Be aware: A potential disadvantage of UCSB

NorthernCalMother
Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:17:38 +0000

I know people whose lives were changed by undergrad advice from a well-informed professional. My husband is one, and my son’s best friend, an '05 grad @ Wesleyan, is another (his advisor continues to counsel him on PhD app’s). My daughter @ Berkeley - another large public school - received useful, objective input from an advisor when she sought it, as kluge descrbed @ SDSU.

College can be full of surprises and discoveries. Would a particular kid in a particular major benefit from a year abroad, a minor, a directed research class, an advanced degree, advice on careers in his/her field? Some students don’t need or want expert input; others do. For them - and if you’re just starting the college process, you may not know if you’ll be one or not – I remain unconvinced that a fellow undergraduate is an adequate advising resource.

I’m impressed, though, by the imaginations of some posters and by their school loyalty. While I’m irked about my SB-senior son’s situation (accurately described, confirmed by the chancellor’s office, despite those w/ different anecdotal experiences), I’m not worried. He’s assertive and lands on his feet.

Again, my purpose in starting this thread was to share a UCSB reality with high school students and their parents who are in the decision-making stage. Especially for first-timers, it’s intended to show what “large public school” might mean to kids.

Mikemac is right: for some students, a more personal environment where the help is built-in may be a better fit.