University of California, Santa Barbara
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Biology
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: White Heterosexual Male
Summary
I’m on the Club Surf Team and I’m in a fraternity.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public high school in San Diego, CA with about 200 students in the graduating class. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Biology
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m on the Club Surf Team and I’m in a fraternity.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
The fraternity has had a big impact on my experience. I’ve met a lot of like-minded people, and have been able to meet a lot of friends I wouldn’t have otherwise.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
I’ve had a lab every quarter since I’ve been here. It’s a lot of reading the textbook to keep up with the material. There’s a lot of material and it’s easy to fall behind. Usually, exams make up the bulk of my final grade.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I’d say it’s pretty competitive, but I don’t think it’s too competitive. I don’t study with too many people because studying with people who are behind on the material makes it seem like I’d be teaching them more than they’d be teaching me. I feel like I teach myself a lot of it by reading the textbooks. Going to lectures are sometimes helpful, but most of the time they are not. Most of my classes are graded on a curve, so you’re trying to be ahead of the curve.
How accessible are your professors?
They’re averagely accessible. I’ve gone to office hours once or twice and they haven’t been there. Sometimes office hours are really crowded, but they usually respond to my emails. If I have a question, I’ll usually look in the textbook first, and if I still don’t find the answer I’m looking for I’ll go to the teacher. About half of the time after talking with them my questions are answered.
How do you like the quarter system? How has that impacted your experience?
It seems very concentrated, but, overall, I’d say I enjoy it. It makes the classes seem to go by quicker.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
Probably because of my parents and a slight interest in STEM.
Reasons to Attend
1) The beautiful location.
2) The prestige of the school.
3) You’ll meet different types of people here.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) It’s expensive. [Total costs for an in-state student in 2019-2020 are about $37,000.]
2) Depending on your major, the coursework takes a lot of time.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Anacapa Residence Halls with two roommates
Sophomore: In my fraternity house
How was transitioning from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA in terms of location?
It’s pretty similar. Santa Barbara was colder than I assumed.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I feel extremely safe.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I like going to the beach when it’s warm enough, or trying to explore outside the Isla Vista bubble. For nightlife activities, I like going out to dinner with my friends.
What nights of the week do you regularly do things? Are there regular places you go or things you do on certain nights?
I usually go out Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I usually tend to go out to one of the local places in Isla Vista (I.V.) and see where it takes us.
What is the impact of Greek life on nightlife at UCSB?
I go to a heavier mix of fraternity parties, but there are lots of little band shows I go to or house parties [hosted by] friends not in Greek life. The Greek life scene is usually pretty consistent with the people you see, so it’s nice seeing people you wouldn’t around campus. Depending on the friends I have and each fraternity’s relationship, it’s much easier to go to [certain fraternities other than our own] than others.
How did the nightlife differ before and after you joined Greek life?
I joined my fraternity fall of my freshman year so it’s been just that.
What’s an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out?
I like to go ice skating or bowling in the evenings. In the day time, I’ve gone paintballing a few times, surfing is fun, there’s rock-climbing, and there are nice hikes.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Through the fraternity.
How would you describe the overall social scene at UCSB?
I’d say it’s very welcoming, for the most part. I’ve never felt too unwelcomed anywhere and most of the time people seem enthusiastic to meet new people.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
Race-wise, it’s pretty well spread out for the percentage of different races we have here. With sexual orientation, I don’t think some people who identify as [LGBT] feel as welcomed [in Greek life parties], but I’ve never experienced any discrimination. [The undergraduate population is 32% White, 27% Hispanic, 20% Asian, and 3% Black.]
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
Depending on your other extracurriculars, if you aren’t involved in anything besides Greek life it’s hard to mingle with other people because there isn’t any way for them to. I know people on other sports teams or in other clubs and it seems like they’ll hang out with them just as much as their Greek life community.
How would you describe the student body?
It seems very welcoming. Most people I’ve met here seem to be from families that are wealthier than I’d see back at home. [About 33% of students come from families in the socioeconomic top 10%.]
How do you like the size of UCSB? How has that impacted your experience? [UCSB has about 23,000 undergraduates.]
It’s great. It’s a change [because I came from a small high school], but it’s nice to feel like there are always new people to meet.
Careers
Have you learned any computer languages or software that will be helpful to you professionally?
I’ve learned Excel through the labs I’ve taken.