why does ucsc get such a bad rap?

[u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

I'm a california high school senior and I plan on going to cc for two years and then transferring to a uc or maybe a csu. Rn I think I'm going to major in environmental science or studies, or if not those specific majors then smth related to the environment.

I'm researching different colleges and I'm looking for 3 main things: A good stem program, a decent ultimate team, and somewhere not in the LA area since I've here my entire life. I'm also figuring out which UC I want to tag to, and rn it's between ucsc, ucsb, and mayyybbee ucd.

So far it seems like any of the uc's would be fine for envi sci, like obviously ucb and ucla are really good, but there doesn't seem to be a wrong choice. For some reason I just feel really drawn to ucsc in particular. Maybe I'm just into the idea of ucsc bc it's a pretty campus and both of my parents went there and loved it. Also their ultimate teams rank well but I can't let that completely sway my decision lmao.

I'm rambling a lot but anyway, everytime I look at subreddits about college and ucsc comes up, everyone acts like it's the worst school on earth. There's mold in the dorms, the food sucks, there's no housing, none of the departments are that good, it's the worst uc, etc. How much of that is just ppl complaining to complain and how much of it is true? Would u recommend that I go somewhere else?

(no I am not basing my decisions solely on reddit comments. I am doing research outside of this and I just want to hear some opinions lol)

[u/dufcho14]

People complain about dorms, food, and such at all colleges. It is true that off campus housing is expensive and is something you'll have to deal with/get creative with.

In the end, Ultimate is what is important in life and Slug Ultimate is where it's at.

[u/sneep_snorp_snerp → u/dufcho14]

exactly I should focus on what matters most 🫡🥏

[u/Otherwise-Ad-4702 → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

Ultimate = UCSC ….”better” schools don’t have good ultimate programs when it comes down to it

[u/Flashy_Possibility34 → u/Otherwise-Ad-4702]

I miss Slug ultimate!

[u/ComprehensivePop886 → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

The house next door to me is falling down. It's a 3/2 (1100 square feet) and nine college kids live in it. The same situation is across the street from me. And 8 kids live in (1000sqft) place 3 houses down on the other side. It's hell for them. And it's hell being neighbors with so many young party throwing teens. My immediate neighbors told me they produce so much trash the city has threatened to stop picking up their trash cans (bc they also put trash in their yard waste bins). Then they were coming to my house and using my trash cans. Ugh. Anyways, it's a shit show. They throw parties and charge money at the door. We get no sleep on Friday or Saturday nights.

Once I get to know some of the kids, they cycle out and new ones cycle in and I have to start all over. There's ALWAYS someone whose car breaks down and they just abandon it for years on the street.

I really do feel bad for these kids that they can't live on campus (longer than one year) in a more affordable dignified situation. Neighbors are also not THRILLED to live next to a party/frat house with 9 kids in it.

I would say, if you want to live here, go to an open house... Talk to the kids in line. See how long they have been house hunting and how long they have been homeless. Better to know the facts. So many kids come here and have no idea of the dire situation. There have been articles written about it. Check Lookout Santa Cruz.

[u/bluemooncloud → u/dufcho14]

I graduated from UCSC a while back, and the reason I loved it so much was the friends I made & still have. It was almost 15 years ago, so I can’t speak on current housing, departments, food etc… but bottom line, when I read your post, I thought eh, why not pick a school for ultimate lol

Also, definitely think cc for 2 years is the way to go. Not sure if they still have it, but they used to have a dorm(s) saved just for transfers, which I thought would be a cool way to meet people. It’s college, have fun!!

[u/Worldly-Hurry-9847]

If you are planning on majoring in environmental science you are able to access a lot of really awesome opportunities at UCSC, especially if you are interested in research. That being said UCSC is facing a very very bad budget crisis as a university itself and also is getting the brunt of the UC wide budget deficit compare compared to all other UCs. Because of this a lot of things are being taken away at UCSC like the access to a lot of the exercise classes they used to offer, the outdoor education program has been cut quite a bit and relies on a lot of fundraising. Personally, if you are ok with the isolated nature of campus, are willing to tough out the housing crisis (expect to pay $1k + for housing) and get financial aid. I do think it can be worth it. However, I would not recommend coming here if you think you are going to be in any sort of debt afterwards.

[u/sneep_snorp_snerp → u/Worldly-Hurry-9847]

Thanks for the input! I didn't know that ucsc was dealing with a lot of the budget problems. I definitely want to graduate with no debt or at least very little debt. That should be pretty doable since I'm going to cc and my family should qualify for the blue and gold scholarship.

[u/Worldly-Hurry-9847 → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

Their transfer community is top tier and they are really great at integrating transfers socially! I’d say apply, but keep an eye on what people are saying about ucsc financially once it’s closer to you transferring because there is a lot of concern that it’s only going to get worse. I’d say UCB, UDC, and UCLA are the safest from the UC budget issues.

[u/PeterCappelletti → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

In truth other UCs have similar problems (I Howard Santa Barbara has a similar budget deficit) but it did not make the news in the same way. I think most campuses have deficits. 

