Of these California schools, which would you choose based on LOCATION only and why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not what you asked OP, but the Cal State schools are not in the same league as the University if California schools snd certainly not worth traveling across the US for to attend.

I’d choose Cal Poly SLO over some of the UCs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCSB is not near actual (lovely) Santa Barbara. Not bikable or walkable. The adjacent town is absolutely overwhelmed with homeless people, to the point that the city has turned over the main parks and green spaces to permanent encampments. With outdoor kitchens, dozens of portable toilets in rows etc

All 5 minutes from the campus edge and literally in the center of the student commerce (pizza, bars, cvs off campus housing!)

The ocean is undeniably breathtaking but so is the stench of feces and piss.

It's true the campus itself is not lovely; the buildings are old.

But the location is right near the ocean. If you love the ocean, it really cannot be beat.

UC santa cruz is not right next to the ocean, and they also have their share of homeless people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not what you asked OP, but the Cal State schools are not in the same league as the University if California schools snd certainly not worth traveling across the US for to attend.

I’d choose Cal Poly SLO over some of the UCs.

+1 both from a location perspective and academics, SLO definitely beats UC Riverside.

I lived in CA for 40 years, went to college there, too.

[Anonymous]

While I’d rather live in a beach town, Davis is a nice college town. It has that college town feel. Very easy to get around on bicycle. People are very friendly. If you have a car, access to many great areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not what you asked OP, but the Cal State schools are not in the same league as the University if California schools snd certainly not worth traveling across the US for to attend.

I’d choose Cal Poly SLO over some of the UCs.

Yep - if the question is location, Cal Poly SLO is the place. And yes, worth attending for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCSB is not near actual (lovely) Santa Barbara. Not bikable or walkable. The adjacent town is absolutely overwhelmed with homeless people, to the point that the city has turned over the main parks and green spaces to permanent encampments. With outdoor kitchens, dozens of portable toilets in rows etc

All 5 minutes from the campus edge and literally in the center of the student commerce (pizza, bars, cvs off campus housing!)

The ocean is undeniably breathtaking but so is the stench of feces and piss.

OP here. We spent a week in Goleta back in 2015 and without any homeless people the beach stank of feces anyway. It think there's a drainage issue up there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Davis??? AYKM??? Have you ever been there?

Other than being able to drive to the Bay Area and Tahoe, there is little to recommend the location.

It's a quieter small town where you can bike everywhere. Not a party town like UCSB, but friendly and calm. And if you are into outdoor adventures, there is so much you can get to easily from there. I probably wouldn't put it as #2 for location, but it's a nice place to go to college. Classic college town.

(And besides the point, but now that I have kids, I would KILL to live in Davis. Absolutely ideal place to raise kids.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Side note about Irvine (not my first choice) — excellent bike infrastructure, decent bus system, very convenient airport. There are more interesting places nearby to live/visit than Irvine itself. Lots of good (not expensive) things to eat and it’s easy to shop there.

I'm not the OP, but I grew up very close to Irvine (Mission Viejo.) "Back in my day" it was a commuter school--mostly students with very strict immigrant parents who wouldn't allow their kids to move out of the house. Is it still like that?

Currently, 80% of freshmen live on campus, there’s guaranteed on-campus housing for the first 2 years if you want it, overall 42% of undergrads live in university housing.

I grew up in Irvine (I’m guessing I’m older than you are) and took classes at UCI while I was in HS. My parents still live in Irvine and a close friend teaches there.

Back in my day, there were fewer dorms and students routinely commuted to campus. But not always from their parents’ home. Lots of group living arrangements off-campus in apartments and, to a lesser extent, in rented SFHs. Don’t know whether Newport Beach is still viable for that (it used to be popular and well-connected by bus). Have seen that arrangement still in Irvine. UCI has its own bus system (Anteater Express/free) and the campus is also served by OCTA ($169 year for students, unlimited use of the system).

That's great that it's become more of a residential campus! Thanks for the info!
Not sure if you're older than me, I graduated high school in 1993.

Much older, lol! UCI had more surfers than children of immigrants back then!

