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Hi!im currently at university in the UK, but am going to UCSB to study for a year starting this fall. I now have to choose somewhere to live & theres soooo many options, i was wondering if someone could help me out? -

apparently it is possible to apply for dorms, but the chances of getting a place there are supposedly slim not being a freshman, also considering i'll be 20 and studying upper division courses i'm guessing ill be in the minority in the dorms.

in addition to this theres the option of university owned apartments (santa Ynez, eldorado & westgate), university affiliated (signet hall, fountainbleu & tropicana gardens) or of course private renting/sub-leasing. there's just sooo many! in the uk we only choose from either on or off campus!
i've also been reading that the university places have RAs - are some halls/apartment blocks known for having harsher or more leniant RAs than others as i do enjoy a good time partying, drinking etc, but will obviously be under age in CA.

Also if i were to choose to live in a private apartment then which area is generally preferred between goleta and isla vista, as ive read quite a bit of negative stuff about IV on here? and finally, is goleta on the ocean at all as id love a room with ocean views, or would i be better looking at IV for that?

sorry for such a long post, but i'm so confused!
Laura x

By Karen182 (Karen182) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 12:33 am: Edit

IV is somewhat the "dark secret" of Goleta. It's a part of the city of Goleta, however, it's pretty separate and left to its own whims, the only people who really hang out there are the college kids (and the high school students who wish they WERE college aged). I definitely wouldn't say it's as bad as people are making it out to be on this messageboard, however. It's a college town, that's all.

If you want to party, stay in IV. Housing in Goleta is terribly expensive, and given that it's a decent sized town, you could end up 10 miles from campus (yet still in goleta). In any case, you'll need to enjoy your bike or have a car should you choose to live in goleta proper.

IV is also the place with ocean views. Realize, however, that only one row of houses actually HAS this view, and a lot of them are about ready to fall into the ocean if the cliffs erode anymore. None of the university sponsored housing or apartments have these views, that's strictly a dozen or so houses along the cliff (and a handful of dorms)

As I'm just a high school senior who lives in goleta, i can't help you with the RA situation, because i haven't dealt with that. I do know, however, that most of the RA's are pretty familiar with the usual drunken student wandering in, and are more concerned that you're okay than that your underaged.

Good luck! IM me if you want to talk further, i'll help as much as i can.