Irish disliked in UCSB?

Colleges & Universities University of California - Santa Barbara
1

<p>This is possibly a trivial question, but it’s something I’d like the American perspective on.</p>

<p>I’m a female student in a university in Ireland and next year I will be applying to come on year-long exchange to one of the UC colleges. At present, I’m considering putting UCSB as my first preference, primarily because ye seem to have the best actuarial program and also because of the beautiful location!</p>

<p>Santa Barbara is a very popular location for Irish students to come for the summer and there’s been a certain amount of media coverage here of how the Irish are garnering a terrible reputation in Santa Barbara for general drunkenness/rowdiness, vandalism etc; how in general the Irish are disliked by Santa Barbara residents, American students and the American police. </p>

<p>I’m wondering how much of this is true, and how much is simply sensationalised media coverage. Would I have trouble finding a room in a house in Isla Vista simply because people are now wary of renting to Irish people? What are your experiences with Irish students? Would I be best off applying to a part of California where the Irish do not have such a tarnished reputation?</p>

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<p>Nah, don’t worry about it. </p>

<p>Residents of Isla Vista like to gloat and complain about out-of-towners and such. . .but in the end, we’re chill people. </p>

<p>The Irish stigma will be the very last thing in our minds when we meet you in-person. (“Oh you’re from Ireland? That’s soo cool!”)</p>

3

<p>I’ve never heard anyone talk bad about Irish people; most of the students in UCSB are pretty chill and friendly. You won’t be discriminated base on stereotype :)</p>