UCSD vs UCSB

[SofaKing]

Originally posted by: Amol
SD

 

[DXM]

Originally posted by: EpsiIon

Originally posted by: illusion88
UCSB = party school
Go vist IV on weekend if you dont believe me.

I'm a fourth year Comp Sci major staying around for an MS in a fifth. My roommate for the first two years (and apartmentmate this year) is a ChemE who's in the five year MS in Materials program as well. From what I've gathered, the ChemE program is rather small and close-knit. Apparently the classes are challenging and I haven't heard him complain about professors.

Basically, though, choosing based only on what we say is foolish. I assume at this point you've visited both campuses and received scholarship offers and the like. Weigh these heavily because they really will affect your enjoyment of the place. You'll probably find like-minded people wherever you go, so making a decision based on how much you do (or do not) want to party is also a bad idea.

EDIT: You need a "Make your own decision" option for the poll.

Yeah, of course I'm not going to make my decision based solely on what's been said here, I just wanted informed opinions and experiences to help me in my decision. Actually, the 5 year MS program at UCSB is pretty attractive since I plan on eventually getting a masters in chem eng.

sygyzy: YHPM

 

[DXM]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
I went from a BS and MS at UIUC to UCSB.

When I went to interview with the UCSB research group, I was a little lost. I asked someone where the EE building was, and they said it was on the fifth floor. One floor?!?!? It really wasn't as bad as that, though, and the engineering campus has grown a lot in the past five years.

I was offered a position at UCSD, and I took UCSB for the better (arguably the best) semiconductor research. UCSD's semiconductor days are (sadly) gone, but the profs are still there.

As an undergrad, I'd probably go with UCSD because it's a larger school, it'll have more resources, more course selection, etc. I mean, UCSB has EE, ChemE, MechE, CompE, MatSE, and what else... do CS, physics and chem count? I audited undergrad EE classes at UCSB. It wasn't all that tough. Lots of whining, and lots of profs giving into students demands rather than failing them. It was weird.

I'd go with the bigger school if you're going for the undergrad education.

If you're going for the lifestyle and chicks, you should at least visit UCSB!


BTW - I wouldn't say chicks are walking around in bikinis at UCSB, but you get sunbathers in the common areas... I don't think it's any different from a lot of other campus quads and stuff.

My old roommate and my squeeze are both still at UCSB. They (independently) told me there are tons of Japanese girls on campus this year. They're not sure why.

Great info, thanks a lot Rumpltzer

 

[WildHorse]

If you've mostly lived in bright lights-big city, maybe you'd prefer San Diego. Santa Barbara might be too pastoral for you.

Otherwise, go for UCSB. It's got excellent Chemical Engineering & Physics & Material Science Depts., & Santa Barbara really is heaven on earth. But expensive. Gas, food, rent, everything, expensive. And well worth it.

UCSB has 5 Nobel laureates. Don't know about San Diego.

DXM posted, "do CS, physics and chem count?" Actually, the Theoretical Physics Institute at UCSB is where the big international Physics lumaniaries, like Stephen Hawking, convene every year.

San Diego is overcrowded. Ocean polluted from raw sewage floating up from TJ. Good sunny summer beach-break surfing in warm hepatitus sewage. A cheaper place to live.

Santa Barbara/Goleta has good point & rock-reef break (not many beach-breaks) surfing only in cold water winter, Thanksgiving to Easter. Surf goes flat all sunny summer. Wine country, mountain bike trails, great soccer team, wind surfing, islands with lots of large marine mammals, biggest sea cave on earth, Indian petroglyphs, libraries, museums, sailing, diving, several small colleges, richer than SD County's Rancho Santa Fe.

UCSD is more of a commuter campus, UCSB more of a friendly collegial community. I'd guess the mean age of the students is younger at UCSB, older at UCSD...just a guess. I've been around both campuses a lot.

Santa Barbara County is mostly pristine, except the thin crescent of development right along the coast.

More gorgeous babes than you can believe in Santa Barbara. Vacation destination for lots of foreigners. Santa Barbara probably equals or surpasses far bigger San Diego in cultural stuff. I live in Santa Barbara.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: scott
UCSB has 3 Nobel laureates. Don't know about San Diego.

You're behind the times.

UCSB has five Nobel Laureates One of them is Econ, so maybe it's not relevant to this thread, but the 2004 Prize for physics has to be counted.

As an undergrad, you may see these men wandering campus (perhaps with Dr. Stephen Hawking if you hang around for summer sessions), but you'll never have a class with them.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: scott
If you've mostly lived in bright lights-big city, maybe you'd prefer San Diego. Santa Barbara might be too pastoral for you.

Otherwise, go for UCSB. It's got excellent Chemical Engineering & Physics & Material Science Depts., & Santa Barbara really is heaven on earth. But expensive. Gas, food, rent, everything, expensive. And well worth it.

UCSB has 3 Nobel laureates. Don't know about San Diego.

