| I'm actually from irvine and I have friends going to UCI and I myself go to UCSB. The atmospheres can't even be compared, if you want quiet and don't really like doing much UCi is perfect b/c well... you won't do stuff there. I think the UCI medical school is a lot better tho, but other than that SB is just as good if not better in most categories, plus you'll have more fun and meet lot's of different people. The dorms are really small and I personally wouldn't live in them, the better bet is to find some roomates in isla vista, there are usually plenty of ads on craigslist and facebook so u can pick who you want to live with, although rent in IV keeps going up and it'll set you back some | 
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