Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 15:33     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any perspective on choosing physics at UCSB vs UIUC?

What levels of physics knowledge/experience do they have? For those with more experience who can test out of the intro courses via proficiency exams UIUC is better than non-CCS UCSB


Interesting, can you elaborate? My DC is a senior who took two AP Physics C classes as a junior and is taking Physics at a community college now. And he did *not* apply to CCS at UCSB unfortunately.


Not the PP so I can’t elaborate on testing out of UIUC intro courses. But your DC can apply to CCS after he gets in. I think they have applications every quarter.


Thanks. Is it hard to make the switch, if the kid is a top performer?


I’m not sure how difficult it is to make the switch. If the kid is a top performer and is passionate about the subject, I think he/she has a good chance.


DP
Parent of UCSB CCS physics grad - Students actually Cannot apply to the CCS until after they have been admitted to UCSB. For physics,

CCS students often have similar profiles to Ivy League admits in terms of high GPA in difficult subjects. However, UCSB takes great pride in having many first generation, Hispanic and military vet students and they often take top students of modest means from local community colleges (which in California tend to be excellent). The atmosphere is collaborative.

There are 9 different majors and the CCS admin say that they are looking for convincing demonstration of both intellectual talents and sustained interest in the different disciplines. Most importantly, the students themselves need to be absolutely certain that they want to specialize so early on.

CCS really is like a post grad program for undergraduates. They are doing advanced research from the beginning and can do post grad courses from junior year on. They don’t have to do all the general requirements for most under grad students. That is only helpful for students who are sure of what they want to do. The vast majority of CCS grads go onto doctoral or other post grad programs and many are accepted into the top PhD programs in the country.

CCS is not for everyone as many young people change their minds about what they want to focus on.

As PP said, the regular UCSB physics program is also very strong for students who don’t want to hyper specialize at CCS so young. The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is also part of UCSB.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 15:19     Subject: Re:UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:I also have a future physics major from the DMV. He is leaning toward UIUC (didn’t apply to the UC system.). Would love any insight anyone can give on Physics undergrad at UIUC versus any other state school physics department. Are there opportunities for undergrad physics majors that wouldn’t be available elsewhere?


My experience at UIUC was as a grad student, for what that's worth. It's a huge department with lots of opportunities both in coursework and research, but so huge that I would expect one has to be a bit of a go-getter to stand out and fully take advantage of those opportunities. Lots of collaboration/interdisciplinary work in research, which is reflected at least a bit in the course offerings, particularly "special topics"-type classes. They give at least (lots of) lip service to undergrad teaching -- probably to the detriment of graduate teaching, since we got stuck with the profs who weren't allowed near undergrads.

Despite being world-class, the department has a very laid-back -- the word "Midwestern" keeps coming to mind -- vibe. My fellow grad students seemed on average much less stressed than folks I knew/know who went to other top programs. Dunno if that carries to the undergrad level, though the few I interacted with (not counting the ones I was teaching in the intro classes) seemed happy and relaxed, and in general went on to top graduate programs themselves.

Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 14:33     Subject: Re:UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:I also have a future physics major from the DMV. He is leaning toward UIUC (didn’t apply to the UC system.). Would love any insight anyone can give on Physics undergrad at UIUC versus any other state school physics department. Are there opportunities for undergrad physics majors that wouldn’t be available elsewhere?