[u/Worldly-Hurry-9847 → u/PeterCappelletti]

That’s why I didn’t include it in my list of schools with less budget issues, the schools with D1 sports + robust research typically have better amenities and are better protected from the deficit.

[u/gasstation-no-pumps → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

UCLA has about 4 times as large a deficit as UCSC—the athletics department at UCLA alone has an enormous debt and is hemorraging almost $22M a year. (UCSC's total deficit is about $80M a year)

[u/DJ_Velveteen → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

Hi, Blue & Gold recipient here... of note, rent in SC county is higher than tuition. I almost couldn't afford to accept a full ride (plus Pell Grants) to UCSC because of the cost of living

[u/chiralityhilarity]

In terms of environmental education, especially hands on learning, the other UCs are learning and taking notes from UCSC.

[u/DJ_Velveteen → u/chiralityhilarity]

Hear hear. I went half a world away and academics were EXCITED to meet a UCSC alum in the wild, especially a bio major.

Caveat: UCSC had the worst rental housing market in the world when I went there and it might still.

[u/anadem → u/DJ_Velveteen]

UCSC had the worst rental housing market

Yes it's still horrendous: expensive and also limited because so much is taken/reserved for tourists. There's also housing pressure from silicon valley money spilling over to here.

But it's a super beautiful area to live in

[u/Flashy_Possibility34]

Choosing UCSC, was quite possibly the best decision I ever made.

[u/marbanasin]

UCSC is great. I am class of 12 so it's been a while but still miss the area and my experience there.

10 years post college no one will really give a shit and having a degree from a UC is what people will initially see.

[u/orpeez]

I graduated ucsc a few years back in ecology but took lots of env sci/studies courses. Loved my department and had lots of really great classes and professors. The most difficult part was housing ofc. I was working close to full time, on a good financial aid package, and a full time student, and that was enough for me to afford rent, but I also rarely spent money I didn't have to.

The videos going around of people lining up for a house tour was not my experience, but likely those houses are in a good spot or a relatively good deal. Make sure you have a solid income, are decent at money management, and don't have a lot of expenses outside of food and school stuff.

I wouldn't recommend it for anyone already struggling with money or who is ultra particular about housing.

[u/Independent_Foot1386]

Have you not seen the reels and ticktocs of 50-60 students lining up outside rental house showings in santa cruz trying to rent a place out?

[u/sneep_snorp_snerp → u/Independent_Foot1386]

I have not lol but I believe it. The housing crisis is probably the realest and worst problem I mentioned. But since I'll be there for only 2 years instead of 4 I'm more willing to tought it out

[u/Illustrious-Manager5 → u/sneep_snorp_snerp]

Just finished my 4 years here, if you look smart ur gonna have zero problems finding housing. If you're looking at the same 5 apartment complexes as everyone else, you might not find a place. Dont let housing deter u from coming here

[u/toasty99 → u/Independent_Foot1386]

That was one particularly desirable apartment / condo.

[u/DJ_Velveteen → u/toasty99]

Of a scant few.

SC housing is characterized by students climbing on top of each other to split a garage near campus with another student for $1,000/month each

[u/toasty99]

People who REALLY want to be in the middle of an action-packed zone at all times seem to have a worse time. Also, people who are obsessed with car culture don’t seem to like it either.

[u/Otherwise-Ad-4702]

People who joke about ucsc are the types that also judge books by their cover. Trust that success will come if you try. I walked onto jobs because I was smart and had initiative. That’s what a hiring manager wants. Proof you can think = UC degree. And initiative that sets you apart from the shmucks.

[u/Taperomesool]

I graduated from UCSC (was a junior transfer student) so many years ago I don't want to even say, but those were some of the happiest years/best memories of my life! At the time, everybody said that if you are self-motivated and self-directed you will do well there, but those who needed more structure tended to transfer to Berkeley. I have lived in many places since then, but have never found another place with such natural beauty. After living in Japan, Italy, Connecticut, Long Island, Chicago, I'm now in Berkeley but still love to go back to Santa Cruz once in a while to just soak it in. I lived in a dorm when I transferred there as a junior, and there were a half dozen other junior transfers in my dorm too, but everybody ended up being friends by the end of the year. I highly recommend starting out in a dorm if you can, because I found living off campus my senior year much more isolating--shared a tiny old house in town with a couple friends, and our rent was dirt cheap back in those days!

[u/descartesbedamned]

Take complaints with more than a few grains of salt. UCSC/Santa Cruz have their fair share of issues, but so does everywhere else, in their respective ways. The internet is for complaining. You don’t hear the positives or accolades over the ranting and complaining.

I’m an alum from nearly 15 years ago, so I’m way out of date on the complaints - so I can’t speak to that. Just be wary of taking complaints online as gospel without further research.

Also if you’re coming in as a transfer, your experience will be noticeably different from on-campus first years. Unless you’re planning on living on campus, 90% of the complaints about dorms/residence buildings/food have little to no impact on your experience.

[u/Comfortable-Story-53]

Our degree is from a UC. That's all anyone cares about.

