University of California—Santa Barbara (UCSB)

It's easy to be dazzled by this University of California's "incredible location" in stunning Santa Barbara, but UCSB is much more than a "safe and beautiful campus." "It has one of the top chemical engineering departments in the country," a "highly ranked" mechanical engineering program, and is generally "strong in the sciences." Outstanding students can enroll in the College of Creative Studies, essentially a graduate school for undergraduates, which requires a supplemental application: CCS students report that it "allows me to pursue my academic interests with maximum freedom." While they love the "laid-back" atmosphere, students regard their course work in any school as both "academically challenging" and "down to earth": "Every other college on my list seemed locked in an ivory tower. UCSB was the exception with both the warm, sun-kissed charm of a beach town and excellent academics." "I would challenge any Ivy school to match" the quality of professors at UCSB, asserts one student, and another says the "outstanding professors" "are definitely an important source of inspiration for me." Some students comment on the "wide range of professors," and point out that "many of [the] professors are Nobel Prize winners or well-known in their field; however, these individuals are not necessarily the best teachers." Overall, though, UBSB undergrads name the "accessibility and knowledge of the professors" as one of the university's strengths. If you're seeking a dynamic college experience with choices within and outside the classroom, UCSB could be for you: "UCSB is the perfect blend of academics and social life. I get to study at a renowned research university and work closely with professors, while living on the beach and making lifelong friendships."

To find your place at a big school, get ready to get out and do something: "The typical student is active and involved. Whether it be with sports, or in a community service or environmental club, rock climbing, politics, the list goes on. Students fit in by finding a good group of friends in the dorms and by getting involved in extracurricular activities." Because the university is accessible to so many different types of students, "there is a great sense of community among the students, and those with all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds feel at home here." UCSB undergrads care about more than partying, and are "intelligent, sociable, engaging" as well as "very motivated and driven to succeed academically." People are "laid-back but hard-working," at least partially because "the sunny weather keeps people happy." UCSB is "extremely diverse personality wise": "We've got the hippies, the sorority girls, the surfer dudes, the Jesus-lovers, the anarchists, the schooloriented folk and everything in between. Everyone finds their niche here."

No matter the activity, UCSB students love to be involved: "85 percent of our student body is in at least one extracurricular activity-and I've met the smartest people of my life here." Outdoor pastimes like "rock climbing, beach volleyball," "surfing, hiking," "bik[ing], and skateboard[ing]," figure prominently in students' favorite ways to spend free time wholesomely. After the sun goes down, "a lot of people party at UCSB. What do you expect, we live on a beach? But don't be fooled. I've met some of the smartest, most hardworking people at UCSB." Social life at UCSB is as "varied" as you want it to be: "People think of UCSB exclusively as a party school but it's what you make of it." The party scene "is totally avoidable if you want," but "UCSB is famous for its party life" for a reason. While some say that "substance abuse is somewhat common off campus and not as much on campus; campus alcohol and drug policies are typically enforced strictly." At the end of the day, "everything is give and take here. You spend your week busting your butt in your internship and churning out research papers, and finish everything up in time to go indulge in some of the debauchery that is DP on a Friday night."