DS just got off the waitlist for UCSB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

Have you factored the travel costs into that $15k? If not, it's going to be significantly more. I'm from CA and really don't think UCs are worth the OOS cost, even with DC Tag factored in.

UCSB, in particular, has had issues with housing and with offering enough classes for their students. Are you ok with your student taking 5 years to graduate because they can't get the classes they need?
https://www.edhat.com/news/ucsb-course-shortage-at-crisis-level-dean-says

+1

Even UC Berkley is not often worth the high OOS cost. For that you get to sit in classes with 500-1000 students, sometimes not even enough space for your kid to actually sit in the class room (First few CS classes), cannot easily get the courses you need/want as electives in CS/Engineering, so the odds of graduating from many UCs in 4 years is not great.

IMO, most OOS schools are not worth the extra cost, find a private that gives merit and is a bit smaller so you get something for those costs.

[Anonymous]

It's a PITA to get to Santa Barbara from the East Coast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

NP.

UCSB is much better than UCSD. Gorgeous setting, vibrant student life. I just can’t say enough good things about UCSB. Kids love it there. UCSD is very different. Great school with excellent programs in sciences, but pretty dead socially.

We are in CA, and my kid won’t be applying to UCSD for this reason.

UCSD has always had a more serious reputation than UCSB.

I am a UCSD grad. It has always had this reputation, it doesn’t help from the social reputation that SDSU is also in the same town. I think the socially dead trope is a little much. There is a lot of fun to be had at UCSD for kids that want to have fun AND there are a lot of kids that may not have fun as their first priority. It is not UCSB/Isla Vista but it is not some grim institution where fun is verboten. It is a beautiful campus with amazing facilities. My student got into both and, to their surprise, liked UCSD better. Just like any kid can find non-partiers at any school any kid can find parties and fun at any large institution. It is college.

PP here.. It was not an insult, at all. I think UCSD has always had the reputation of having more serious (and maybe smarter) students than UCSB.

I am originally from CA.

SDSU is a party school. It had that reputation since the 80s (my generation).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

Have you factored the travel costs into that $15k? If not, it's going to be significantly more. I'm from CA and really don't think UCs are worth the OOS cost, even with DC Tag factored in.

UCSB, in particular, has had issues with housing and with offering enough classes for their students. Are you ok with your student taking 5 years to graduate because they can't get the classes they need?
https://www.edhat.com/news/ucsb-course-shortage-at-crisis-level-dean-says

+1

Even UC Berkley is not often worth the high OOS cost. For that you get to sit in classes with 500-1000 students, sometimes not even enough space for your kid to actually sit in the class room (First few CS classes), cannot easily get the courses you need/want as electives in CS/Engineering, so the odds of graduating from many UCs in 4 years is not great.

IMO, most OOS schools are not worth the extra cost, find a private that gives merit and is a bit smaller so you get something for those costs.

Indeed... I told DC that Cal was basically private with no aid (donut family) but without the smaller class sizes. Could be worth it just from a prestige perspective for things like CS, but IMO, not that great of an experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No need to go all the way there for 2nd tier UC OOS

+1 Unless you have the money in a 529, I'm not sure most UCs are worth the ridiculous OOS prices for a large state school experience (500+ in classes, fighting to just get the courses your need for many stem majors) cannot imagine paying $70K for that experience

OP is a DC resident. Us DC residents look at this differently than many because (1) we have no great in state options and (2) we get 10K/year towards the cost of OOS tuition.

OP. We actually don't qualify for DCTag so that is something we take into consideration in this decision as Pitt is approx 15k less.

NP.. I'm originally from CA and used to go to SB often (friend lived there; another friend went there for college). But I would not pay OOS for UCSB. That 15K less will be more like $20k to $25K less per year due to housing costs off campus after freshman year (I assume your kid will want to do that eventually), the flights, and just general higher col compared to Pitt.

Just be aware of the financial situation living in CA. It's a gorgeous place to be sure, but it's pricey.

Would you pay it for UCSD?

NP.

UCSB is much better than UCSD. Gorgeous setting, vibrant student life. I just can’t say enough good things about UCSB. Kids love it there. UCSD is very different. Great school with excellent programs in sciences, but pretty dead socially.

We are in CA, and my kid won’t be applying to UCSD for this reason.

UCSD has always had a more serious reputation than UCSB.

I am a UCSD grad. It has always had this reputation, it doesn’t help from the social reputation that SDSU is also in the same town. I think the socially dead trope is a little much. There is a lot of fun to be had at UCSD for kids that want to have fun AND there are a lot of kids that may not have fun as their first priority. It is not UCSB/Isla Vista but it is not some grim institution where fun is verboten. It is a beautiful campus with amazing facilities. My student got into both and, to their surprise, liked UCSD better. Just like any kid can find non-partiers at any school any kid can find parties and fun at any large institution. It is college.

PP here.. It was not an insult, at all. I think UCSD has always had the reputation of having more serious (and maybe smarter) students than UCSB.

I am originally from CA.

SDSU is a party school. It had that reputation since the 80s (my generation).

Its acceptance rate is down to 37.9%, so your info is dated.