The University of California - Santa Cruz

Date: Feb 09 2004
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
UCSC has built up quite a reputation over the years. It is perceived by many as being a fluffy hippie school, a college that "does not give grades" with a student body that spends more time smoking pot than studying, and very bluntly, the "bad UC". However, none of these statements qualify as very much more than silly myths propagated by people who have most definitely never taken a tour of the beautiful campus or sat in on one of the extremely intellectually stimulating, but often difficult, lectures. Having chosen this particular school for many reasons, I have almost never been disappointed nor regretful of my choice.

While many consider UCSC to be a "party school", I am sad to say that the party life here is barely existent; there are a few places downtown, but if you are expecting to come here to propel your social career, you should definitely think twice. Santa Cruz is definitely a small, suburban town that lacks very much excitement. Still, if you are a science major, this may be a good thing, because many of the science courses, even some introductory ones, require a great deal of your time and energy. There are some extraordinarily difficult classes, but for the most part, you can count on your professor to be there to help you, even if he or she is not able to explain it in words you can immediately comprehend. The TAs are usually quite knowledgeable and are also very helpful, so don't be afraid to make use of them.

The student body is a diverse bunch. It is true that quite a few are hypocritical pseudo-hippies who angrily denounce corporate goods but don't shy away from buying corporation-manufactured Nalgene bottles, but you can almost always find people to fit in with. The drugs are really not as big a problem as many have made it out to be; again, if you make the effort, you can definitely find the right group. Ethnically, the student body is primarily Euro-American, with Asian-Americans ranking a distant second, but the school itself makes a good effort to educate its students on ethnic issues and culture.

What is most important about UCSC is that it is an excellent school that offers a top-notch education. The professors are approachable and friendly, the classes are concentrated and involving, and the laboratory materials are helpful and illuminating. If you do get into a UC, and you want to concentrate on your studies rather than partying your four years away, UCSC is definitely a university to consider.