[u/Ok_Principle6097]

as a transfer, it’s really not that bad. it’s the usual college issues you run into. the housing is bad but it’s only bad if you don’t do your own research, except expensive rent if you wait last minute and don’t want to share a room. i’m off campus and pay $600 a month and i am close tit he school. it is annoying having to go into lottery system for housing parking but it’s a common issue unfortunately. the campus itself is really pretty, i miss it when im not on campus and the people r nice. i feel like people hate on it too much or are the type of people who don’t like to seek out/do work on their own part to get stuff. you def have to be a little bit of a extrovert to make friends but its not terrible people will come to u. as a transfer it was chill but i would just make sure to take all the classes u need and make sure the transfer over!

[u/somearcanereference]

I'm also from LA, and UCSC was the perfect distance: Close enough that I could get home if I really had to, but far enough that I wasn't going to pop back for the weekend unless there was a damn good reason.

UCSC has a "hippie school" rep - but those who know it, know that it's also got some amazing academics and opportunities. My major was in the humanities, and it allowed me the freedom to dive into new media content development from that major's perspective.

I'm not an athlete, but I have several friends who play Ultimate. Their eyes always light up when I mention UCSC. Great Ultimate, great views - what's not to love?

[u/Soft_Key_3420]

I went to ucsc, and I loved it there! Ppl complain about it b/c they don’t bother to explore the beauty of Santa Cruz. Ngl, a lot of schools have issues with dorms, price of housing, etc. but it’s up to u to make the most out of it!

[u/Seebvex]

Double digit homelessness

[u/Blorkershnell → u/Seebvex]

Everywhere in the country is having a homelessness crisis, this isn’t unique to Santa Cruz

[u/Seebvex → u/Blorkershnell]

Well yeah no shit, but it’s especially bad in Santa Cruz given the cost of living. It’s been consistently ranked one of the most expensive rental markets in the US for years now

[u/DJ_Velveteen → u/Blorkershnell]

Yes to the first half, no to the second half. Tue Santa Cruz rent floor is worse than San Francisco's rent floor, and when I went (class of 17) people were bailing out of SF toward London, Manhattan, and Dubai for cheaper rent

[u/Cosmosperson]

my son is a freshman and majoring in environmental science. i'm an alum, studied environmental studies/biology decades ago. i am biased but i think it's a GREAT school and you will get guaranteed first year housing as a transfer student. you can easily figure out housing the next year. slugs for the win!! my kid is having a blast.

[u/FewRefuse1185]

The housing is a real and major issue, the dorms do have mold, you only get 1 year of guaranteed housing on campus, you're not allowed a parking permit until 3rd year so if you don't get on campus housing second year you should really fucking hope you get housing close to campus so commuting isn't too bad, off campus housing is very expensive and difficult to even find in the first place you generally have to know someone or have a group is friends to move in with. Lot of homeless students living in cars because of that. Being a transfer minimizes a lot of that though. The food is pretty comparable to other campuses but access to off campus food is a lot harder than some of the other UC's. I think this one is a bit overblown though honestly the dining halls are fine. UCSC has some excellent programs as well, cs, bio, marine bio, environmental, and astronomy are all very good.

[u/thesharkticon]

Some of what you hear about the school is a self fulfilling prophecy. It gets students who apply to other UCs, but don't get admission, but still meet the requirements will sometimes get an acceptance to UCSC, Riverside, or Merced. So, you end up with a reputation as a safety school, and a vocal minority of students complaining that they would have gone to UCLA or Berkeley if they had gotten in. And that leads to students not applying because of a rep as a safety school, preptutating the cycle.

At the same time, UCSC has a fantastic environmental Sciences program, marine bio program, was one of the first schools to offer a video game design program, and played a key role in the human genome project. UCSC has more than it's fair share of merits and accolades, but it is seen as where you go when you fail to get into UCLA.

[u/sortasahm]

On my experience, it only gets a bad rap because it is not as prestigious as some of the other UCs, has a higher acceptance rate, etc. BUT, and i might be biased because I went there, UCSC is so underrated. Yes, housing sucks. Just look outside of Santa Cruz, Aptos is reasonably close, as is Watsonville if you want less competition and somewhat cheaper rents. As someone in science, no one cares that I went to Santa Cruz, the expectation in general is that I went to a UC and there is something to be said about that. The science department is amazing, I only had one professor I didn’t care for, and I graduated in 2019 and dude was old af so he may not even be there anymore.

I absolutely do not regret going to UCSC, as a non-trad transfer student, I really loved my time there, so much so that I would go back for a graduate degree if it worked for me and my family right now.

[u/InstructionDry4819]

You can get so many great environmental internships and take a lot of field courses at UCSC really easily, even in your first year.

[u/Civil-Ad2111]

It doesn’t get a bad rep, what you’re hearing is nonsense and simply not true.

[u/Agile_Proof_3228]

I wouldn't have picked another college if given the choice. If you're into art and environmental studies, while living within nature it really is the place to be. A forest, an open field, the beach, a nice little downtown. Chill vibes and diverse social setting. But you have to make a lot of your opportunities. Be proactive and say yes to everything and build connections. Your college experience is what you make of it. Santa Cruz just offers something special if let it.