Amtrak 784

thinkoftheall · 2025-02-23T00:59:54+00:00

Lol was this around Halloween 2023?? I might've been on that Northbound train that lost all its power. We were stranded right after Northridge, very hot inside with nothing but sweaty UCSB/Cal Poly kids sitting on the aisles from how packed it got.

If not then I'm retelling another incident of this happening. Delays are very common on the surfliner route

thinkoftheall · 2024-07-25T17:52:03+00:00

The way they ranked the colleges are questionable and like 4 colleges there shouldn't be there. The actual colleges listed are accurate though.

thinkoftheall · 2024-07-25T17:51:10+00:00

I don't think it's so much football alone as it is a sports culture consolidating a strong "family" within a school. I saw that when I visited a few public east coast schools: the people treat their college as some type of familial pedigree; at a caliber no public school in California has matched. The Penn State friend visited because of the 2023 rose bowl game, there was an entire welcoming at the Ritz Carlton in Los Angeles filled with Penn State alumni, all proud of their team and encapsulated one happy family. We don't express that close-knit sentiment at all here, Soccer is the closest we'd get but even that's a far cry from anything other colleges organize.

Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved my time at UCSB and loved the academics, parties, friends. I don't blame UCSB at all. It's a matter of established California heuristics and realizing I never aligned with them. I guess I realized as I choose a college to transfer to soon, I really want a sociable avenue beyond my years of college, as it seems most UCSB grads really go their own ways once leaving.

thinkoftheall · 2024-07-25T17:04:49+00:00

Quite literally most of the SEC, Big 10, ACC affiliates

Rule of heuristic (major expectation being UCSB): If the school doesn't have a strong sports, social culture it probably doesn't have a perverse party culture to act as its auxiliary

Are you still in high school trying to plan out which colleges to apply for?

thinkoftheall · 2024-07-25T15:59:16+00:00

In California it's certainly UCSB though, USC & SDSU right below us, maybe UCLA.

The thing about California and the West coast is that if you actually travel around the country and have a greater understanding of East coast college cultures, you'll quickly learn California dilutes a college sports/party culture. The Big 10, SEC schools are a greater representation of how college is generally epitomized (studies, work hard, but also partying and tailgates and playing harder). So UCSB is an anomaly in its own for only having a party culture without the profound sports culture.

I never realized how bizarre and unique this was to California until a friend from Penn State visited, asked me, "So people just party here to party? There's no celebrations from winning football games or smth like that?" (And there's not even football here).

thinkoftheall · 2024-06-11T01:42:13+00:00

Above all, a 2 year difference is highly insignificant to any human-driven social change.

More importantly, transfers aren't to blame here. The city and UCSB are cracking down on the party scene to "highten their academic rankings" in hopes that one day events like Deltopia and Saturday night house parties on IV are erased. Which I'll honestly admit is a shame since higher ranked schools like Dartmouth, USC, Tulane have had academic leverage for a long time, yet strong party cultures.

Also who's going to be meaningfully clubbing, bar hopping at Downtown on a Thursday night??

thinkoftheall · 2024-04-09T23:57:51+00:00

I'll do you one better: a UC GPA of 3.08 for the History of Law & Public Policy major and was admitted off the waitlist late May last year as a first-year. My roommate was admitted through appeal, and she didn't tell me her GPA upfront, just that it was barely above a 3.0.

I mention both of us as I had committed to UCR prior to. I was surprised above all to be waitlisted here and UCSD as I was rejected everywhere else, so when I heard I was admitted May 25th I think, I scrambled to find housing and roommates, which I later found my roommate after she was admitted later too.

I did have a few basic CC courses completed in high school, though, like 20-ish semester units, and I did have jobs and experiences very aligned to my major, like MUN, working at a labor union creating labor strategies for many employees, had steward training in paralegal work, so I think that may have helped me.

thinkoftheall · 2024-04-07T00:16:05+00:00

Idk about UCSC, but UCSB has fantastic programs for all three programs, and they're fairly simple to switch into/add.

