The University of California - Santa Cruz

Date: Aug 07 2011
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
My overall experience at UCSC has been negative. It is your decision whether to attend UCSC.

Academics: Depend on your major and professor, courses can be challenging. For sure you'll learn alot if your a good self-taught person or like previous reviews say this is a self-oriented school that no one cares about you. By "no one" I mean you are just a number to the school, nothing more. Professors will not hold your hands or care whether you cut classes. I'm not sure about other departments at UCSC, but our science department have more bad professors than good ones. Be careful, this arrogant, self-absorbed prof can flunk you without a heartbeat. Even with the best professor, e.g. Dr. Randa Roland for Chem, the expected failing rate for my Chem 1A class is 20~25%. Is not that she wants to fail ppl but there are some folks not even bother to turn in homework or simply not take the exams at all. There will be gunners in science classes. So you might see students are competing for A's & B's. I don't say the science classes are hardcore, but rather challenging. Do not take any science classes without pay a visit to ratemyprof, you are WARNED. I have hear scary stories that some assholes flunked nearly 50% of the class. e.g. schlei. The teaching style and students are generally very laid back. And if by any chance need to take economics, by all means DO NOT take David Kaun. I have scored above average on all my mid-terms but didn't pass my final, this guy gave me a D?? Dropping from a high B to a D. Are you serious?? This guy also have a really bad attitude toward his students, he even calls students "air-heads", "assholes"..you can ask around for proof. He won't treat you like a person but pity your intelligence. He kicks students out few times in a quarter if someone isn't paying attention. (e.g. using laptops in his lecture will get you kicked out). Apparently there were many student weren't stratify with final grades and calls his cell( me included) got nothing but he cussed over the phone. He even sends out emails telling his students not to contact him for final grades/paper anymore or it will go trash. All of this I have proof and if you don't believe me you can try ask around. I'm not sure how many of this professors are actually teaching at Santa Cruz. Hell, I'm transferring out of here after my 1st year.

My point? I don't blame them, but you gotta know what you getting yourself into. So for research universities like UCSC, their priorities looks like this:

1)Research first

2)Graduate student second

3)Undergrad development LAST!

Therefore, don't bother. You WILL treat like a number a spreadsheet. If you used to thrive at big school, then good luck! That's all I gotta say.

Social Life: People are friendly in general. But there are few girls think they are hot and like to play games with you. These girls can be unapproachable think they are princess and even look down on you. Overall, they are very chill and easy to hang-out if your open enough. People tends to find their own niche and hangs out with their groups after 1st quarter of school. Its still possible to make new friends after 1st quarter, but you gotta put in a little effort. I think people are open to know you if they haven't in first place. There absolutely parties over the weekends or even weekdays if you actually out-going enough and knows people. Who says nothing happen on campus, I have to say they are either lying or they needa seriously work on their social skills. I'm only been to this country for few years and speak/write English few years, if I can get wasted every goddam weekends, you can too! However, I'm a very out-going guy. My roommate is a cross-country runner, swimmer, and simply an athlete. I matched him through room assigning surveys, he got NO PROBLEM getting laid first week of school after dance party!! So stfu you moron saying nothing happen on campus. Drug usage is pretty differ person by person. They will respect your "no" and won't push you just to fit in. They are also easy if you just want a puff or two. I don't see many hippis, perhaps I haven't walk through the whole campus yet.

Best food always are Cowell/8 dinning hall. 9/10 always have the same food and never change their menu. NEVER! I don't see how you can make a lot of friends when UCSC is split in 10 colleges claim to create liberal art learning environment, yet the classes are soo large. I'm not sure if you can make life-long friends or meet someone thats trustworthy. But for sure you will find someone that is worthwhile. I myself haven't make any life-long friends but bunch of worthwhile ones. (they are slightly better than just friends)

So it comes to your decision, if you want personal attention from professor, this is not the school for you. I don't see how UCSC better prepare you for graduate school or you think UC offer quality education. No, not at UCSC. If you looking for life-long friends, I suggest you look else where before coming here. Always always remember you are just a NUMBER at this place.

Good luck.