" UCSC is honestly, a pretty niche school. It's really great for a specific type of person looking to study a life science like biology, chemistry, etc. The amount of support for STEM majors is insane, especially the sciences. Apart from the STEM majors though, the academic quality definitely dips. The arts are drastically in need of more funding - the theatre program is fun but unfortunately doesn't hold up to the same caliber as other schools in the UC system. A lot of the campus is scattered across beautiful fields and forests, which makes going to classes a lot more fun (but be prepared for a lot of hills). UCSC isn't a huge sports school, which honestly isn't a bad thing in my opinion - even though I know a lot of people care about that kind of thing. I was more interested in the academic opportunities and work opportunities, which definitely excelled. Advisors and clubs are very helpful at working with you to get internships, apprenticeships, and even graduate school admissions. Overall, it's a cool school, I'd definitely recommend it if you're into nature, some hippie culture, and a nice, chill, laid back vibe. "