The University of California - Santa Cruz

Date: Jul 01 2003
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
College at UCSC is a highly unique experience compared with the rest of the UCs, not to mention the rest of the colleges in the country.

I was a very motivated student and learned a tremendous amount from the formal education that was to be had there. I think a lot of getting a good education (wherever you go) is making sure that you end up with good teachers. Santa Cruz has many amazing professors and it's generally easy to get into their classes if you try—it's just important to make that effort of finding out who the best teachers are and showing up at their classes.

I think the whole environment of Santa Cruz (city and university) allow for a lot of personal learning, exploration and growth. I don't think I would have had such great opportunities in those areas if I'd gone to any of the other schools I was thinking about.

Santa Cruz does not have the best academic reputation of the UCs, and is thought by some to be a flaky, easy,

stoner, mushroom school etc., but I don't believe that

I've ever missed an opportunity because I went to UCSC;

Quite the contrary. Often people seem interested and intrigued by it. The most insightful ones realize that Santa Cruz is a special place that attracts special people and see slug alumni as such.