University of California at Santa Cruz

University of California at Santa Cruz

University of California at Santa Cruz
4.5
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The Santa Cruz campus offers an attractive blend of notable architecture and panoramic views.
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  • Christine P
    Highland Park, Illinois8 contributions
    It felt like being at summer camp!
    Our daughter was accepted to UCSC and we had not seen it yet. Our visits to the campus helped seal the deal and she will be a proud Banana Slug starting this Fall 2022. The campus is unlike anything we have ever seen - it's like hiking in the woods from one building to the next, and two of the residential colleges have a view of the Monterey Bay. We are so excited for her!
    Visited March 2022
    Written March 26, 2022
  • Bill
    1 contribution
    Best School in the World
    This is the most beautiful campus on the planet. Sorry UCSB, but UCSC takes the cake. Not only is the campus stunning, it just so happens to be one of the best schools in the world. To the person who gave this a one star review for saying the school accepts everyone who applies (bigwaves4fun) 1) It has 45% acceptance rate with extremely high standards and 2) I can guarantee that this person didn't get accepted and is just trying to make oneself feel better. This school is hard to beat.
    Visited April 2020
    Written November 1, 2020
  • writealready
    Redondo Beach, California90 contributions
    Coolest campus in America
    Besides being an outstanding university, the UCSC campus is worth a visit unto itself. There are always ratings of the most beautiful campuses, but this is beyond that -- because it doesn't feel like a campus. Care has been given to hide buildings or even clusters of buildings in groves or redwoods. When you approach, you feel like you are visiting a farm or something, because everything is hidden from the road, on the other side of a giant pasture. But, once you are on campus, the view of the Pacific and the whole of Santa Cruz is breathtaking. This is what a college should look like.
    Visited November 2020
    Written December 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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d22randy
Anchorage, AK255 contributions
Sep 2021
If you need a place to walk , this is it! Park at the bottom of the hill and take off. It's a nice loop. Get a map, read about the history, take a tour. Visit the Grateful Dead museum in the library. Check out the old chalk (or was it lime) areas.
Written October 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

abrams227ba
Santa Cruz, CA13 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
I graduated from here many years ago and still live in Santa Cruz.
As a guest or a student here, you are fortunate for every hour or every day that you get to spend in this wonderful place. A jewel on this earth.
Written June 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tomasSCruz
Santa Cruz, Costa Rica66 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
This is from a long time ago but having lived close to UCSC most of my life I know it to continue to be true.
UCSC can be the most challenging place with such a broad variety of courses in all disciplines. You can go for one reason and turn your life into magic. I went to prepare myself for law school and left with the best life mate and have lived in this community ever since.
Whether you are seeking biology or the cosmos or History of Dreaming this is the place to put yourself in the path of a life of discovery and happiness.
Some of the most incredible lessons came from the most unlikely influences like my Saber fencing master. I was able to get my "B" Skipper kee; boat license and a degree.
It is what you make it so relish the possibilities and put yourself in the path of discovery. Remember to say yes to success.
Written December 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

R B
Edmonton, Canada157 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
Not a typical college campus. With ranch ruins, ocean vistas, redwood groves, and buildings scattered around built in a brutalism style, this place is worth a stroll.
Written November 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

markX2226KH
Santa Cruz, CA6 contributions
Sep 2016 • Solo
UCSC is a bastion of Left wing indoctrination. There is also a pall of anti- Israel and anti-Semitic activity on campus. The faculty and administration are far too politicized to deliver a valuable and well rounded education and students are discouraged from open minded investigation of issues. UCSC represents everything bad about many universities in America.
The exception is the Marine Biology department which is one of the best programs in the country.
The campus is comprised of 8 or so colleges which are on a hill overlooking the Ocean and the land is forested with magnificent Redwood trees and beautiful surroundings. Parking is nearly impossible.
If you are anything other than a committed Leftist and especially if you are Jewish, just tell your kids you are unwilling to pay for them to go to UCSC unless it is for marine biology.
Written January 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vacayfamily2016
Sacramento, CA20 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
Walked and drove around UC Santa Cruz's campus during the winter break. The views of the Pacific Ocean from the aquatics center are breath taking.
Written January 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Monica_Riehl
El Paso, TX525 contributions
Sep 2015 • Couples
UCSC is one of the few campuses that feature both views of the majestic pacific, mountains and a slightly desert range. The campus is beautifully crafted with dormitories adjacent to each school. Blankets of green welcome newcomers on the climb to the buildings- where redwood trees take turns providing shade for staff and students alike. Wander through this institution of higher education.
Written October 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Soccer2Mom
Vancouver, WA302 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
When you think of a college in a surfer town, this is not what comes to mind. Inside, you drive up a long winding drive, through open meadows and then into a thickly forested area. The university is not laid out like a traditional college with a central square and stately brick buildings. instead the various colleges are tucked amongst the trees and connected with trails. There is even a student RV trailer park. So much for finding the main bookstore to buy a shirt, but worth driving through to see how this university does things differently (even with the mascot)!
Written April 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

stuftbear
San Dimas, CA32 contributions
Nov 2014
Breathing views from the college campus that feels like a National Park! You can hike through redwood forests and look down upon the scenic Monterey Bay. All for the cost if parking your car. Or bike, walk or ride the city metro bus onto campus. Also visit the Botanical Gardens. Make sure to stand near the Porter College Sqiggle at sunset. The vista is glorious!!
Written December 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Esther V
Orange, CA47 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
If you love the outdoors, you must visit the campus. It's breathtaking. The school is in the middle of the redwood forest and from parts of the campus you can see the ocean.
Written February 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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