Be aware: A potential disadvantage of UCSB

mikemac
Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:04:49 +0000

My intent in starting this thread was to give prospective students a heads-up re: availability of advising help at UCSB. My youngest is receiving college acceptances and is studying schools’ advantages/disadvantages as he approaches a decision.

What you’ve discovered isn’t unique to ucsb, but common at any large state school.

You just aren’t going to get the personal attention and focus that comes without effort to those at a LAC or many private U’s. There are resources out there that can help (profs, counselors, tutors, advisors, etc) but you’re going to have to go to them. People care, really they do, but they don’t go around stopping people at random and asking how they can help. You have to go to them.

Not everyone is prepared to do this. For some students a more personal environment where the help is built-in may be a better fit.