UIUC has one of the best Physics faculty in the world and he’d be learning from the best. The only state schools in that realm are UCs (Berkeley, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles), University of Michigan, and maybe a few more. In terms of opportunities being different, I’m not sure. I’m sure even kids at lower ranked physics schools have many opportunities. Lots of students from lesser known schools get their PhD from schools like Caltech. It matters more if your kid is a go-getter rather than what school they attended, although coming from a school like UIUC or UCSB definitely helps.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 14:22     Subject: Re:UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
I also have a future physics major from the DMV. He is leaning toward UIUC (didn’t apply to the UC system.). Would love any insight anyone can give on Physics undergrad at UIUC versus any other state school physics department. Are there opportunities for undergrad physics majors that wouldn’t be available elsewhere?
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 14:15     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Thank you for all this input. Our DD is also weighing UCSB Physics vs. others so this is very helpful. She loved the campus when she visited
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 14:11     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Parent of UCSB Physics graduate, thank you for chiming in! Were you out of state? We're in the DMV and in addition to everything else I'm concerned about the distance. Was that an issue? How long ago did your DC graduate?
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 14:07     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any perspective on choosing physics at UCSB vs UIUC?

What levels of physics knowledge/experience do they have? For those with more experience who can test out of the intro courses via proficiency exams UIUC is better than non-CCS UCSB


Interesting, can you elaborate? My DC is a senior who took two AP Physics C classes as a junior and is taking Physics at a community college now. And he did *not* apply to CCS at UCSB unfortunately.


Not the PP so I can’t elaborate on testing out of UIUC intro courses. But your DC can apply to CCS after he gets in. I think they have applications every quarter.


Thanks. Is it hard to make the switch, if the kid is a top performer?


I’m not sure how difficult it is to make the switch. If the kid is a top performer and is passionate about the subject, I think he/she has a good chance.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 13:35     Subject: Re:UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:Sorry for a slight add-on, but does UCSB also do well in life sciences like Biology? Don’t know much and have heard OK for research but not as many medical faciiities around if that is your interest. Thank you!


I think UCSB offers a good Bio program, but if students are interested in med school, it might be better to check out UCs with a med school attached or more hospitals nearby. UC San Diego is known for their Biology program. UCSB is better at Physics and Environmental Science.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 12:58     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:UCSB...don't let the beachy vibe fool you. People there work their butts off, they just don't advertise it. They'll tell you about going surfing this afternoon, but they won't mention that they will be studying until 4 a.m. They sit on the beach...doing homework. I have a relative who did sciences there and is brilliant but doesn't advertise it like people on the East Coast tend to do. If you brag too much, people think you're obnoxious.


+1 The students at UC Santa Barbara are very down to earth. Physics at UCSB is exceptionally strong and students work their butt off there.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 12:51     Subject: Re:UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:Sorry for a slight add-on, but does UCSB also do well in life sciences like Biology? Don’t know much and have heard OK for research but not as many medical faciiities around if that is your interest. Thank you!



Yes biology is one of the nine majors offered at UCSB CCS.

Biology

The CCS Biology Major provides intensive study for students preparing for a career in research in the life sciences and associated fields.

From the first year, students may pursue independent research under the guidance of an individual faculty advisor in areas such as marine biology, ecology, molecular biology biopsychology, paleontology, biological anthropology and microbiology. By doing research as an integral part of their college education, the faculty consider CCS Biology students as junior colleagues. By uniting the flexibility of the CCS Biology Major with the resources of a research-intensive university, students have the opportunity to develop as Biologists.
9 Majors at UCSB CCS

• Art (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/art)

• Biology (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/biology)

• Chemistry & Biochemistry (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/chemistry-biochemistry)

•
Computing (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/computing)

•
Marine Science (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/marine-science)

•
Mathematics (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/mathematics)

•
Music Composition (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/music-composition)

•
Physics (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/physics)

•
Writing & Literature (https://ccs.ucsb.edu/majors/writing-literature)
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 12:46     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:UCSB CCS Physics is extremely good. It is a small and selective program, known as “grad school for undergrads.” The program fosters close relationships with professors, all at the top of their field. I believe there are 4 Nobel laureates currently teaching in the Physics department. CCS students can customize their courses more than an L&S student, so there is more freedom in that regard. Lots of research opportunities as well. Grad schools highly respect the CCS program and students place well into top grad schools. In academia, UCSB is quite well known for Physics, Materials Science, and ChemE. I think the nation’s first quantum foundry is actually at UCSB. So lots of academics worldwide come to visit (oddly, I met a tourist in Japan who studied Materials Science at ETH Zurich who did postdoc research at UCSB; ETH is like the MIT of Europe I learned).