DXM posted, "do CS, physics and chem count?" Actually, the Theoretical Physics Institute at UCSB is where the big international Physics lumaniaries, like Stephen Hawking, convene every year.

San Diego is overcrowded. Ocean polluted from raw sewage floating up from TJ. Good sunny summer beach-break surfing in warm hepatitus sewage. A cheaper place to live.

Santa Barbara/Goleta has good point & rock-reef break (not many beach-breaks) surfing only in cold water winter, Thanksgiving to Easter. Surf goes flat all sunny summer. Wine country, mountain bike trails, great soccer team, wind surfing, islands with lots of large marine mammals, biggest sea cave on earth, Indian petroglyphs, libraries, museums, sailing, diving, several small colleges, richer than SD County's Rancho Santa Fe.

UCSD is more of a commuter campus, UCSB more of a friendly collegial community. I'd guess the mean age of the students is younger at UCSB, older at UCSD...just a guess. I've been around both campuses a lot.

Santa Barbara County is mostly pristine, except the thin crescent of development right along the coast.

More gorgeous babes than you can believe in Santa Barbara. Vacation destination for lots of foreigners. Santa Barbara probably equals or surpasses far bigger San Diego in cultural stuff. I live in Santa Barbara.

you obviously haven't stayed @ UCSD for long durations. UCSD is in La Jolla, not San Diego. Besides, UCSD's original name was UCLJ (UC La Jolla). Sewage what sewage? This is La Jolla, not National City..wtf are you talking about.
San Diego cheap? what the hell? yes I know SB's expensive, but La Jolla's no where near cheap.

Having a car helps, but does not hamper your ability to have fun and what not. The cliffs/beach/eating is all walking distance

SD's no where near overcrowded (comparing w/ LA, NY, etc..).

Very laid back.

I've been to SB, and yes, I totally agree that the place is very very very nice. It's just that I found it a bit boring. SD's city lifestyle fit me perfectly anyways.


And yes, I was stuck with this choice 5 yrs ago. I chose SD after visiting both areas.

UCSD had 16 Nobel Prize winners in its history, 9 of which still teach I believe..

It's really up to you OP. SD has a more diverse ciriculum, and let's say you may want to change majors? SD is a more well rounded school overall, but dont' get me wrong, UCSB is also a great school.

Are you more financially worried? Just want to have fun during college? Just want to study your arse off and graduate asap? Which school is potentially cheaper for you? Where do you think you'll have the most fun?

Also, you never know what kind of job you're going to get. I'm job hunting, and man, never localize yourself to just one type of job. I credit my education from UCSD (especially revelle college, from their Area of Focus/minor thing) for giving me the opportunity to put relavent classes in my resume to have a more broader skillset for jobs.

 

[Skunkwourk]

UCSB, Gauchos for life!!!!!


Reason = University of Casual Sex and Beer.

really though, its only a party school if you want it to be. You DO have the option not to party and there are plenty of people who are just as academically oriented as students at other schools. The Chancellor of UCSB himself is an engineer and actually teaches a course and even he goes out to IV with his wife on halloween.

 

[booger711]

if you change your mind about chemE, there are other good options at UCSD (better overall engineering). trust me, a lot of ppl rethink their majors in college

 

[dr150]

Originally posted by: scott
If you've mostly lived in bright lights-big city, maybe you'd prefer San Diego. Santa Barbara might be too pastoral for you.

Otherwise, go for UCSB. It's got excellent Chemical Engineering & Physics & Material Science Depts., & Santa Barbara really is heaven on earth. But expensive. Gas, food, rent, everything, expensive. And well worth it.

UCSB has 3 Nobel laureates. Don't know about San Diego.

DXM posted, "do CS, physics and chem count?" Actually, the Theoretical Physics Institute at UCSB is where the big international Physics lumaniaries, like Stephen Hawking, convene every year.

San Diego is overcrowded. Ocean polluted from raw sewage floating up from TJ. Good sunny summer beach-break surfing in warm hepatitus sewage. A cheaper place to live.

Santa Barbara/Goleta has good point & rock-reef break (not many beach-breaks) surfing only in cold water winter, Thanksgiving to Easter. Surf goes flat all sunny summer. Wine country, mountain bike trails, great soccer team, wind surfing, islands with lots of large marine mammals, biggest sea cave on earth, Indian petroglyphs, libraries, museums, sailing, diving, several small colleges, richer than SD County's Rancho Santa Fe.

UCSD is more of a commuter campus, UCSB more of a friendly collegial community. I'd guess the mean age of the students is younger at UCSB, older at UCSD...just a guess. I've been around both campuses a lot.

Santa Barbara County is mostly pristine, except the thin crescent of development right along the coast.

More gorgeous babes than you can believe in Santa Barbara. Vacation destination for lots of foreigners. Santa Barbara probably equals or surpasses far bigger San Diego in cultural stuff. I live in Santa Barbara.

