<p>Ok, I know the SIR deadline is approaching but I just can't decide X(</p>
<p>Is UCSC really that bad of a UC? I love the campus and the people seem very friendly, also I ultimately want to end up back in the bay no matter what so it might be helpful to be near the bay/silicon valley when its recruiting/internship time right? But is Santa Cruz heavily looked down upon by employers? I would think not since it's a UC, but I'm not sure. Is it a "joke" of a UC? The acceptance rate is over 60%!</p>
<p>Now CSULB, it is a Cal State, so it's screwed by the budget crisis and it is a CSU so not as prestigious, BUT it's been my dream school for 3-4 years now and I always thought and hoped I would be going there. I love that it has more school spirit, more outgoing people, and is more of a party school. Way more selective in admissions too, at 30%. No one I know has ever gotten in, out of high school or as a transfer. </p>
<p>I know its not all about rankings, but it is somewhat important to me as I know it will matter to future employers, and will follow me my whole life. Does anyone have any advice or experience with either schools? Or know how their "prestige" will affect my resume?</p>
<p>BTW: I'm a Psych major and from what I understand both have departments that are decent, somewhat on the same level, and both impacted. And cost isn't a deciding factor.</p>
<p>If rankings are your concern, then I have good news. Both schools are so low on the totem pole that they’re past the point at which individual rankings are relevant.</p>
<p>ucs always look better. but it really depends on the experience you want, look at class size ratios, dorming… for instance ucsc has great dorming. and they are a great research school. their psych department is doing experimental or something. i was going to go there after high school, but didnt pass my math… a few of my best friends went there and have jobs, although not the one who majored in anthro cus shes lost her mind and having a midlife crisis. but it just depends. ucs do have more funding right now, and ucsc. kresge has the best housing in my opinion cus you can get your own room…</p>
<p>and omg ucsc loves school pride they are just not sports, etc ppl. they have so many things going on though and sammy the banana slug means they have some seriously cute swag</p>
<p>ucsc is smaller…</p>
<p>i think this website is helpful
http://<strong><em>.com/california-state-university----long-beach/
http://</em></strong>.com/university-of-california----santa-cruz/</p>
<p>What a dumb, uncalled for post. If these schools are “beneath” you, then don’t post in thread about them.</p>
<p>@beachgirl9</p>
<p>UCSC is ranked as one of the top 100 universities in the nation (#75). CSULB is not ranked as a national university for various reasons. It is nowhere near as good as UCSC. I can’t speak for job opportunists as employers seek out their own universities. UCSC isn’t prestigious as some of the other UCs, but #75 in the country is nothing to laugh at.</p>
<p>If you’re really that concerned about rankings, you could stay at a CC and bring your GPA up a bit to TAG to another UC.</p>
<p>@ Beachgirl, If you are hoping for employment in Silicon Valley, companies there basically recruit from three universities: Stanford (private, expensive, super competitive admissions), UC Berkeley (public but very competitive for admission) and San Jose State University (almost impossible to get into unless you are applying from their service area).</p>
<p>Just curious, why was LB your dream school? Aside from the cool ass giant pyramid and the fact that it has a billion hot girls, is it recognized for being awesome for psychology or something? </p>
<p>If prestige is a concern, you’d probably be better off going to UCSC. Either one should be great, though.</p>
<p>if your planning on going into graduate school, i’d recommend csulb. If your planning on going straight into the working force i would say ucsc. Both are good schools to attend. comes down to which campus u like more, and the location of the school. pm me if you got more questions :O</p>
<p>UCSC is clearly the better school. CSULB isn’t even good enough to make the USN national universities rankings; UCSC is #75 in the nation. If prestige is your concern, you should definitely go there unless you really hate the school or something.</p>
<p>Please don’t go all self-righteous on me. Your next paragraph is literally dismissing CSULB completely based on its rankings by one publication. I seriously hope you see the hypocrisy.</p>
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<p>You honestly believe that a potential employer is going to look at a UCSC graduate’s application and be impressed that they attended the 75th best university in the United States (again, according to one source)? No, sorry. A ranking of 75 is mediocre. And it just so happens that UCSC gets lumped in with about 100 other schools, including CSULB, that manage to reach that same level of mediocrity. Employers know this, and so they’re not going to care if an applicant went to a school ranked 75 or 132. Either way, they’re going to end up with an extremely average employee suffering from supremely low self-esteem (one of the many side effects of attending UCSC). So basically, if your school is ranked 50+, don’t worry about prestige. Unless of course you’re graduating from Cal State Dominguez Hills or some ****.</p>