[Anonymous]

I would UCSD to the list. Much better school than SDSU and right in La Jolla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCSB is not near actual (lovely) Santa Barbara. Not bikable or walkable. The adjacent town is absolutely overwhelmed with homeless people, to the point that the city has turned over the main parks and green spaces to permanent encampments. With outdoor kitchens, dozens of portable toilets in rows etc

All 5 minutes from the campus edge and literally in the center of the student commerce (pizza, bars, cvs off campus housing!)

The ocean is undeniably breathtaking but so is the stench of feces and piss.

I was just there this summer and the campus is gorgeous, didn’t see any homeless. Downtown Santa Barbara is about a 10 minute drive and there is a free bus for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCSB is not near actual (lovely) Santa Barbara. Not bikable or walkable. The adjacent town is absolutely overwhelmed with homeless people, to the point that the city has turned over the main parks and green spaces to permanent encampments. With outdoor kitchens, dozens of portable toilets in rows etc

All 5 minutes from the campus edge and literally in the center of the student commerce (pizza, bars, cvs off campus housing!)

The ocean is undeniably breathtaking but so is the stench of feces and piss.

What? I was in SB and Goleta this summer and didn't see any of that.

It’s not true. This is a Fox News talking point for some bizarre reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would UCSD to the list. Much better school than SDSU and right in La Jolla.

But the campus is super ugly with lots of 60s and 70s concrete buildings. My student was really disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCSB is not near actual (lovely) Santa Barbara. Not bikable or walkable. The adjacent town is absolutely overwhelmed with homeless people, to the point that the city has turned over the main parks and green spaces to permanent encampments. With outdoor kitchens, dozens of portable toilets in rows etc

All 5 minutes from the campus edge and literally in the center of the student commerce (pizza, bars, cvs off campus housing!)

The ocean is undeniably breathtaking but so is the stench of feces and piss.

It's true the campus itself is not lovely; the buildings are old.

But the location is right near the ocean. If you love the ocean, it really cannot be beat.

UC santa cruz is not right next to the ocean, and they also have their share of homeless people.

Don't a lot of the UC schools now suffer from older unrenovated buildings and infrastructure? It was already a problem at Berkeley when I was there 20 years ago, and I suspect it's only become worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UC Irvine
UC Davis
UC Santa Barbara
San Diego State
CS Long Beach
Cal Poly in Pomona

Thanks.

Some of the other commenters here are nuts.

UCSB is great. You aren't in SB proper but it has direct beach access and is totally bike able. Yes, Isla Vista is meh and party town and has beach bums... but it is quite possible to get around by bike, great weather almost all the time, and there is plenty available within easy walking distance of campus. IMO the biggest disadvantage UCSB has is cost of living and a very small airport (important if coming from far away).

UC Davis is also really nice. Cute town, good food options/walkable resources, bike friendly, couple of hours driving distance to beach, mountains, and major airports.

I can't speak to SDSU but whoever suggested UCSD and UCSC.... they indeed have beautiful campuses. both suffer from not having much if anything available right outside campus. Really need a car at either. UCSD at least has a major airport. Davis and UCSB have plenty of stores/restaurants/ etc within walking distance of campus, which is a huge plus for campus life there.

If I had to choose strictly based on location, even as an adult with a car and money, I'd still choose UCSB I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCSB is not near actual (lovely) Santa Barbara. Not bikable or walkable. The adjacent town is absolutely overwhelmed with homeless people, to the point that the city has turned over the main parks and green spaces to permanent encampments. With outdoor kitchens, dozens of portable toilets in rows etc

All 5 minutes from the campus edge and literally in the center of the student commerce (pizza, bars, cvs off campus housing!)

The ocean is undeniably breathtaking but so is the stench of feces and piss.

It's true the campus itself is not lovely; the buildings are old.

But the location is right near the ocean. If you love the ocean, it really cannot be beat.

UC santa cruz is not right next to the ocean, and they also have their share of homeless people.

Don't a lot of the UC schools now suffer from older unrenovated buildings and infrastructure? It was already a problem at Berkeley when I was there 20 years ago, and I suspect it's only become worse.

Hard to say, we also a lot of construction going on at the UC schools we visited this summer. I think the focus has been adding housing for the past decade or so though they still are behind.