<p>I'm a junior going into my senior year of high school at a competitive public high school in California and flipping out about college right now. I've been doing the research a lot lately and with my 3.6 Unweighted UC GPA (3.7 or 3.8ish unweighted haven't calculated that yet), 2080 SAT, 30 ACT, 5's on my AP English Language and APUSH tests and the best personal statement in said AP English class as graded by my teacher, I'm hoping that UC Davis, Irvine, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz will all be reasonable goals for me to achieve when I apply very soon.</p>
<p>But I'm concerned about those last two schools. I've done the research and on paper, I like certain parts of both schools. But I'm worried about attending either if I get into either based on their reputations as huge party schools.</p>
<p>I for one have never used "substances" in my life and while I consider myself a little geeky but very social and always eager to try new things and meet new people, drugs and alcohol are not on that list.</p>
<p>So give it to me straight; how bad is the party scene at UCSC?
If I'm not into drugs and alcohol, would I become an outcast?
Do the schools bad reputations ever affect social status and/or grad schools/job opportunities?
If the answer to the second question is no, what are some other ways to have fun and get a good education at the school?</p>
<p>I personally have nothing against people who like to party hard, I'll admit I've even been to a rave once on a friend's behalf; nor am I ignorant enough to suggest that everyone who goes to UCSC is a pot head or that no one cares about their grades (They wouldn't be in college if they didn't). I just want to make sure that wherever I end up, I am able to obtain a great education and have fun at the same time.</p>
<p>First thing you need to do: stop paying attention to stereotypes. That’s all they are and those who believe them will point at any instance that is in line with a stereotype as being proof it is a rule. Anything that contradicts is seen as an exception.</p>
<p>One of my favorite examples is Chico State. It has a huge reputation as a big party school. And yet several companies from Silicon Valley have purposefully hired graduates over the years from there over some other well known schools. Why? Because the Computer Science program is excellent and, last I had personal experience with it due to someone I know in the program, required an internship in the field just to graduate.</p>
<p>UCSC and all other schools are what you make of them. I’m allergic to marijuana, I’m far from being a party girl, and I qm most definitely a geek on many levels, but I more than enjoyed my time at UCSC and it was the place I felt I belonged.</p>
<p>Visit all schools you’re interested in. See if any “click” so to speak. Look at programs. Look at faculty. Look at everything. And then make your decision. Don’t let a reputation sway your decision before you’ve experienced a place for yourself.</p>
<p>Same as Kender, I hate MJ, don’t go to parties, and consider myself an introvert who’s a bit on the geeky side. </p>
<p>There will definitely be a lot of Marijuana floating around, though I doubt it’s any more prevalent than it is at other schools (seriously you should hear what my friend says about UCSD). </p>
<p>As for party’s, I’ve never been to a super extravagant one, only a couple small things. The bigger ones normally always occur off campus though so it won’t affect you if you want to be studious ;)</p>
<p>My stats were similar to yours going into UCSC and currently I have nearly a 4.0, am loving my major, and really enjoy living on campus. The library is great, most of the people are friendly, and in no way do they force you to do drugs or anything like that. </p>
<p>In terms of stereotypes, the only one I’ll say is mostly true is the one about Porter :P</p>
<p>Admissions is extremely competitive right now. (I applied last year) I would only say apply to those two because they’re your safety schools. UCSC accepts almost anyone. No, they are not a “prestigious” school, and i personally do not like how their campus is so spread apart, I like more of a sense of community (as in closeness). Yes, UC campus are big but the freshmen dorms are found in the same region, at ucsc they’re all separated and kids pay attention to the stereotypes they find on youtube. Also they’re lacking in the advising section. I’m not into UCSC for various reasons. But trust me, it’s a good safety.</p>
<p>The community is actually quite close despite the spread out nature of the campus. That is why the residential college system exists and, in my personal experience, it works quite well for many people. Not all, of course, but definitely many.</p>
<p>There really is no such thing as “frosh dorms” either. You can have themed halls or something of that nature, but there is nothing labeled “frosh dorms.” Especially since one of the residential colleges does not have dorms at all.</p>
<p>Rude and also someone who knows nothing about a university you seem so inclined to speak on. Do I detect a hint of eau du ■■■■■ wafting in the air?</p>
<p>I attended and graduated from UCSC. There are no general “frosh dorms” as you claim. There are hall and building themes that can and do change year to year. One of the residential colleges (Kresge) has no dorms period. Just apartments. Kresge does have frosh like the other residential colleges.</p>
<p>You should really not speak on things you know nothing about. It’s unbecoming and silly.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what I said, there are no freshmen theme dorms. I was clarifying that by freshmen dorms i meant where freshmen live. Triplescrew, you’re rude for saying that. Kender, from the beginning I could tell that you have a special connection to ucsc, and that’s wonderful. People have different opinions, and the admissions process has drastically changed starting with the h.s. class of 2012, so actually I do know a lot about universities and the process. You’re the one who’s telling me that I am speaking about something that I know nothing about, yet you claim I am the rude one? Everyone has their own opinion, accept it, but there’s no need to say I know nothing about UCSC. Calm down. I’m really quite offended that you are saying I am the rude and silly one, when you were the one who read my comment and felt the need to counter act it, by saying the opposite, great you think the campus is close knit that’s wonderful, but I don’t.</p>
<p>“There really is no such thing as “frosh dorms” either. You can have themed halls or something of that nature, but there is nothing labeled “frosh dorms.” Especially since one of the residential colleges does not have dorms at all.”</p>