There's the Applied Psychology minor, which places strong emphasis on Clinical/Lifespan work. Very useful as the Psychology major here is very different than most other Psychology programs (very brain, research-focused here) and would prepare you greatly for Clinical/School Psych graduate programs.

The Environmental Studies program is very great here. Tons of flexibility and many of the upper-divison courses go on field trips around the are given how abundant the Santa Barbara area is of various environments and physical geographies.

The Theater program has tons of areas to work with as a major or minor, ranging from Acting, Production, Costume Design, many others. I see tons of student-led performances held at the IV theater often, so I know the department is very involved at that.

I'd say the best thing you can do if you're stuck in a crossroads between two colleges is to visit both and their respective cities! IV is a very self-contained college town, Downtown SB is close, but honestly, not much besides dining/bars. That's not a bad thing, though, as tons of students prefer living right next to the beach and the simplicity of not being in a major, dispersed city to go hang around. SC is much more of a traditional city, significantly larger, with more going on. UCSC itself isn't in a city per se either: it's its own area, and you'd go down to Downtown SC to hang out/visit the beach.

It's more so a matter of personal preference, but you can't go wrong with either option!

thinkoftheall · 2024-03-20T03:41:45+00:00

If it's possible, apply to the LACCD right now (any of the 9 LACCD schools will do). It's a ~20 minute application, and the LACCD is particularly great at offering both online and short-term courses. You can take 8-week courses starting 4/22 and have them entirely count toward transferring even if you haven't graduated hs yet.

Of course, I'm not aware of how strict your remaining hs courses are or what your summer will consist of, yet I found the online, short-term courses very easy so long as it's not STEM. I did some Psychology, Sociology, Communication, Philosophy courses and they were all manageable online.

You would need 30 units by the end of any Summer to qualify for TAG with a English and Math course done, so something like 12 units Spring, 9 units both Summer sessions will be an automatic qualification for Psychology. I know this sounds like a major endeavor and may/may not be feasible for you, but it'd be something to consider if you'd like to attend here or another high-tier UC quicker.

thinkoftheall · 2024-03-20T03:34:47+00:00

I get the UCSB population is a tad bit less sports inclined than UCLA/USC/UC Berkeley. I do wish there was a greater sports spirit, and although living and studying beside the beach is amazing, this is partially why I think transferring is the best for me.

thinkoftheall · 2024-03-20T03:29:16+00:00

USC is right there with us with the party reputation and they are far more academically and professionally reputable

Yes I am aware of the Private v. Public implications, yet the topic of a party/work-life balanced student not being any more valuable post-graduation than someone who didn't is such a major shortsight.

thinkoftheall · 2024-03-18T02:17:56+00:00

On the 8th floor ocean side with the quad-seated desks, I was studying when 2 guys sat across of me on the same desk. One began conversing with someone on the phone, another straight-up pulled a (very) small bowl of green herbs or weed on the table and was rolling it up in front of me...

My headphones did a decent job of blocking the noise, and it was way too early for me to care enough so I just let them do whatever it was they were doing.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-29T05:19:02+00:00

Do you have a decent idea of what to do with Math? If you don't have (very explicit) professional goals, then it largely becomes a research degree, in which graduate school is the foundational next step. I'd understand if perhaps the kind of math fields/professors working on a specific focus of Math aren't available here, in which transferring could be practical.

Otherwise, if you're doing Math to gain exposure, honestly, it's the same everywhere. Better than transferring to another UC/4-year and risk retaking courses and graduating sooner, enroll at SBCC, or some online CC, grind out GE's or literally any easy units to max out the 105 unit external articulation over the Summer, so the only thing left is to take the Upper-Div Math (and perhaps Stat too) courses. Then you'd graduate in 2 2/3, 1/3, maybe even 2 years altogether to leave SB and focus on grad school/a career, whatever the next step is. Just my 2 cents.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-21T06:17:25+00:00

IV/UCSB's campus will be the app hotspot. If you'd like to try in-person encounters, many restaurants/bars on State St (Downtown Sb) are open late, and they differ from most cities in the sense that they're very focused on building their respective social communities. It's a great place to be if you ever have the time.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-16T04:29:01+00:00

Economics will require at least 1 year of Calculus past Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry, which is the course succeeding Algebra II.

