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I am considering attending summer session at one of these campuses. I know SC has a better location...but which school is better academics wise? I am into anthropology, sociology, diversity studies, and languages. Thanks.

By L76 (L76) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 01:40 am: Edit

Davis, definitely.

By Militarygrade (Militarygrade) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 02:42 am: Edit

SC is good for scenery, and that's it.

If you are going for the summer only, go for SC! Beautiful campus, and it will let you know how truly bad the school is.

By Lovewriting (Lovewriting) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 05:53 am: Edit

I'm leaning towards SC...God, i'd hate to be stuck in Davis without a car....

By Theasrhs (Theasrhs) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 11:50 am: Edit

Santa Cruz is underrated. It has an internationally recognized linguistics program and, at the other end of the spectrum, an internationally recognized marine biology program. Moreover, it is the only UC to offer a bachelor's of music, and has a really fine and new performing arts center. The biggest complaint with the most validity seems to be that the student population tends towards PC run amok.

Look into some of the faculty. Craig Haney, for example, in the psych department, is one the leading authorities on the Stockholm Syndrome and its relationship to the institutionalization of US prisoners in "secure housing units." He has written extensive on these issues. Angela Davis and bell hooks have both been professors there. Obviously, the school is *very* liberal. If you like liberal, you'd probably like the experience you'd have at the school. If you are not, you'll think it's "truly bad."

It's not a vocational school.

I now personally know of two academically outstanding students, who had other, ivy choice, yet choose UCSC because of the ability to get a small school education on a large UC campus -- and were given extraordinary financial support. Both were very happy with their educational experience.

Go visit.

By Militarygrade (Militarygrade) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 12:51 pm: Edit

Choosing SC over an Ivy is truly one of the dumbest decisions that could ever be made.

I *guarantee* you that, if this truly happened, the Ivy counselors were like "Thanks GOD we didn't accept him/her! He/She must be a real idiot if he/she went to SC over an Ivy".

SC is a fourth tier crap school. They are worried about hurting the feelings of their students, so the student can opt to get no letter grade for the course, just a written evaluation.

SC is nothing more than a glorified kindergarten.

A truly steaming pile of turd, this fourth tier sh!t box is.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 01:00 pm: Edit

MG, I think you need to work on being able to tell us what you really think.

One demurral: the lack of grades isn't about not wanting to hurt feelings; there's one school of thought that says students learn better in a non-competitive environment. You see a lot of "alternative" schools set up this way from elementary through high school level.

It's not for me. And it's certainly completely antithetical to a "military" approach to things. (Which isn't for me, either; I spent several years working at a Navy base as an engineering aide while going to college. That was a close enough view.)

By Theasrhs (Theasrhs) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 01:10 pm: Edit

Yes, this board is dominated by people who believe that the Ivies are a fiori better than any other school in the country, even in the face of studies demonstrating that being an Ivy graduate does not guarantee "success" -- financial, intellectual, personal, or occupational.

I *can* guarantee that the Ivies who lost these people were truly sorry to have done so. Money Matters, and the problem with Ivies is that so many prospective students have been unreasonably smitten with the Ivy image, and thus create an abundance of riches for those admission offices. The Ivies then don't have to offer great aid because there are so many applicants clamoring to get in.

Santa Cruz is one of those places that believes an education is - amazing! - not about grades! And gosh, it may be that written evaluations actually foster an education!! What a concept! And they are not alone in this positively revolutionary! concept. Believe it or not, there are first tier schools that also understand that education is - gasp! - more than getting A's or references.

By Lovewriting (Lovewriting) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 08:01 pm: Edit

According to the U.S. News and World Report, UCSC is second tier.

I am leaning heavily toward UCSC simply based on location, course selection, and of course...ability to get along without a car. I think I'll go to the five week session that is July-August. We'll see how it goes...I wish I could afford Harvard Summer School or Berkeley but rents are way too high for me.

By Militarygrade (Militarygrade) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 01:57 am: Edit

I'm not of the school of thought that Ivies are the be-all-end-all of schools. In fact, I think that they are probably way over-rated.


But regarding UCSC, I don't know one person at my school that would consider going there.

I've heard nothing but bad things about.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 10:11 am: Edit

Santa Cruz has an excellent biology department.
All classes are taught by profs, which you can't say for much (all?) of the rest of the UC's. The physical setting is tremendous, esp. if you're into doing outdoorsy kinds of things, from the mountains to the beach.

For some people, this would be good and sufficient.
For someone in the middle of Nebraska, it might be Heaven.

By Lovewriting (Lovewriting) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 02:54 pm: Edit

I live in L.A. I need a change of pace. Plus UCLA summer session charges $200 extra just for classes, and I understand T.A.'s do a lot of classes. My big problem with UCLA is I don't feel a sense of community in it. It's just spread out, there, and that's it.

By Jondwyer2004 (Jondwyer2004) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 01:04 am: Edit

Everyone gets so caught up in the importance of the undergrad school. In the bigger aspect of things...undergrad location is not NEARLY as important as graduate locations. IF you are worried about reputation, then go spend $40k+, but if you would like an education, stick to the schools that care about it's students. UCSC is VERY devoted to the undergraduates.