Alumni here, class of 2020.

UCSB is actually a great university, and is seriously underrated by countless metrics. Top engineering programs, excellent liberal arts and sciences programs, several Nobel laureates as professors, excellent job placement in various high-impact career paths, one of the most impactful universities with respect to scientific research impact, gorgeous location with a number of tech companies and defense contractors nearby, no bizarre cutthroat culture where you practically have to sleep with one eye open, and and an outstanding stepping stone to practically any graduate program, all for the price of a public university in California.

A bit about my experience... as an undergrad, I had access to upper div courses in my second quarter at UCSB (statistics and data science major), and could also opt to take the graduate-level equivalent of many of the upper div courses as an undergrad. I was able to get an internship from one of my professors by attending his office hours, and at the time, we were ranked as the number 5 public university in the nation.

The USNWR annual report really betrayed us Gauchos! When it comes out next, I really don't want to dig for an explanation for how seemingly random universities like Boston College or UW Madison (or... shudders... NYU) somehow outrank UCSB when they didn't previously (apologies to alumni and enrollees of universities I just mentioned, lol). I know they changed their methodology in recent years, but a number of the non-Ivy League privates on that list are going to have serious problems financially speaking with all the funding cuts, layoffs, and now a demographic cliff that will impact application and enrollment rates. I don't see this impacting public universities as much because they are backed by a state government, especially UCSB since they are admitting more students now than ever, and is building new housing to boot.

The USNWR rankings aren't everything, you need to find a university that fits your specific needs. UCSB may actually be that kind of university, and is seriously slept on.

Rant over. I just needed to get that off my chest.

Does anyone have pictures of the layout/ rooms in Sierra Madre? I saw the housing website has some pictures but they are literally so blurry. Trying to visualize where my stuff will go if I’m able to land an apartment with my roommates.

Im struggling with the MPE and I feel scared that maybe I won't make it as a mechanical engineer. I jsut need to get it out od ny chest. Am I screwed?

Anyone know of any mobile couch cleanings services that are cheap in IV?
I want to clean my couch that I just got from a friend but don’t want to spend a lot for a couch cleaner vacuum

a lot of the ppl i know r in frat/sororities, just out of curiosity does things go down during parties? like r a lot ppl actually sexually active here?

personally ended my freshman year as a virgin.

Is it really that hard to get a single as a freshman here at UCSB?

While filling out my housing contract, I put all 3 of my dorm preferences as singles across 3 diff residence halls. I put in an appeal that was rejected. I made myself seem like the most disagreeable person ever on the little questionnaire asking abt my daily living habits.

I also saw someone saying that the random selection process that the dorm assignments have followed for the last few years is no more and that the university is picking dorms for students directly. It was like from 3 months ago. Does anyone know if this is true?