<p>I recently attended orientation at UCSC. I looked at Cowell, and I'm very happy with it. It's absolutely beautiful and has an amazing view and location. However, I am beginning to regret choosing Cowell over Porter, mostly because of the social scene.</p>
<p>However, this regret is almost completely unfounded as I really don't know anything about the social scene at either college. What can you guys tell me about Cowell? Is it fun? What are the people like? Is it laid back like a lot of Santa Cruz? Parties/drugs/sex/rocknroll/etc?</p>
<p>Well well, for what its worth…I was assigned to Porter, in spite of my strong preference for Cowell and I may wonder for my part as you do. But what have we?–associations put forth by statistical statements, websites and single students typing into online forums. Cowell, in my personal view, has the best look on campus, in architecture and landscaping. But it is associated with the language fields, philosophy and literature. Porter is associated with art majors and pot heads, but the association is meaningless since transfer students (such as myself) began to be admitted there as well (as no category admits of greater variance as the transfer student). And art majors, is it an informative stereotype or does it cover anyone from Prince Williams to Adam Sandler? Answer–it does, they were both art majors.</p>
<p>So in the end, what do you and I have, meaningless associations, a fresh new surrounding and ourselves—grounds for whatever social scene we are willing to create. So, to that end I send you good luck, while I withhold all envy, residing in Porter, as I bid you do the same, living in Cowell.</p>
<p>the entire university is laid back, just certain parts of it are more laid back. btw, what is your name, i was at orientation today. were you the guy with the beard?</p>
<p>Hahaha the blonde beard? No that wasn’t me. I can’t really think of anything that’d make me stand out… I was wearing an inkblot shirt</p>
<p>Turner is the building at Cowell for continuing students right?</p>
<p>yes. Turner and Morrison are the houses for continuing students. </p>
<p>I lived in Cowell this past year, so I can give you my perspective on it. Cowell and Porter are kind of 2 opposite extremes of the school. Porter has the stereotypical UC Santa Cruz Student that your hear about, with hippies and people who are very artsy. Cowell, on the other hand, does have a lot of stuck up people, and also tends to have a lot of the sorority and fraternity people in it. Not EVERYONE in these colleges fit that stereotype though, and you will most likely be able to find people that you get along with. </p>
<p>I know someone who lived in porter her first year and HATED it, because she thought the people were wierd. She moved to cowell her second year and LOVED it.</p>
<p>I also know some pretty normal people that live in porter. </p>
<p>It really does all depend each person’s personality. </p>
<p>and as far as partying goes, there aren’t any on campus parties because the campus security officers are really strict. There are ocassional drum circles and parties in the forest, but that always gets shut down by the cops pretty quickly. </p>
<p>Feel free to ask any other questions! I’m more than happy to help :)</p>
<p>wait so Morison is a transfer house also?? I’m in that one but am an incoming freshman… </p>
<p>What did you think of the core class? What happens at the required 7-9 seminar for it? Oh and do you have any opinions about the quad dorm rooms? Hah sorry, random questions :P</p>
<p>@pinkxp92: Thanks a bunch for all the info. When you say that Cowell is an opposite extreme, would that then mean that people at Cowell are more stuck up than the average person, or just a little stuck up for Santa Cruz? Is it still distinctly UCSC, or is it a “mini UCSB” like I’ve heard some people say?</p>
<p>I’m sure this is all just dumb, meaningless worrying and I don’t need to be so concerned. Especially since I’ve already met a lot of people from Cowell and they all seem like people I’ll get along great with. Still, the stereotypes out there are enough to make me a little nervous.</p>
<p>aahh sorry I didn’t mean to scare you guys! </p>
<p>@sunshine16: It depends which core class you are in. The higher level ones tend to be easier. I was in the highest one (i think its called 80b) and I had Dena as a teacher and it was suuuper easy! didn’t even have to try! and the best part about it is that i’m done with my english requirement. But I had friends in lower level classes and they had more homework, and essays to write…I guess to hone their writing skills and challenge them. But overall the class won’t be anything too crazy. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>The seminar is basically a lecture that you’ll have on Wednesday nights, with all the freshman from cowell in a big lecture hall. The lectures are boring and pointless and have nothing to do with your grade. Unless your teacher takes roll to make sure you go. Mine didn’t and I think I only went to the seminar twice. </p></li>
<li><p>I was in a double, but the Quad rooms are really nice. and its cool that you have 3 roomates. The quads are usually a popular hangout, so prepare to have people in your room 24/7. You may not have a lot of privacy in a quad, but that all depends on your own specific needs. All the quads have balconies, which is nice.
Here is a link for a virtual tour of the dorms [Cowell</a> College Virtual Tours](<a href=“http://housing.ucsc.edu/tours/cowell/index.html]Cowell”>Cowell College Housing Virtual Tours)</p></li>
<li><p>also, Morrison is a mix between sophomores/ transfers and freshman. I believe there are more freshman in the building though. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>@bordellokindaguy: don’t be nervous at all! there are many different types of people in cowell. From gamers, to bookworms, to normal people. I’m SURE you’ll find your group of friends. Its just that there tends to be a higher amount of the stuck-up, sorority-type, party girls. When you live in cowell, you don’t feel like you’re going to ucsc because there aren’t many of the stereotypical, easy-going “hippie” type people there. But honestly, the stuck up people are not even a problem. Just don’t associate with them if you don’t want to. I believe college 8 is known to be the college where the “santa barbara rejects go” and there are a lot of so-cal kids there…but i wouldn’t really know.</p>
<p>feel free to ask more questions about anything! This is fun :)</p>
<p>^ I definitely feel a lot better, thank you</p>
<p>@pinkxp92
So I read that you said to not worry about the snooty people but I kind of wanted some reassurance since I’m gonna be living on an all girl floor and I can’t stand those sorority type party chicks. Being a pretty laid back so-calian (I know it’s not a word :p) who’s never really hung out with lots of chicks before do you think I’ll be ok at Cowell? and also how strict are the ucsc cops anyways? It seems strict yet I always here of people smoking weed and stuff in the dorms. Does it depend on the college? Answers would be greatly appreciated! :)</p>
<p>I’ll be staying in Cowell as well this Fall term, as an incoming transfer student. From what I saw of it during Spring spotlight, the college is very well maintained and beautiful. Don’t know much about the people there, though…</p>