UCSB is the perfect school for students who are serious about their academics but also want to have fun meeting new people, studying on the beach, and taking advantage of what So-Cal has to offer. With its beautiful location and close knit community, UCSB will become your home away from home in no time. We Gauchos "Gaucho Back" no matter what.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Keep up your GPA and focus on extra curricular activities! A less than average GPA can be made up for with incredible involvement within the community. Check out events happening in your town or school to get involved, it is a great way to meet new people and make valuable memories that will keep you going throughout college. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into, don't just take a student led tour of the school, take one yourself! Before you visit make sure to look up what there is to do in the community surrounding your school and check it out once you visit. Be sure to ask yourself if you can see yourself living here for the next four or so years (with UCSB I guarantee you will!) and make a mental note of things you notice about the school in case you need to compare it to other schools you are considering. I know that the college search is a stressful time, but I promise it will be done in no time and that sooner or later you will miss it!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
UCSB is ranked one of the Top Public Universities in the Nation for a reason. Working on the quarter system is no joke, by the 5th week of classes you have midterms and by the 10th you have finals. There is no time to procrastinate and screw around, you have to keep up with your work in order to prosper here. You are in charge of how much work you make for yourself throughout the quarter, so make sure to pick classes that will keep you interested enough to want to do the work. Keep in mind that each professor understands that you have other classes and responsibilities but do not go easy on you because you made it into this school for a reason. Nothing that UCSB throws at you will be too much for you.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life here at UCSB is cramped but worth it. Each building offers a variety of activities each week to help you get to know your neighbors and other students on campus. You will make the closest friendships in the shortest time possible. Each dorm is a double turned into a triple, meaning that you share two closets with three people.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The dining commons at UCSB rival any other UC hands down. There are countless dishes to choose from and they are buffet style, meaning once you swipe in using your ID card you can stay there for however long you want to eat as much as you want. And if you don't want to go to a dining common, there are plenty of restaurants on campus and in Isla Vista (the community walking distance from UCSB) to choose from.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Go to the beach and try your hand at surfing! Check out Isla Vista and try to catch an open mic night at Gio's Pizza or a trivia night at Woodstocks. Head down DP for some people watching or go a game at Harder Stadium to throw some tortillas as you watch the Gauchos kick butt in soccer! There is something for everyone here at UCSB, from the beach and hiking for the outdoorsy type to shopping and exploring the city.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
You can see what your money goes towards at UCSB, from weekly cleaning services and maintenance for the dorms to free concerts and public speakers, along with on-campus career and psychological services.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
We throw tortillas during our soccer games! It becomes a competition to see who can throw their tortilla the farthest. As far as unusual locations on campus we have Storke Plaza, where we have our very own koi fish pond and where our radio station is located. We also have our own beach!
Which types of students will excel at your college?
UCSB is great for students who want to focus on their academics but also know how to have fun and relax. Perfect for those who love the laid back beach lifestyle and who want to be part of a thriving, happy, and close knit community.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Chances are that anything you are interested in will have a club at UCSB, and if there isn't one it is easy to start one yourself! Each club here is incredibly involved not only on campus but within the community as well, there is always something to do!
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
UCSB has 24/7 on-campus officer escorts that you can call whenever you don't feel safe walking by yourself, along with its own Police Station. There are blue "DANGER" buttons all across campus that you can press whenever you feel unsafe that will allow officers to know your exact location and help you in 5 minutes or less. Each dorm building requires an access card in order to get in.
UCSB is the perfect school for students who are serious about their academics but also want to have fun meeting new people, studying on the beach, and taking advantage of what So-Cal has to offer. With its beautiful location and close knit community, UCSB will become your home away from home in no time. We Gauchos "Gaucho Back" no matter what.
Keep up your GPA and focus on extra curricular activities! A less than average GPA can be made up for with incredible involvement within the community. Check out events happening in your town or school to get involved, it is a great way to meet new people and make valuable memories that will keep you going throughout college. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into, don't just take a student led tour of the school, take one yourself! Before you visit make sure to look up what there is to do in the community surrounding your school and check it out once you visit. Be sure to ask yourself if you can see yourself living here for the next four or so years (with UCSB I guarantee you will!) and make a mental note of things you notice about the school in case you need to compare it to other schools you are considering. I know that the college search is a stressful time, but I promise it will be done in no time and that sooner or later you will miss it!
UCSB is ranked one of the Top Public Universities in the Nation for a reason. Working on the quarter system is no joke, by the 5th week of classes you have midterms and by the 10th you have finals. There is no time to procrastinate and screw around, you have to keep up with your work in order to prosper here. You are in charge of how much work you make for yourself throughout the quarter, so make sure to pick classes that will keep you interested enough to want to do the work. Keep in mind that each professor understands that you have other classes and responsibilities but do not go easy on you because you made it into this school for a reason. Nothing that UCSB throws at you will be too much for you.
Dorm life here at UCSB is cramped but worth it. Each building offers a variety of activities each week to help you get to know your neighbors and other students on campus. You will make the closest friendships in the shortest time possible. Each dorm is a double turned into a triple, meaning that you share two closets with three people.
The dining commons at UCSB rival any other UC hands down. There are countless dishes to choose from and they are buffet style, meaning once you swipe in using your ID card you can stay there for however long you want to eat as much as you want. And if you don't want to go to a dining common, there are plenty of restaurants on campus and in Isla Vista (the community walking distance from UCSB) to choose from.
Go to the beach and try your hand at surfing! Check out Isla Vista and try to catch an open mic night at Gio's Pizza or a trivia night at Woodstocks. Head down DP for some people watching or go a game at Harder Stadium to throw some tortillas as you watch the Gauchos kick butt in soccer! There is something for everyone here at UCSB, from the beach and hiking for the outdoorsy type to shopping and exploring the city.
You can see what your money goes towards at UCSB, from weekly cleaning services and maintenance for the dorms to free concerts and public speakers, along with on-campus career and psychological services.
We throw tortillas during our soccer games! It becomes a competition to see who can throw their tortilla the farthest. As far as unusual locations on campus we have Storke Plaza, where we have our very own koi fish pond and where our radio station is located. We also have our own beach!
UCSB is great for students who want to focus on their academics but also know how to have fun and relax. Perfect for those who love the laid back beach lifestyle and who want to be part of a thriving, happy, and close knit community.
Chances are that anything you are interested in will have a club at UCSB, and if there isn't one it is easy to start one yourself! Each club here is incredibly involved not only on campus but within the community as well, there is always something to do!
UCSB has 24/7 on-campus officer escorts that you can call whenever you don't feel safe walking by yourself, along with its own Police Station. There are blue "DANGER" buttons all across campus that you can press whenever you feel unsafe that will allow officers to know your exact location and help you in 5 minutes or less. Each dorm building requires an access card in order to get in.