University of California-Santa Cruz Reviews

"My experience at UC Santa Cruz changed my life in many ways. Coming from a graduating high school class of 48 students, I was extremely nervous about attending a university with over 16,000 students; however, the way in which the campus is divided into several smaller colleges allowed me to gain a feeling of being part of a smaller community, while still taking advantage of the opportunities that a large scale research university provides. Through the universitys elaborate orientation week activities, I was able to make lifelong friends in the first week of being on campus. I connected with like-minded people who made me feel welcomed and comfortable far away from home, and who have remained a consistent support system in my college years, and now into post-grad life. The education I gained at UC Santa Cruz shaped me in to a critical thinker and an intellect. Through the many courses I took, I learned how to conduct research, how to work collaboratively, and how to challenge my own thoughts and ideas, as well as the ideas of my classmates. One of the most impactful experiences during my time at UC Santa Cruz was my time as a Peer Adviser in the academic advising office. My time in this role helped me find my passion in working with students and supporting them through the challenges of navigating a large-scale university. This ultimately led me to pursue a career in school counseling. My supervisor in this role has remained a mentor in my life for the past 6 years, and provided multiple opportunities for career development and communication. My time at UC Santa Cruz has provided me with a strong foundation for my professional career, and a support system that will be part of my life forever.Read Less"

"My experience at UC Santa Cruz changed my life in many ways. Coming from a graduating high school class of 48 students, I was extremely nervous about attending a university with over 16,000 students; however, the way in which the campus is divided into several smaller colleges allowed me to gain a feeling of being part of a smaller community, while still taking advantage of the opportunities that a large scale research university provides. Through the universitys elaborate orientation week activities, I was able to make lifelong friends in the first week of being on campus. I connected with like-minded people who made me feel welcomed and comfortable far away from home, and who have remained a consistent support system in my college years, and now into post-grad life. The education I gained at UC Santa Cruz shaped me in to a critical thinker and an intellect. Through the many courses I took, I learned how to conduct research, how to work collaboratively, and how to challenge my own thoughts and ideas, as well as the ideas of my classmates. One of the most impactful experiences during my time at UC Santa Cruz was my time as a Peer Adviser in the academic advising office. My time in this role helped me find my passion in working with students and supporting them through the challenges of navigating a large-scale university. This ultimately led me to pursue a career in school counseling. My supervisor in this role has remained a mentor in my life for the past 6 years, and provided multiple opportunities for career development and communication. My time at UC Santa Cruz has provided me with a strong foundation for my professional career, and a support system that will be part of my life forever.Read Less"

"The University of California, Santa Cruz is located in one of the most beautiful locations in California. I was originally encouraged to apply because I couldn't decide if I enjoyed the beach or the forest more. The proximity to the Silicone Valley is ideal for many students interested in tech, great opportunities for internships!"

"Very versatile, if unspecialized, program that teaches the foundation of many skills used in the field. Compared to similar majors, the curriculum is rigorous and provides a comparable education in biology to a dedicated major while at the same time going further in depth into ideas specific for bioengineers, such as bioinformatics and genomics. The wide variety of elective courses and choice of three concentrations (bioelectronics, biomolecular, assistive motor technologies) within the major allow students to choose what fields they wish to specialize in.Read Less"

"Santa Cruz provided me with a top-notch education. I was a dual major in History and Language Studies. The history program is not ranked as highly as it should be. I studied with some very influential and important historians such as the Soviet scholar Peter Kenez and the French History scholar Jonathan Beecher. Professor Kenez is a true inspiration and comes from a famous lineage of scholars; Peter's work, especially his work on the cinema of the Soviet Union, is highly regarded and is part of the curriculum at many universities. The Santa Cruz history department (and all of the UC history departments) consistently rank in the top 75, with many in the top 50. In addition to this, I had the privilege of studying Language Studies, a special program based out of the Linguistics program. The linguistics major at Santa Cruz is consistently ranked as top 10 in graduate and undergraduate studies and it is with good reason. In that department, I was able to study with language superstars such as Jorge Hankamer (who saved the department when it was threatened by the budget cuts of the late 1970s and early 1980s) and the very famous and influential Geoffrey Pullum who now teaches at the University of Edinburgh and has created some of the definitive works on the English language. Unfortunately, all those professors are emeritus. Nonetheless, they have been replaced by young, vibrant scholars who making wonderful contributions to the field. While academics are important, the UC Santa Cruz campus also offers extraordinary beauty and the opportunity to hike to class. Among my favorite memories are seeing people in suits walk through the forest parts of the campus. The campus is secluded from the town, offering a cozy atmosphere that encourages studying. The college system is an integral part of that campus, and it is unfortunate and to the detriment of its future students that the campus is being homogenized. The "keep Santa Cruz weird" ethos should also apply to the university. Though the campus is tucked away from the city, the city itself offers many wonderful sites, including the world famous boardwalk. I am a proud alumnus of the University of California at Santa Cruz and highly recommend it to everyone, for its academics and overall atmosphere.Read Less"

