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ok, my first post here...

This is IF I get in to UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara...I am transferring from a community college under the major communications... Which school is better? I have yet to visit either campus, and I'd like to know more about the two. I've heard Davis is cow town, and that seems so boring... But also that Santa Barbara is a party school, and I'm not into that kind of thing either... Help me! Thanks!

By Coureur (Coureur) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 10:30 am: Edit

UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara (along with UC Irvine) are in the middle tier of UCs with respect to selectivity and reputation. I don't know which has the better Communications department.

The town of Davis was a cow town long ago, but today I'd characterize it as a neat little college town. I don't know UC Santa Barbara very well, but UC Davis started as Berkeley's agricultural school back around 1900, and now it has grown into a full service university.

It's strong in the sciences (particularly biological) and engineeering. It is the top school in the world to study wine-making and wine grape growing. It has a medical school, a veterinary school, a law school, and a business school. It has a fairly strong academic atmosphere - It's not quite Caltech, but it's not a school for slackers either.

It's a large university in a small town making Davis perhaps the only true college town left in California. And it's a great little town. Everything you need is right there in easy biking distance. Sacramento is a short drive away.

The area is flat and rural - about an hour west of the ski slopes of Tahoe and an hour east of the bright lights of the Bay area. The weather is rather hot and dry in the summer and kind of cool and foggy/rainy in the winter. It almost never gets cold enough to snow there.

Hope this helps.

By Peterline (Peterline) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 04:01 pm: Edit

ucsb is awesome, i toured it this summer. the campus is stunning, the weather is perfect, and its close to downtown santa barbara. what isnt there to do there? i would love to go to ucsb, but i skipped my sat2's, so i cant even apply. but if you have any specific questions about the campus or santa barbara, id liek to think that i could answer them

By Foxi4sho (Foxi4sho) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 06:07 pm: Edit

Thank you guys much =)

By Erich00 (Erich00) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 06:22 pm: Edit

I am currently a student at Santa Barbara City College and I have lived in UCSB/SBCC dorms and/or general Isla Vista area for three years now. UCSB in both academics and physical space is definitely growing greatly, which means that more professors will be adding to UCSB's already superb lineup. The school is also getting a lot harder to get into, especially as a transfer student if you are not coming from SBCC. The campus is right on the beach, with many dorm rooms that sit on overlooking cliffs. Somehow this has all survived while being mixed with the very big party scene in Isla Vista. From my experience so far, the party scene at UCSB greatly takes away from the school atmosphere and instead places the comradarie (sp?) around Isla Vista. If you're not worrying too much about an academic atmosphere, and would rather spend more time "hanging" out w/friends, UCSB is a great school with an outstanding location and many great instructors. I have heard the Communications department is really good, which is reflected in SBCC's same status. As for me, though I have guaranteed transfer status in the fall, I will be returning to the Northeast in search of a greater academic atmosphere. My experience in SB has been amazing, but I have always felt like I was missing out on something. Maybe I'm looking for something that just doesn't exist, but, we'll see!! Good luck, and if you have any questions feel free to email me at eprei001@sbcconline.net. (I am a tutor/college advisor for a local high school so I have a ton of knowledge about the UCSB admissions process)

By Foxi4sho (Foxi4sho) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 09:20 pm: Edit

That's the only thing that worries me. I'm not a big party person, and I mean I'm not crazy about just straight up learning atmosphere either... For example... My bf lives in Berkeley and I've come to really dislike the city. No offense to Berkeley residents or UCB students, but it's just not my kind of place. I just don't like the fact that not everyone, but all most people think about is getting high all the time... I just don't want to move to a city like that. Like I said before, I've never visited UCSB before, so I just want some info as to that. Thanks for the responses, though to all. It's been very helpful.

By Peterline (Peterline) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 09:52 pm: Edit

hey Erich00, how is sbcc. we toured that campus too while in sb. we thought it was a cheaper and better alternative to going all four years at ucsb. isla vista is awesome, i must admit too. anything else you have to say about sbcc and tranferring to ucsb wwould be greatly appreciated. thanks