UCSB CCS/UChic(/UCB) Physics and Maths

dietz199
Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:47:09 +0000

I wouldn’t be to worried about the UCSB name recognition…

[CWTS Leiden Ranking 2013 - Ranking](CWTS Leiden Ranking - Ranking 2022)

On an international ranking they come in at #2 (up from #7 last year). They are also the 3rd happiest college student population in the US.

HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost;

CCS is a very unique program. And the individual attention you’d receive would be difficult to come by at your other choices. IMO…UCB is great for grad school. For UG’s…it has been described as a ‘soul crusher’.

My personal biases revealed…S will be starting UCSB this Fall. For both D and S the location and surrounding beauty of a campus affected their choices. UCB is pretty close to us…S spent a day on campus and that was just exhausting for him. The surrounding area of Berkeley is …well…unique. You have to know you will feel comfortable there (yes, yes, I know…part of college is getting out of your comfort zone…but if an urban environment does not feed your soul the chances of depression rise). Housing will be very expensive. Don’t know anything about UChicago but I think it is also very urban.

Now, some people thrive in an urban environment. My family does not. They are great places to visit but we are always happy to leave…and I grew up and went to University in SF!

Anyway, if you haven’t already done so…spend some time on the UCSB campus. I’d bet the head of the CCS department would be happy to set up a private tour. (They did this for my son in the ME department). It is beautiful place. And, as the above ranking shows…while not necessarily a CC favorite, it is getting the attention of those outside the CC bubble.

FWIW…our UCSB tour guide told us about the guy in the 80’s who took 84 units one quarter at CCS. They will allow this kind of stuff…if the academic rigor is of concern :)