My son has been accepted to both. How would you compare the two schools in terms of 1) academics and 2) overall campus experience. He will probably major in Politics or International Relations. Which school would most kids prefer? Thanks.
They are both excellent academically. Don’t know about those particular majors though. Although both are close to the ocean, the campus vibe is different at them. Definitely easier to get to the beach at UCSB. Visit the admitted student days at each if you can. Some kids like that UCSB seems more social and friendly, some like UCSD’s reputation for being more serious. They each have a certain reputation among the kids.
academics: UCSD has a pretty strong program in both of those majors, and the International Relations major is closely tied to the School of Global Policy and Strategy. I don’t know about SB’s programs, but either school is probably a solid choice.
campus experience: UCSD isn’t dead by any means, but it also doesn’t have the party reputation that UCSB does. There’s definitely a more academic culture. The natural surroundings are beautiful at both schools. I’d attend the SB admit day and Triton Day before making a decision.