University of California Santa Cruz Visit Report by Cali Trumpet

Visit Activities:

Information Session: Yes - Although the admissions director had good intentions, I did not hear anything that I havn't heard already. I felt that this session was a waste of time and I could be out visiting the campus.

Campus Tour: Yes - The tour guide was very polite and knowledgeable. It lasted 1.5 hours and she brought us to just five or six stops because there was not enough time to get around the campus. Bus transportation = nice

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Campus:

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UCSC students were very polite and nice and a couple even welcomed me personally to the campus which pleasantly surprised me.

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I did not see many teachers, but the one I saw actually talked to me a bit. He was very kind and gave me hope that all of the teachers at UCSC were as nice as he was.

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Not sure which campus compares to UCSC's beauty. It is surrounded by redwood trees and it is gorgeously kept. It is a great campus for outdoors people. Biking and hiking are big here.

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Everything looks very nice. The classrooms are your basic classrooms but the newer buildings are amazing. The library comes to mind. It is getting completely renovated.

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Some look better than others but it is cool that they all have a different theme. Some have better views, some have better parties, but the people are all chill whereever you end up.

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Only two entrances to the campus, and security patrols at night. You cannot get in the campus at night without your ID card and if you are a visitor you need permission to come in. Very Secure.

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A top University that will leave visitors drooling. UCSC is built so perfectly around hundreds of redwood trees. It is unlike any other campus and is ranked one of prettiest colleges nationally.

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Off-Campus:

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The campus is very expansive and around it are many homes. The streets are fairly busy so car transportation may not be ideal. Bus transportation is great and free to students.

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SC is a beach town. About 5-10 minutes from the campus is a great boardwalk and beach. Biking is an ideal form of transportation and there is a national park directly above the campus.

Campus Visit Notes for University of California Santa Cruz

Visit Description:

I went on the Spring Spotlight tour at UCSC and stayed at the University Inn for the last three days. I came to UCSC especting to enroll as it was pretty much my first choice. I spent most of my time on campus, walking through the woods, visiting the colleges, and eating at the various dining halls and alternate eateries. Overall I really enjoyed my experience and I think I had a unique one because students were going through their normal day as my family and I spent time at the campus.

I was quite impressed with how well the campus is kept. I think it is a mix of students who are aware about their society and do not litter and a good staff to keep the campus looking like new. The drive into the campus is quite busy because there are only two entrances. This is good and bad. The bad part is that it is a little crowded when entering the campus by car during the peak hours. The good is that the campus can be very secure. Our tour guide told us that at night, they have security guards at both entrances and you can only get in with a student ID, or if you are a visitor, the person who you are visiting needs to call down to the front of the campus letting them know a friend will stop by. It is a nice thing that the students really do not need to worry about their safety.

A funny story is about the mascot of the school. Apparently, the seal was introduced as the mascot of UCSC and a statue was built on science hill. Students protested for about 10 years to get the banana slug back and they finally won, but the seal sculpture still exists. About once or twice a year, students paint the seal yellow and add little antennas on his head and the sculpture looks surpingly like a banana slug.

I took pictures of the campus and also the Santa Cruz area. http://jppics.smugmug.com/gallery/4701464_k25kB#278127687_VUnmN
http://jppics.smugmug.com/gallery/4700944_EJuyE#278095940_kxZr2

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you.

Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:

We stayed at the University Inn. It costed about $130 for two nights, which is unbeatable in the area. It was very convenient: Close to campus, free breakfast, and clean rooms.

Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:

Try the Santa Cruz Diner. It is open 24/7 and it was very crowded at 11:30 pm! Their menu is crazy big... I swear they have everything. Decent prices and good food.

Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):

You're not going to want a car at UCSC, it will probably get in the way. You need to pay for a permit if you have one, which costs quite a bit. Best transportation methods are biking + bus.