<p>I'm a transfer student majoring in Earth Science / Geology.</p>
<p>And honestly, I don't just care how "good" each school is when it comes to academics in my major, which seems like what most advice here is based on. I'm looking for just an overall great college experience.</p>
<p>I want to make lots of good friends, I want to like my teachers classmates and classes, I want small classes, I want to surf and be outdoors every day, I want to get involved on campus, and I want to party every weekend.</p>
<p>When I was applying, my list of schools, ranked in order was:</p>
<p>Humboldt State (small classes, outdoor oriented)
UC San Diego (all-around good school)
UC Santa Cruz (all-around good school)
UC Santa Barbara (all-around good school)
Cal Poly SLO (assumed students would be too competitive)
UC Irvine (just in a location that I don't like)</p>
<p>I've gotten into all the schools I've applied to and have spent 2-3 days living at each of them so I have a pretty good idea of what they all are like.</p>
<p>Here's my new list, ranked in order.</p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO (awesome faculty in my major and met really cool students)
UC Santa Cruz (tied with Cal Poly SLO, Santa Cruz is still my favorite location, and I love the campus, but I didn't meet many students or teachers)
UC Santa Barbara (don't have an opinion either way)
UC San Diego (too big and just feels like a commuter school)
Humboldt State (I didn't fit in with any of the people I met there. Everyone seems to stay inside even when it's not raining)
UC Irvine</p>
<p>Any advice? I'll answer any further questions if more info is needed.</p>