^^
The man knows what he's talking about.

However, my ignorant ass says UCSD has the better rep for employability. UCSB has a hell of a time getting rid of its party school rep.

 

[CarpeDeo]

edited for stupidity. you already have a poll.

btw- UCSD.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: dr150

Originally posted by: scott
If you've mostly lived in bright lights-big city, maybe you'd prefer San Diego. Santa Barbara might be too pastoral for you.

Otherwise, go for UCSB. It's got excellent Chemical Engineering & Physics & Material Science Depts., & Santa Barbara really is heaven on earth. But expensive. Gas, food, rent, everything, expensive. And well worth it.

UCSB has 3 Nobel laureates. Don't know about San Diego.

DXM posted, "do CS, physics and chem count?" Actually, the Theoretical Physics Institute at UCSB is where the big international Physics lumaniaries, like Stephen Hawking, convene every year.

San Diego is overcrowded. Ocean polluted from raw sewage floating up from TJ. Good sunny summer beach-break surfing in warm hepatitus sewage. A cheaper place to live.

Santa Barbara/Goleta has good point & rock-reef break (not many beach-breaks) surfing only in cold water winter, Thanksgiving to Easter. Surf goes flat all sunny summer. Wine country, mountain bike trails, great soccer team, wind surfing, islands with lots of large marine mammals, biggest sea cave on earth, Indian petroglyphs, libraries, museums, sailing, diving, several small colleges, richer than SD County's Rancho Santa Fe.

UCSD is more of a commuter campus, UCSB more of a friendly collegial community. I'd guess the mean age of the students is younger at UCSB, older at UCSD...just a guess. I've been around both campuses a lot.

Santa Barbara County is mostly pristine, except the thin crescent of development right along the coast.

More gorgeous babes than you can believe in Santa Barbara. Vacation destination for lots of foreigners. Santa Barbara probably equals or surpasses far bigger San Diego in cultural stuff. I live in Santa Barbara.

^^
The man knows what he's talking about.

However, my ignorant ass says UCSD has the better rep for employability. UCSB has a hell of a time getting rid of its party school rep.

I don't know about that. I've never known anyone that's graduated UCSB get denied for a job because of it was thought of as a party school. They really did scrap that image 3-5 years ago.

 

[ViperVin2]

I go to UCSD (in the engineering program) right now and its okay. I would go to the school with the better program. Plus UCSD does not have hot girls. Surrounding area of San Diego has plenty, but UCSD itself is bleh. UCSB would probably be more fun. Visit both campuses if you can since that will definitely help in your decision making.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: Ranger X
UCSD. The hiring companies won't know which school has the better chemical engineering program. UCSD carries a better name and the program there won't be that much worse than the program at UCSB.

Um...Yes they will. This isn't the genearl population, hiring schools will look around. To the average person, they may think that an MAE degree from SD is "Better" than lets say from Irvine because SD has more name exposure...but recuiters will know otherwise because the program at Irvine is actually ranked whereas SD's is supposed to be more "meh".
And no, I don't know much more for that major beyond that I'm a Biomed Eng, not MAE.

But the bottom line is recuiters spend their time looking and finding out this info, they aren't Joe Schmoe who freaks out at the world "Calculus" and "integral".

On a side note though, if you are going to grad school, then just do well...doesn't really matter where you go unless you plan to go straight to industry

 

[bleuiko]

Um.. UCSD of course!

UCSD BioEng Grad 2004 =)

 

[Chubbz]

UCSB

If you want to live life, go to UCSB.

 

[EpsiIon]

So did you choose yet? Which one?

 

[Conky]

USB!

:beer:

 

[Buttzilla]

UCSB! graduated in 2001.

 

[MournSanity]

I'm biased because I'm going to UCSB.

 

[DXM]

I haven't decided yet no, I'm going to visit UCSD on the 14th, so I'll have made my decision by then. If anyone still cares, I'll keep you posted! Again, thanks again to all of you for the great wealth of information.

 

[WildHorse]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Sewage what sewage? This is La Jolla, not National City..wtf are you talking about.

Actually I've many times encountered beaches all the way up past Cardiff reef, even up past Moonlight, closed because of Tiajuana's raw sewage floating north. One of my sons (of divorce) lived in Rancho Santa Fe who I visited there often. Our usual father/son activity was surfing, from Trestles to Quatro Casas. Often showered at UCSD after Blacks or Wind 'N Sea, then dinner in La Jolla. Did that at least umty upteen times or more than that for years.

Maybe 15 - 20 or so years ago I heard that USA was going to pay for Tiajuana sewer treatment facilities to try & fix the sewage contamination of California beaches & fishing waters. Maybe you're real young & aren't aware the history. Look into it at Scripps/Surfrider Foundation, they'll tell ya.

UCSB!

 

[jamesch]

DO they really like male chest hair like all the magazines say?

 

[dr150]

DXM,
So did you choose?.....