<p>All I said was that by freshmen dorms I meant where freshmen live, because you had thought that I meant freshmen dorms was a theme. I was just clarifying. That is truly disrespectful.</p>
<p>I will try to explain things so that you understand better why I called your statements into question and said you do not know the campus well enough to speak on it with such familiarity. Going through the process is a whole lot different than attending a university itself and living it.</p>
<p>UCSC uses what is known as a residential college system. This is a system that has been created and put to use at several universities to create a smaller college feel at bigger universities. Something to create a smaller, closer community. At UCSC, there are 10 residential colleges. Cowell, Stevenson, Crown, Merrill, Porter, Kresge, Oakes, 8, 9, and 10. Each college has frosh, sophs, juniors, and seniors. When one graduates from UCSC, they receive their degree from their affiliated college.</p>
<p>You talked about the frosh dorms not being all together. However, this is a moot point as there are no general frosh dorms period. Yes, your follow up is that you simply meant “where frosh live,” but your original wording did not suggest this and the generally accepted definition of “frosh dorms” is a set of dorm buildings in which only frosh live. A community of only frosh. Not just rooms where frosh happen to sleep and keep belongings. This does not exist on UCSC’s campus in a general sense mostly because of the residential college system. If your definition was the generally accepted one, then why shouldn’t it include any place that a frosh inhabits? Therefore, any university that has commuting frosh from a parent’s home or frosh that live off campus would also have a separtion of “places where frosh live.”</p>
<p>My point? The places where frosh inhabit are so spread out on campus not because of them simply being separated due to the size of the campus, but because the residential college system which creates smaller learning communities within a larger university does so. Each college has its own graduation requirements including core classes that are exclusive to each college. Within each college you can and often do find themed halls and buildings within the housing for each college specifically ear marked for frosh. The colleges do attempt to house frosh together and it is often only the straggler who might have registered late for housing that is placed elsewhere. One can also request to not be placed in one of these communities.</p>
<p>I never said that it was a place or system for everyone, but I did correct your obvious missunderstanding of how housing and affiliation on campus works. There’s no need to be offended and throw a tantrum over how offended you are over being corrected about your missconception of how housing works at UCSC.</p>
<p>I hope you have a better understanding now.</p>
<p>I was going to do the same and reply some huge long extensive paragraph(s). Then something unexpected happened recently. Thank you for caring so much about me that you take your time to read my comments, and for responding to them in depth. Sometimes it feels like no one is listening. But I realized you don’t know me, and I shouldn’t care if you call me rude or whatever point you’re trying to get across (sorry I did not read the commet you posted). I apologise on my behalf if I was insulting in any way. Also there are other things that are more important to me and I’m sure there are other things that are more important to you. I just wanted to end on a good note. Ultimately, we’re both two different people, I haven’t even entered college and you already graduated, we’re on different routes and have different perspectives, and that’s a good thing, it enables people to read all sorts of comments not just a one sided comment. </p>
<p>Yeah, I know the feeling. That’s why I took my time to explain to you what I was trying to share. No offense, but it’s less because I care about you (in fact, I don’t at all because I don’t know you), and more because I care about better understanding being had by all. I enjoy discussion.</p>
<p>For my part, I should have given you the long explanation from the get go. I have been trying to reduce my long windedness as it often falls on deaf ears of people who do not enjoy reading novels (this is honestly not meant as an attack, just a general comment of some people I have encountered over the years both of those I know and those I don’t).</p>
<p>I sincerely wish you luck with your upcoming path. I traveled that road for many years due to family troubles. I had to wait until I was an independent student to afford college. When you have to wait as long as I did, you have a lot more time to reflect on the different little nuaces between schools. You really get the chance to explore what is a good fit and why something is as it is. Trust me when I say I will happily point to the flaws of even my school as well. I’ve had quite some time to contemplate things before I went there. I’m usually the first to tell people it is one of those campuses where the general response is either love it or hate it (although there are exceptions).</p>
<p>In the future, comments like “wow” when explaining your position are what come across as rude, by the way. It implies shock that someone said something and, in the context of attempting to explain your position, is indicative of a not so veiled insult of the other person. Trying to explain your position is not, however, rude and if that was all you had done without the “wow” comment, I would not have called you rude. Discussion is a good thing! I mean that sincerely.</p>
<p>I really hope you read this one post at least. Nothing is intended as an attack.</p>
<p>Also to add some humor: psh, life? What’s that. I work 7 days a week. I obviously get my joys in life from picking on people in between running from one thing to the next. ;)</p>
<p>My S is a rising soph at UCSC and was wary because of it’s party scene rep… he indicated that stuff is around but it is not pervasive. His roommate visits UC Davis weekly to be with his girlfriend and found Davis to be much more of a party school, largely connected with sports.</p>
<p>Also, UCSC is a less reliable safety these days. A girl with 3.9 u/w, lots of APs, extracurriculars did not get admitted. She did apply for biology, a popular major, which might explain it. With the added pressure on UCLA, Berk, Davis I think you will find the admission standards increase at UCSC. The main reason UCSC does not have the reputation of the other UCs is the lack of major grad departments-- law, medicine, etc. At 15,k students, it works well for a lot of people and trust me you can get a superb education there.</p>