University of California-Santa Cruz

After completing my first year at UCSC - and most of my GEs - I feel that I have learned a lot in many different areas of study. The classes offered as general education requirements are both interesting and informative. I have only taken two of my major prerequisites thus far, but both have also exceeded my expectations in the amount I learned from them.

My professors made sure that I not only understood the subject matter, they also made us utilize what we learned into different problems. You learn a lot about yourself when you experience a different environment.

We're nicknames UC Summer Camp, UC Strong Calves, all for a reason. Absolutely beautiful campus, the atmosphere and views are incredible, and even if the you're not too much of a nature freak, the city and the beach are only a 20 minute bus ride away.

Santa Cruz is a fantastic place for anyone looking for a unique college experience. There is a perfect balance between academic focus and rigor, extracurricular opportunities and social opportunities. The campus is astonishingly beautiful and the surrounding area is inspiring, being between the beach and the redwood forest.

UCSC is one of the most beautiful places that you'll have the pleasure of spending time at in your life. If you like the outdoors, a friendly and community-based environment, and students and staff that are dedicated to saving the world, then this is the school for you. The academics are amazing and the resources the school offers are excellent.

UC Santa Cruz is a beautiful oasis. The views, environment, and opportunities are open to everyone. The teachers are just as inspiring as the classroom locations, because they are brilliant in their area of study and eager to help their students learn through classroom and one-on-one engagements.

Professors here are pretty top notch and I have learned more about people and the world than I could have ever before. The Anthropology department has amazing professors who are there willing to help you succeed and the major adviser Courtney is helpful, informative and very caring. The HAVC department and Cher are another great department, but these are the only experiences I have had here though I have heard through the grapevine other majors are great as well. The professors have caused me to think and be proactive in obtaining information and to learn about the world and people around me.

When I first began to look at schools in high school, I really wanted to attend a UC school and found that my choices were rather limited to schools that offered comprehensive humanities and social science department. At UC Santa Cruz I have a variety of avenues to pursue in the humanities department and the staff is absolutely amazing. As a sociology major and legal studies minor I have found all of my professors to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful. An added bonus is the education one receives about the environment, our impact on it, and how we can change our practices to better our planet's future.

UCSC is an excellent school with many professors at the top of their fields. Many of our undergraduate programs are top in the country (or were, before the budget crisis), and I believe that UCSC is greatly underrated as an awesome undergraduate school! Even outside of classes, I am learning a lot because UCSC students are environmentally friendly and are conscious about their impact on the world. We strive to be sustainable, and I feel that I am learning a lot about that by just being on campus. UCSC is a wonderful place to learn about life in general, and I definitely recommend it to everyone!

Classes at UCSC are challenging although by no means impossible. I think the hardest thing about them is the time management skills you will need to complete all your homework and studying.