<p>I have heard conflicting things about UCSC , but I haven't been able to understand why people either do or don't like it/do well there other than restating the carry over reputation from the 60s. Surely things have changed. They apparently have received a grant from NASA for astrophysics research, but what other departments are strong? Students are generally better prepared than they were 30 years ago, and the campus is wonderful.
Can anyone enlighten me?</p>
<p>The quality of the student body has always been a question mark because of its low selectivity. Prior to the opening of Merced, UCSC and UCR were the least selective of the UC system. Until a few years ago, UCSC used to accept 100% of all minimally qualified apps, i.e., 2.8 gpa.</p>
<p>They do have a joint Eng degree with Cal, two years in SC and two years in Berkeley.</p>
<p>"PC" is an over-used term these days, but there is a definite mindset and feel to the students at UCSC and you're either with them or you're going to be very uncomfortable. Its a bipolar school from what I hear; you either love it or hate it, fewer hold middle opinions. Among UC schools it has the highest number of students transferring out to other UCs.</p>
<p>It can't be more PC than Brown, or Wesleyan, can it ? And yet that doesn't seem to be a problem for those who choose those schools. Why do you think SC is different? Is it primarily the caliber of the students?</p>
<p>Its reputation started with a Garrison Keiller attitude: all our kids are above average, so all classes are pass fail. Of course, they now offer grades, but a high reputation is hard to build</p>
<p>I went to UCSC in the early 70s. This was when it was more selective than CAL. Its focus has always been on undergraduate education, which is one of its pluses. Since I graduated (although I don't think that has anything to do with it), its selectivity and reputation have diminished.</p>
<p>That said, even in the 70's when everyone was a sociology or psych major, the natural sciences programs got the lion's share of funding. I believe this continues today, and there are lots of opportunities in the sciences.</p>
<p>avoiding work - did you get a good education, in your view? </p>
<p>My son ( a junior) visited Santa Cruz this week, along with Davis, Stanford and Cal. He liked them all, actually, but was surprised at his positive feelings toward Santa Cruz. His buddies at home had teased him about it being a weed factory. He found the setting and the science offerings attractive. It's too bad that it takes schools decades to live down a colorful reputation that may no longer be true. Hopefully he'll ignore his friends and make his own decision when the time comes.</p>
<p>In some ways, UCSC is still a weed factory. If you look at the crime statistics on the
<a href="http://ope.ed.gov/Security/%5B/url%5D">http://ope.ed.gov/Security/</a> website, UCSC had 700+ drug and 1300+ liquor violations in 2003. That seems pretty "high" for an institution of 15,000.</p>
<p>UCLA = 55/460 (37,000)
UCSB = 100/600 (20,800)
UCSD = 150/1000 (24,000)
Davis = 30+/200+ (29,000)</p>
<p>I didn't see any stats for Berkeley.</p>
<p>UCSC has always been a beautiful campus and students who choose to will certainly get a decent education there. But Santa Cruz still carries an image of bongs and skateboards.</p>
<p>UCSC, Brown, Wes? Are you serious? Just look at the stats of admits. No comparison. There was actually a time UCSC was more selective than Cal? Hard to believe. Not even in the same stratosphere today.</p>
<p>Zagat; shouldn't you be doing a commentary on the food service? How about vegan specialties on campus? :)</p>
<p>Sorry, Avoidingwork, but in the '70s ALL UC campuses accepted EVERY minimally eligible applicant, i.e., 2.8, so selectivity was in who had the best stuff to keep kids high-- Berkeley was down slightly in apps due to the '60s riots, and many parents in outside of NorCal refused to let their kids apply there.</p>
<p>I was very surprised and dismayed to learn that a family friend dislikes it there intensely, although I know this happens to freshman and they get over it. Feels isolated from friends, isolated from going to town, not comfortable at night crossing campus. Academically is getting all A's with very little effort. No one speaks up in class. This is very different than I was led to believe and it's hard to imagine. I'm wondering if it is just this person.</p>