<p>So here's my story:
I recently was admitted to both UCSC and UCSB and I can't decide which one to go to! I visited both campuses over the summer and I like both of them because they have distinguishing "personalities" that seperate them from everyday run-of-the-mill schools. I'm a Sociology major and UCSC is ranked well in the Social Sciences, but UCSB has an overall better ranking. I know quite a few people that attend UCSC, so it wouldn't be too hard getting to know people. I am from Nor Cal and have heard many stereotypes about the So Cal crowd, which is also having a large impact my decision because I don't know if I would make a lot of friends with the people there. UCSC will be less expensive than UCSB and closer to home (still over 100 miles away), but at UCSB I will have all of my major pre-reqs completed (still need one more for UCSC) and I won't have to take a comprehensive class in my Senior year for my major, which is a graduation requirement at UCSC. I am so confused about which one would be the best option. What do you guys think? Which school should I choose?</p>
<p>SB no doubt,</p>
<p>SC is ok, but SB is better in academics (What does that say about SC!?) except in certain micro-research areas (marine biology for example).</p>
<p>I’m from San Francisco and ended up going to UCSB… Keep in mind that UCSB is perhaps one of the most diverse UC’s as far as geographic origin of California goes. For example, 35% of UCSB students come from counties north of UCSB, and you can see a graphic representation of that here:</p>
<p>[California</a> County Attendance Profiles 2005-2007](<a href=“http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/factbook/county/countymap0507.cfm]California”>http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/factbook/county/countymap0507.cfm)</p>
<p>Have you visited both campuses?</p>
<p>I got into SB as a Soc. major too. I’m debating between that and SD</p>
<p>i made this same decision 2 years ago, albeit as a freshman entrant; i definitely thought the same way about both campuses (that they had personalities which distinguished them from the other schools i got into, eg uci and slo) and ended up choosing the one that “felt” most right: UCSB. </p>
<p>i’m a social sciences major and i can vouch for the quality of UCSB’s social sciences departments, having taken courses in sociology, black studies, asian american studies, and women’s studies. the professors in these departments are, as a rule, pretty fantastic; off the top of my head applebaum and the baldwins are world-famous and teach in the sociology department. i can try to answer any specific questions you have in this area.</p>
<p>in terms of the norcal/socal thing, there is a slant towards socal (it’s pretty much assumed that you are from south of santa barbara) but as someone from norcal, it’s definitely not an issue. there are great people here who fit the socal “aesthetic” and great people who don’t; depending on what things you choose to do on campus, you can meet both and probably befriend both. </p>
<p>what i would be wary about is diversity: SB is, by and large, white. if you are white, or used to being around large numbers of white people, this might not be an issue, but if you are from a diverse part of norcal, then you might want to consider this fact. there are race issues on campus, just a couple weeks ago two asian males were assaulted in front of a frat house; that was definitely rare, but, being asian and from norcal, i have experienced messed-up things that probably wouldn’t have happened if i went to another uc. as someone who is involved on campus and deals with a lot of different campus orgs i can also answer any questions you have about this, and other issues (like in IV or whatever).</p>
<p>in spite of this, i don’t regret coming to sb at all. i’ve been able to succeed academically and socially, mostly because there is a huge number of opportunities to get involved in a million different ways. i’d be happy to answer any other questions you have.</p>
<p>^UCSC has very similar demographics to UCSB. Here’s the data as presented on each of the schools websites (in their own formats)</p>
<p>UCSC
Euro-American 47%
Asian American/Pacific Islander 25%
Chicano/Latino 18%
African American 3%
American Indian 1%
Not stated (U.S. residents) 6%</p>
<p>UCSB
American Indian/Alaskan Native 1%
African American 3%
Chicano 15%
Latino 5%
Asian/Pacific Islander/E. Indian/Pakistani 13%
Filipino 3%
Caucasian 53%
Other 7%</p>
<p>Go to UCSC if you like green.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara is ranked much higher in Sociology.</p>
<p>“I am from Nor Cal and have heard many stereotypes about the So Cal crowd, which is also having a large impact my decision because I don’t know if I would make a lot of friends with the people there.”</p>
<p>that’s just silly.
people are people, man.
don’t buy into the norcal/socal superiority scheme.</p>
<p>i am having the same problem. im a transfer from san francisco and i got into UCSB and UCSC, but i cant decide where to go. have u made your decision yet?</p>
<p>Go to UCSB, it’s ranked much higher!</p>
<p>I actually haven’t made my decision yet. I’m kinda leaning slightly more towards UCSC because I think the people there are more friendly and laid-back, but UCSB is a “better” school, so I’m not sure. I think that they will both be great schools and they both have very appealing academic programs. I just can’t figure this out lol!! Are you leaning more towards one school?</p>