UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz is located in a rural atmosphere in the small, politically liberal town of Santa Cruz. It is based on the central coast of California, above Monterey Bay and bordering the Pacific Ocean. Berkeley and San Francisco are less than two hours away by car. San Jose, the Silicon Valley, Monterey and Carmel are within an hour's drive of campus. Big Sur is within a two hours' drive. About 2,000 acres of redwood forest and open meadow surrounds the UCSC campus.
Student Body
As one of the smallest UC campuses in terms of student enrollment, UC Santa Cruz has about 9,000 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students. Its enrollment is expected to increase in the coming years. About 93 percent of students come from California. UC Santa Cruz has a relatively diverse student body. According to recent figures from the University of California, underrepresented minorities (blacks, American Indians, and Latinos) account for approximately 18.7 percent of the student body.
Academics
U.S. News and World Report named Santa Cruz as one of the 20 best public campuses in the country in 1999. UC Santa Cruz is made up of eight different colleges (Cowell, Stevenson, Crown, Merrill, Porter, Kresge, Oakes, and Eight) that each emphasize different academic subjects, but that share the same high-quality teaching standards. (Colleges Nine and Ten are now under construction.) Although students belong to one particular college, they can take classes from any of the colleges after completing their college's first year of academic requirements. Each college has a different theme; themes generally focus on social issues such as People of Color in America or third-world issues. The school has an ethnic-studies requirement and offers an Ethnic Studies major.
Many classes at UC Santa Cruz are small seminars, and there is a strong emphasis on individual thinking. Professors are accessible, and students often call them by their first names. Professors write personal evaluations of their students at the end of each quarter instead of traditional grades, but it is possible to request grades on your official college transcript. Students enter graduate schools without difficulty: More than 90 percent go on for graduate degrees.
More than 80 percent of students return for their sophomore year, and 60 percent graduate in five years.
Health Opportunities
UC Santa Cruz does not have an affiliated medical school, but the science departments are strong, especially in marine biology and environmental science. A great deal of biology research takes place on campus, and undergraduates have many opportunities to become involved. Most biology students at Santa Cruz do not focus on the medical sciences, and only 1 percent go on to medical school. The campus is near Monterey, where students have opportunities to volunteer at clinics and hospitals.
Financial Aid
Half of the students at Santa Cruz receive financial aid. About 40 percent receive scholarships or grants, and close to 40 percent take out loans. On average, the school meets 100 percent of students' financial needs. The school gives no athletic scholarships; 95 percent of the scholarships are need-based, and the remainder are merit-based. About 3 percent of students work on campus, and good opportunities exist for work off campus.
Transportation
The campus has a parking shortage, and students are strongly discouraged from bringing cars onto campus. Many students ride bikes around campus and into town. A car is useful for mobility in the area but not necessary.
Housing
Freshmen are required to buy meal plans, and most live on campus. By the second or third year, many students move off campus, where housing is less expensive. On campus, students live in the college to which they belong.
Student Life
Since students at UC Santa Cruz live and take classes within their particular college, the school has an intimate, small-campus feel. Much of the student body promotes and embraces many of the politically liberal, pro-environment ideals of the 1960s.
Students have many opportunities to participate in outdoor activities. The school has a mellow social atmosphere, with opportunities to get involved in a variety of clubs and activities. Many students participate in off-campus educational internships and study-abroad opportunities. UC Santa Cruz also offers a strong sports program, with varsity teams in basketball, soccer, swimming/diving, tennis and volleyball. The school has no fraternities or sororities.
UC Santa Cruz May Be for You If....
You are looking for a school with small classes and a strong focus on teaching undergraduates and promoting interaction between faculty and students. You are environmentally conscious and would like to live in a progressive, laid-back atmosphere. You want a school that offers a beautiful location and a chance to explore social issues.
Go to http://www.ucsc.edu/public/index.htm to learn more about UC Santa Cruz.