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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My student was awestruck by the campus, people are different, but it’s also a league above the schools listed

UC Davis would be my pick, it is a great college town

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The area around SDSU is nothing to speak of, but certainly some student focused businesses like Greek lettering shops and bars. UCSD now has a trolley extension, a lot of night life has shifted to Little Italy, no idea if students go there, but it’s now a quick trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I went to UCSC and never had a car. I hardly knew anyone with a car. Great bus system and I biked everywhere. Ahhh, Santa Cruz.

[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.

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.

You weren't looking very hard.

https://www.edhat.com/news/homeless-camps-in-old-town-goleta

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the Santa Cruz heads up, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I went to UCSC and never had a car. I hardly knew anyone with a car. Great bus system and I biked everywhere. Ahhh, Santa Cruz.

I toured last year and seemed really easy to get the bus. There are nice restaurant options in town closer to campus and away from the Boardwalk.

[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.

+1. I grew up near Santa Cruz and it has increasing problems with homelessness and crime. The surrounding area is close to forests and ocean though, and relatively close to SV and Bay Area if interested in jobs there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ditto from another Cal Poly SLO grad. I chose it over UCs back in the day. Beautiful location + focus on undergrad education.

From OPs list, just on location, I'd probably pick SDSU. And, while I love the central coast, I can't imagine sending a kid to UCSB right now. Not only is housing a mess, it's been reported that they aren't able to offer enough classes for all students who want it to be full time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ditto from another Cal Poly SLO grad. I chose it over UCs back in the day. Beautiful location + focus on undergrad education.

From OPs list, just on location, I'd probably pick SDSU. And, while I love the central coast, I can't imagine sending a kid to UCSB right now. Not only is housing a mess, it's been reported that they aren't able to offer enough classes for all students who want it to be full time.

I feel like that's a tale as old as time with any of the California schools.

[Anonymous]

^pp above (tale as old as time) here

To clarify, I was talking about not enough classes to make a full time schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My student was awestruck by the campus, people are different, but it’s also a league above the schools listed

UC Davis would be my pick, it is a great college town

UC Santa Barbara is actually ranked higher with a lower acceptance rates currently, but I think that is recent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My student was awestruck by the campus, people are different, but it’s also a league above the schools listed

UC Davis would be my pick, it is a great college town

UC Santa Barbara is actually ranked higher with a lower acceptance rates currently, but I think that is recent.

True, just figured SDSU was on the list for a reason.

[Anonymous]

My personal order of preference would be UCSB, Cal Poly Slo (not Pomona), then SDSU. I went to a different CA school so my opinion is based on seeing the campuses through sports and friends. Loved UCSB back in the day, though you are clearly getting some pushback on it.

[Anonymous]

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

Thanks.

UCLA grad here, lifelong californian and 2 kids who just went through college apps.

My rank order:
1. Santa Barbara (good location, good college vibe, kids are smart but happy and not as grind-y)
2. UC Davis (small college town, nice kids who are mellow and not too party scene-y, solid education)
3. The other three you listed which I don't think are the same caliber (not to be a snob, sorry) but probably ok overall. Consider Cal Poly SLO if you are going down to Cal Poly level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Thanks.

UCLA grad here, lifelong californian and 2 kids who just went through college apps.

My rank order:
1. Santa Barbara (good location, good college vibe, kids are smart but happy and not as grind-y)
2. UC Davis (small college town, nice kids who are mellow and not too party scene-y, solid education)
3. The other three you listed which I don't think are the same caliber (not to be a snob, sorry) but probably ok overall. Consider Cal Poly SLO if you are going down to Cal Poly level.

Oh sorry by location ONLY: SB, Davis, SD state, Long Beach, Pomona in that order.