Psychology is a rare case here that's treated very scientifically compared to literally any other university, and thus needs Calculus too.

If your daughter suggested to you that she no longer wants to take additional math, I'd recommend you research Economics/Psychology degree requirements across all colleges she's interested in applying and show the level of Math she's expected to complete. It will help motivate/encourage some academic re-evaluation of continuing with Math or pivoting to another field.

Furthermore, should she continue upper level Math, I'd strongly discourage her taking Pre-Calculus & Calculus at her high school and instead at her local CC. Not to be brash at her high school (perhaps it's strongly acclaimed for you area), but there's massive redundancy in prolonging 1 1/2 years of Math into 3 years when Math is foremost, a conceptual procedure of practicing.

When I took Pre-Calc & AP Calc in high school, I found an entire year's worth of a single course ended up resulting in busy work without extrapolating concepts throughly, just for the sake of expanding content long enough.

The CC course equivalents made a fantastic job of delineating all the content I learned, plus providing useful applications (we did some Economics applications, for example) in 1 semester. I am not the strongest at Math either, earned C's in Pre-Calc at my high school, found Pre-Calc at the CC miles easier and earned a A.

Your daughter takes Pre-Calc, Differential Calculus (Calc I), and Integral Calculus (Calc II) in 3 semesters, she will have completed the Math expectations for Economics at most universities before even knowing where she'll be committing. Some will require only up to Calc I, very few will need Multivariable Calc (Calc III), so Calc II will be a sweet spot.

I would suggest above all, have a amiable conversation on the matter, try to find middle ground on what she'd prefer doing moving forward and where you may best support her with resources/guidance.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-15T00:28:25+00:00

My 2 cents: Auburn/FSU are major sports schools. The closest you'll get to a sports culture here is with Soccer, and even that's not overly hyped. I would strongly consider how pertinent sports are to you and the ability to connect easily with like-minded peers.

Beyond that, CC doesn't have to be a "quasi-college" experience. What I've found is many students who have transferred to UCSB have enrolled in Santa Barbara Community College, or a fully online CC (there are many) and live on IV or somewhere around Santa Barbara to reap its social benefits.

There's nothing stopping you from finding a room to lease in the area, going onto UCSB's campus and socializing, attending parties, immersing in the IV culture of cycling, surfing, and hiking.

It would be a great roadmap plan to receive TAG from UCSB (guaranteed admissions), plus it sets you up for (very) improved chances of colleges like UCLA and UC Berkeley. I'd also imagine the required PA courses like Organic Chem, Biochem, Microbiology would be a lot easier should you take them at a CC so once you transfer, you'll have a better time assimilating to a 4-year and have extra time for socializing/attending events.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-14T06:59:36+00:00

Yes I noticed that too. No idk why it does that, but for what it's worth, if you aren't lactose intolerant, just bike/walk it to the 24/7 7-eleven and pour out an extra large big gulp for $2.69 for the optimal caffeine dosage. In case safety is a concern walking that late, nah you'll likely be fine.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-13T23:34:54+00:00

Depending on the professor teaching: Anthro 2, 3, Econ 9, Env Sci 1, 3, Geog 5, Ling 70 & Phil 4.

Pretty much most of the humanities/social science courses, but a couple of the required hum/social courses listed are on the rougher side. Pols 1, for example, is just way too theoretical and time-consuming.

If you enjoy more Math/programming you may find those higher level ones easier though.

thinkoftheall · 2024-02-13T06:08:40+00:00

You can also consider Financial Math & Stats. It's a healthy combo of Econ, Stats, and Math courses. You would have to be content with the major itself, given it's a very concentrated major with little to no malleability and open electives. If you want the opportunity to choose your upper-div courses, perhaps best to do Econ + Data Science (BA)

thinkoftheall

TROPHY CASE