An L&S degree is just as good, but CCS offers more depth and breadth. It is also a more intimate learning experience with small class sizes. It is easy for CCS students to find research opportunities but non-CCS students can conduct research too. UCSB is unique in that it has a low graduate student population (e.g. no business school, no medical school). So there is more space available for undergrads to research than at other UC’s. SB is much more undergraduate focused than other UC’s. One downside with L&S is that intro classes are very large. Students may not learn as well. This will be at any UC. That is why I love CCS as students take major-related CCS classes and have that intimate learning experience, and also experience that large public school feeling when taking gen-ed classes. It’s the best of both worlds.

If a student can’t get into CCS freshman year, they can always reapply. And if that doesn’t work out, L&S physics is still great. Physics is a strong major as students will learn problem solving, theory, as well as more applicable topics like coding. The only UC that rivals UCSB Physics is probably UC Berkeley. With all of the advantages of UCSB CCS though, I’d probably say UCSB CCS > Berkeley > UCSB.




Agree with this. UCSB CCS provides an excellent foundation in physics and UCSB has many terrific qualities (The Pacific Ocean on three sides of campus / top notch student health services/ strong recreational athletic programs/ and much more.)

The UCSB undergraduate students in the elite CCS program have individual advisors in their field. The ambitious but quirky little center makes the huge UCSB student body feel much smaller. The students can do post grad courses by junior year, have access to many exciting research projects and have early access to class sign up.

CCS In Focus
Undergraduate Students: 385
Majors: 9
Total Faculty: 53
Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1

Is it perfect ? Of course not. No where is. Alta Vista does have a hard partying culture and student accommodation can be tight. The commute to and fro LA can be a long drag. Nearby areas have suffered from both terrible wild fires and mud slides so there is extreme weather to deal with.

But our DC had a great undergraduate experience and is excelling in physics now.

Parent of UCSB CCS physics graduate.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 12:08     Subject: Re:UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Sorry for a slight add-on, but does UCSB also do well in life sciences like Biology? Don’t know much and have heard OK for research but not as many medical faciiities around if that is your interest. Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 11:51     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
UCSB...don't let the beachy vibe fool you. People there work their butts off, they just don't advertise it. They'll tell you about going surfing this afternoon, but they won't mention that they will be studying until 4 a.m. They sit on the beach...doing homework. I have a relative who did sciences there and is brilliant but doesn't advertise it like people on the East Coast tend to do. If you brag too much, people think you're obnoxious.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 11:39     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any perspective on choosing physics at UCSB vs UIUC?

What levels of physics knowledge/experience do they have? For those with more experience who can test out of the intro courses via proficiency exams UIUC is better than non-CCS UCSB


Interesting, can you elaborate? My DC is a senior who took two AP Physics C classes as a junior and is taking Physics at a community college now. And he did *not* apply to CCS at UCSB unfortunately.


Not the PP so I can’t elaborate on testing out of UIUC intro courses. But your DC can apply to CCS after he gets in. I think they have applications every quarter.


Thanks. Is it hard to make the switch, if the kid is a top performer?
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 11:30     Subject: UCSB (Santa Barbara) physics program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any perspective on choosing physics at UCSB vs UIUC?

What levels of physics knowledge/experience do they have? For those with more experience who can test out of the intro courses via proficiency exams UIUC is better than non-CCS UCSB


Interesting, can you elaborate? My DC is a senior who took two AP Physics C classes as a junior and is taking Physics at a community college now. And he did *not* apply to CCS at UCSB unfortunately.


Not the PP so I can’t elaborate on testing out of UIUC intro courses. But your DC can apply to CCS after he gets in. I think they have applications every quarter.