<p>I got accepted to both and i currently have the dilemma of which one to go to. I checked out riverside over the spring break and have to agree that the 10 mile radius or so around the university isnt that bad, but after that 10 mile radius its pretty ghetto. I got bored after leaving the campus since there was nothing to do in riverside! I heard police sirens all through the night in my hotel room, and the traffic from LA to Riverside is horrible. Its also 6 hours away from where i am located.</p>
<p>On the plus side of things there business school seems to be what i am aiming for. My main concern is just getting a job after my four years and riverside seems to have alot of tools that would allow that. Their dorms were nice and the campus looked clean but was a bit smaller compared to other schools, but i saw some construction so it looks like they are expanding a bit.</p>
<p>I have been to UCSC since my sister graduated from their as a bio major. Rent is high after dorming and she said that its not very fun in terms of a "college experience" she was in a sorority but even with that she still put down the fun factor. She said i would get a better experience at UCR (Which i first denied but after visiting i see that alot of students tend to get close since your constantly at school) and a better education in business. From staying with her over the summer in her apartment right near the boardwalk i found that at night santa cruz is a sketchy place to be around theres alot of druggys and homeless people roaming around. </p>
<p>Im planning on going on a guided tour sometime next week but i just wanted to know your guys thoughts on both schools and there business programs also if you have any info on frats at UCR or UCSC that would be appreciated</p>
<p>Within the UC system/California, UCSC is regarded as a step up in terms of prestige/academics. not sure if that matters to you.</p>
<p>There is no real frat scene at either place but you can meet people. If you want frats you might try a SDSU or frat friendly CSU. That being said, UCSC would be my choice, but either way you really can’t go wrong. If there is any cost differential I would opt for the cheaper alternative as these schools are comparable.</p>
<p>Yea cost is about the same just a 2,000 difference really, but considering the fact that its already alot in education 2,000 isnt adding very much. I just would hate to be extremely bored in college, i know the main focus is school but having fun is also up on my list too.</p>
<p>I have the same dilemma of helping my son choosing between ucr and ucsc. We finally toured both colleges and like ucsc students diversity better. UCR has about at least 70% asian; we’re also Asian but just not used seeing too many Asian (70% is alot) in a college campus. Ranking wise, UCSC is in the 70 and UCR is in the 90, still within the top 100, from USnews last year. A ucr counselor told us that ucr only requires 3.0 to get in where as other UCs are much higher. We probalby will send our son to UCSC and we’re from San Diego. We are a little concern about the saying that UCSC has a lot of weeds uses in campus. Is this true as of recent? And are most classes easy to enroll?</p>
<p>To schooldad: Im also asian and ive toured a couple of campuses and youll find at most UC’s the majority of the population is asian… The whole thing about drug use is… its true there is alot of pot smokers in santa cruz and it is not recent(i live in northern california and regularly goto Santa Cruz for vacation or to hang out) the reason santa cruz is refered to as a heavy pot school is because they are very liberal and open. But thats not to say that drug use isnt prevelant in every school. It just really factors on your son and what type of person he is and who he chooses to surround himself with. </p>
<p>And on the rankings ive heard that UCR is actually higher according to member UCR2013 but im not too sure how reliable that is. (link below)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-riverside/520806-ucr-great-school-ucrespected.html?highlight=UCSC+ucr[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-riverside/520806-ucr-great-school-ucrespected.html?highlight=UCSC+ucr</a></p>
<p>schooldad: It’s weird that you say UCR has more asians than SC and it does not have a lot of diversity because in fact, UCR is the most diverse UC.</p>
<p>In the end a UC is a UC. In my opinion I do not think ranking matters all that much,
I mean seriously after a person gets there BA its not like they will automatically be
rich and infamous just because they went to that prestige or high ranking school. In fact, nowadays it does not really matter where one goes for their undergraduate but on the other hand, their graduate school is what matters -getting ones masters.</p>
<p>Plus, UCR is expanding. Little by little it’s growing. Once they open up there
new medical program in 2012 then people will start paying more attenion to UCR -more people are going to want to go there… you just see:)</p>
<p>(Just thought I’d put that out there.)</p>
<p>I’d pick UCSC. It is a more beautiful area, and the students body is small, has a bit of an scholarly combined with creative bent. It was one of 3 my daughter applied to (Berkeley, UCSD, UCSC), because her GC thought she would like it and the intellectual atmosphere. She didn’t consider how party or frat friendly any of these campuses were, however. I think all of the UC’s are large enough that you can find the kind of people you want to hang out with.</p>
<p>As for pot smoking, virtually all colleges have students pot smoking. It is the norm. It is up to you if you want to do it or not. They may be good students or not so good, but people who smoke casually are not likely to pester others or be bad students.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about UC Riverside, I will say. I don’t care for the area particularly. But the people I do know who went there did extremely well, due to their single minded focus on academics. One graduated from top law school now and passed bar first time. Other is doing important grad field work.</p>
<p>No opinion on business schools as undergrad. I am surprised that UCSC even offers it. I just have a personal prejudice that business school at the undergrad is a weak major.</p>
<p>johnnyta… the correct phrase is not “majority are Asian”, but “the plurality is Asian”. Last I checked (18 mos. ago) UCI was the only one with majority – 52% Asian at the time, and on down to Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego being somewhere in the mid 40s, down to Santa Cruz and SB being well under 30%.</p>
<p>So, not sure where you got the 70% figure…</p>