"As a community college transfer student, I was very nervous about entering a 4 year university. I was even more nervous due to the fact that it was a University of California, which was highly regarded. From the first meeting with academic counselors to the professors, I realized I had nothing to be nervous about. UCSC has a very organized and passionate counselors that are there to help you with your education goals. They will take time and review all your courses, and perspective courses. Research was very important for me, I heard from many students at other university that joining a research group was nearly impossible due to how competitive it was. At UCSC, I did not have this issue. After the first year of studying I was able to be a research assistant for an incredible professor. This helped me in my future education goals applying to medical school. I studied cognitive science, which was a relatively new field of study. All my professors were very passionate about teaching, and went out of there way to help students. If you have an interest in research for your degree mostly related to psychology and cognitive science, UCSC is a great match for you.Read Less"

"The University of California, Santa Cruz was a great college with a beautiful and scenic campus. However one thing to consider is that the cost of living is very expensive and transportation can be tough. I chose Santa Cruz because they had a unique politics program that I really enjoyed. They had great professors and many different kinds of classes in a lot of areas. I highly recommend it but beware of the price tag."

"UC Santa Cruz is a top public school especially in the science fields. Science students can easily take advantage of the collaborative atmosphere and get involved in labs, research, and other extracurricular activities that can build experience and bolster you resume. I was able to get into a top medical school and the transition from undergraduate studies to medical school was easy. UCSC is a great school for anyone looking for a laid back college experience in a beautiful place, but that is also affordable and high quality.Read Less"

"Overall, I enjoyed getting to know my professors. Those teaching in the biological sciences are very kind, open to questions, and make sure that you understand the concepts. There was an abundance of resources available all throughout campus. In addition, whenever you need a break from your studies, you are very lucky to be located in an ideal area--full of hiking trails, beaches, the boardwalk, and a lively downtown area!"

"Its a good university, not very expensive and excellent faculty"

"I very much enjoyed my time at UCSF. Professors are accessible. Your fellow students are generally friendly and happy to help you if you've a question, unlike some highly competitive colleges. I feel like I gained a very firm understanding of the material, which has helped me in my career. And, of course, the campus and town are absolutely beautiful."

"UCSC is an incredible school, with arguably one of the most gorgeous campuses in the nation. The university is full of students who are accepting, genuine, different, and openminded in a way I have not experienced anywhere else. It's enlightening and inspiring. The professors are kind, intelligent and passionate - though some courses do implement a lot of work that may be daunting at times. There are, however, many resources on campus to help with that, such as tutoring, study sessions, library floors dedicated to discussion, and more. The quarter system is not easy, but that is to our benefit! It's challenging in a good way: it sets you up to succeed later in life. Isn't that what we're all looking for? Go banana slugs!Read Less"

"The Bioengineering program at UCSC is unique due to the many concentrations available for undergraduate students to study under. My concentration is Assistive Technology (Cognitive/Perceptual) and allows me to combine my interests in computer engineering with cognitive science to help individuals with special needs. I take programming courses in C++, Java, and iOS languages, as well as courses on cognitive neuroscience and human learning and memory. UCSC has also given me the opportunity to be a part of a lab, where I apply this knowledge to developing applications and games aimed at assisting individuals with special needs in strengthening emotion recognition.Read Less"

"I enjoyed the University's approach in welcoming new students and the various orientations provided. Monthly newsletters also provided great information of upcoming dates and events in the next quarter. As a Biology major, many courses revolved around Ecology and Evolution. The University had sections of the campus preserved for wildlife and exploring those parts of campus for the Biology courses. The campus is focused on Bio research, where they are focusing on the Human Genome Project. Students are able to work with professors in labs as well. Overall, UC Santa Cruz is a great experience.Read Less"

"UC Santa Cruz is a place that pushed me to elevate my intentions as a student. The professors pushed me to learn more and enhance my research which allowed me to produce better quality work, even after graduation. Although the UC system is set up as a research school, it gave me the opportunity to dive into the subject matter. Also, the amount of clubs on campus allowed for the campus to be more comfortable."

"UC Santa Cruz is a great place to pursue a bachelor's degree because it is an accepting and passionate community of scientists. Courses are challenging but help is available if you look for it. People are willing to collaborate and there are research opportunities if you pursue them."

"UCSC has had a huge impact on me, I was affiliated with college ten--with the theme of Social justice and community. I never thought I would be a leader but that college has helped me grow and develop as a leader over 4 years. I believe that every lesson I have learned from that college will carry with me through my career and more."

"It was a great school with a very beautiful campus and a great student body. The professors were also highly competent and caring. I fully endorse UC Santa Cruz as an institution of higher learning."

"The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) sits on an elevated mountain side overlooking the Monterey Bay. The campus scenery can be described as an urban wilderness full of trees, yet not too far from the beaches Santa Cruz is known for. When I attended, there were 11 colleges within the university, each with their own theme. I attended Oakes College, which was known for diversity and loved the experience. My classmates were friendly and helpful, and the faculty is laid back, always willing to spend extra time to answer any questions or simply converse. I'd recommend UCSC to anyone looking for something between UC Davis and UC San Diego, as you'll likely thrive in the beach town setting UCSC provides.Read Less"

"UC Santa Cruz is a wonderful school filled with a lot of diverse people with worldly views. The professors are wonderful in teaching about what is going on in the world and how we can make a difference. They emphasize social justice for all not just people in the US. They offer a variety of courses that are not typical in universities. It is a wonderful school to learn, to grow, and to realize your potential in a safe and supportive environment."