Hi @thunderrain123! UCSB alum here! I’m going to paste my response from another post in hopes it helps answer some of your questions.
My time at UCSB were some of my favorite years. Really friendly kids and easy to meet people. The incredible weather and beach location were icing on the cake. I found there was something for everyone there. You’re surrounded by really smart students however it’s collaborative and never felt cut-throat. There are lots of students involved in intramural sports, outdoorsy-type clubs, etc. Really, there’s a club or way to get involved for just about any interest (including more academic oriented/professional clubs). The men’s soccer and basketball games are super fun and well attended (UCSB I believe still holds the record for men’s soccer attendance). Partying in Isla Vista is there for those that wish to partake, although there’s one common party street (Del Playa), so it’s easy to “choose” your housing based on interests (ie, choose a different street to live on than Del Playa if you’d rather avoid the weekend party goers). UCSB is definitely not a commuter school— so the weekends are just as fun and active as the weekdays, with the majority of students living on campus their first year and in apartments in Isla Vista, the neighboring college town, for years 2-4. There are on-campus options for years 2-4 also. People, Academics, Social Scene and Food all score high. The Freshman dorms could be viewed as a con because many are triple occupancy, however many also have ocean views— so there’s a trade off :). Also, the dorms are such a great way to meet people and make friendships for roommate options following years. Have you visited the campus/Isla Vista? Good luck to you!