<p>Besides, OP is a psychology major. Last I checked, the primary employer for most people graduating with a psych BA (Burger King) isn’t too picky about university reputation.</p>
<p>What’s wrong with you? Having a bad day? I don’t know what you mean by “all self-righteous on me”. My point was simply that if these schools are aren’t worth discussing in your opinion, then don’t post in a thread about them. Sorry if that’s too hard for you to understand. I didn’t “dismiss” CSULB at all, I just wanted the OP to know that if prestige was her concern, then UCSC would be the better chioce as CSULB is not ranked, while UCSC is top 100 in the country. The OP asked for advice on what to choose, so I gave mine. Not everyone may agree with me of course. But your post was just stupid, and your new post is even dumber. It didn’t add to the discussion at all, it was just a cheap shot at the OP/UCSC. Get a life dude. If UCSC/Psychology are that pointless to discuss to you, then don’t discuss them.</p>
<p>CSULB is almost unheard of outside of LA and Orange County. The only CSU with any sort of national recognition would be Cal Poly SLO.</p>
<p>To some extent, graduating from college is graduating from college, BUT I have this odd feeling that just going to a UC, any UC will carry some additional weight on your resume in the years to come. If, however, you end up going to graduate school it doesn’t matter so much.</p>
<p>Regardless, you have two years to take advantage of whatever opportunities you have around. Be a leader on campus, join clubs and take on leadership roles. Take on relevant work/internship experience(and if at all possible go for big name corporations, big names carry weight even if the position is menial), and do your best. You have 2 years to push yourself to the limits.</p>
<p>I have a friend who’s a psych major at UCSC and loves it. UCSC will probably be looked at a little better by employers and since it’s a research university (CSULB is not), then you will have research opportunities, if you choose to take advantage of them. The only UC that may be looked down upon is UCM because it is so new.</p>
<p>Really? You should probably change your password then, as it seems someone else figured it out and posted the following nonsense using your account:</p>
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<p>You’re not just talking about prestige. I think you actually believe UC Santa Cruz is a better school simply because US News & World Report told you that it is. So apparently, when they told you that CSU Long Beach was not worthy of their top 100, you did what any good sheep would do and preached the findings of thy great and holy USNWR to anyone and everyone (this thread included). You’ve done a terrific job by the way; I’m sure Bob Morse would be proud.</p>
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<p>I really don’t know why you keep bringing this up as an argument. I’ve not once said that UC Santa Cruz is not worthy of discussion.</p>
<p>UCSC and CSULB are both great schools. I know many people who have gone to UCSC, and a few who have gone to CSULB, all of whom are very bright.</p>
<p>Don’t let rankings determine where you go. Instead, think about where you really want to be for the next two years. If you are planning on going to graduate school, as long as you do very well at the University you transfer to and keep your eye on the prize, you will be able to get into good graduate programs.</p>
<p>You have done well, and I am sure you will continue to do well wherever you go. </p>
<p>I don’t why I have to keep repeating myself. The OP’s primary concern was prestige. So I wanted to make it clear that according to the rankings (which is all prestige is), UCSC is ranked much higher. It doesn’t mean that on that basis alone, it is better university, I never said that was the case. But prestige is reputation, and UCSC has a much better one. Also, I’d really like to see all the lists that put CSULB higher than UCSC, since USN is completely wrong, right? I’m sure you have links to all of those rankings, becuase I’ve never seen any. Please let me in.</p>
<p>You should be proud, man. I’ve never seen such blatantly malicious posts on CC:</p>
<p>"If rankings are your concern, then I have good news. Both schools are so low on the totem pole that they’re past the point at which individual rankings are relevant. "</p>
<p>“Besides, OP is a psychology major. Last I checked, the primary employer for most people graduating with a psych BA (Burger King) isn’t too picky about university reputation.”</p>
<p>But, I’m sure your very proud of those kind and thoughtful posts.</p>