go there for abroad studies</p>

6

<p>Minnesota is a fine university, and as a large flagship is likely better known overall than UCSB (which has to live in the shadows of UC-Berkeley and UCLA). Highly respected in the sciences. It has the largest study-abroad program in the country and a beautiful campus in a fun, culturally rich city. There is light rail to get you wherever you need to go, and a lot of the buildings are connected by tunnels to make getting around easier in the cold.</p>