University of California-Santa Barbara Reviews

"UCSB is right near the water - can be a bit distracting. Diverse student body. Beautiful people - may be typical of most beachside schools. Degree program was top notch, but I would recommend Cal Poly SLO if you are very focused on getting a solid job out of school. UCSB is more of a research focused school, Cal Poly is more applied. If you like to party and/or have lots of opportunities to have a successful college life, go here"

"UCSB was a wonderful undergrad experience! I was able to graduate in three years due to ample AP credits, but I was in no hurry because I was having a lot of fun. You can't beat the location--on the beach and in Santa Barbara. The Isla Vista experience is truly unique and wonderful, despite some of the unfortunate events over the last year or so. I would do it again in a heartbeat."

"I feel that the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management is extremely difficult but also a really great program! It is focused on an inter-disciplinary approach that encompasses environmental economics to hard sciences. The practical experience and education I have gained so far made me realize how great the Bren School really is!"

"A small program allows for better interaction with faculty and a good quality of education. the cost of living is the limiting factor for enjoying the program even though the surrounding area is worth paying that much for rent."

"The chemical engineering program is excellent and you get excellent opportunities to develop your skill as an individual. The faculty is pretty open too."

"UCSB Geography is the place for you if you're looking for great technical training as a geographer. Critical theorists/Marxist geographers, etc. need not apply, as this is an extremely quantitative program. This is a strength in that it allows for specialization but is also a weakness because it leaves out a big chunk of geography. The program is somewhat unbalanced in that there are a lot more physical geographers with similar interests than human geographers. Faculty are mostly outstanding as far as both research and being accessible to grad students, but there are a couple who have terrible reputations among grad students so ask around before choosing a potential advisor. Living in Santa Barbara is ridiculously expensive but it's really beautiful here and close to LA. TA spots pay well compared to at other schools, and you also get insurance through the school. Social life is whatever you make it--most people like to party at least a little bit but if you want to do your own thing that's cool too. Overall, it's an outstanding place for quantitative geographers, but there are a few caveats."

"UCSB has a beautiful campus and a very good Communications program. I feel like I am learning a lot about the field. I would like to continue my research into communications and media after UCSB. It has really instilled a fascination to learn in me. The social life is very active and there is always something to do. I have overall had an excellent experience at UCSB."

"The main psych program at UCSB is research based. I found the classes to be fascinating and the variety of subjects to be excellent. I wish I had taken a minor in clinical psychology (based in another department) or education for more employment opportunities upon graduation. Overall I love the feel of the UCSB campus and found the instructors to be engaging and motivated to help each student learn."

"The school has some really good professors that will help you when you need it. Alot of the classes are really challenging but there is alot of programs where you can get tutoring. Overall the programs are decently good. There is also a huge party culture. It can be distracting if you have a hard time focusing, but it is a nice location right next to the beach. If you are not extroverted, I do not recommend this school. You may feel out of place."

"The Master of Arts program in economics provided me with an array of skills that will be useful for my career as economist. The school atmosphere for graduate students is exceptional and the professors are welcoming and leaders in their respective fields."

"It requires a lot of work to excel in here. But it's worth it!"

"I'm truly excited to begin work on my culminating degree. There are so many pros to the program which is why I chose this as my school. There are several cons. The biggest is of course cost. Not only the cost of tuition, since I am an out of state student. Not only the cost of tuition and books, but the huge cost of living. Santa Barbara is a gorgeous place - hence why it's a wealthier part of California. Right on the beach, it attracts many as a retirement community. I have always put myself through school by working full time as I attend school. With the work load of a doctoral degree, I will not have that ability without compromising my studies. I intend to make the most of my degree by solely focusing on myself and completing it."

"A good school in an expensive area. Professors are mostly accessible, but sometimes slow in responding."

"A key downside of this program is the lack of collaboration and career services for the students both undergraduate and graduate. This is a problem campus-wide with few resources found to connect students with other successful graduates from UCSB."

"My school was a great fit because it had a great social life and student community. I made many life long friends during my four years in college. The best part of my college experience was studying abroad. I would recommend that EVERYONE take the opportunity to study abroad. My degree gave me the chance to learn Spanish fluently and study abroad, which opened so many doors for me. For this reason I would probably choose the same major. However, as far as finding a job goes, my major was not very conducive to the job market. So I would consider going into a more stable major/career. Go to college. Study abroad. Follow your heart."

"The Chemistry Ph.D program was hard work. The upside was UCSB is a great place to work with the smartest people in all areas of science. The downside is that some professors are not the nicest of people to work with."

"Its a small program that allows for close interactions with faculty and scientific collaboration. A number of student organizations create a friendly environment that helps make the transition into a graduate program easier. It is in a beautiful location where you can relax after the stresses of college with a wide variety of outdoor activities."

"UCSB MAGIS program is a fantastic way to pursue a career in development, NGO work, or government work. It seems like there are more professors than students so you never have a hard time getting a hold of someone. The area is gorgeous and the people are fun."

"Comprehensive graduate program with strong theoretical foundation."

"UCSB provides a strong, encouraging network of supporters ranging from graduate students, academic department staff, and faculty members. There are definitely challenges to living in a place like Santa Barbara with the income of a graduate student, however, there are ways to meet people and find a niche that fits with your interests and passions. The other graduate students are very supportive and constructively critical of your and their work, providing for an intellectually stimulating and inspiring environment."