University of California - Santa Barbara - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Isla Vista, once deemed the “student ghetto” and patrolled by the National Guard in the 1960s, is a square-mile town right next to campus. Most UCSB students live in Isla Vista—otherwise known as IV—and bike to campus every day—a 10-minute bike ride, max. The party street, Del Playa (DP), is on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Without a doubt, Isla Vista is one of the most unique and fun places most people will ever live. Where else can you choose from 10 to 30 parties on the weekend, hang out on the beach, and stand in line at 4 in the morning for burritos and pizza with hundreds of other college students?

The two beaches by Isla Vista are Devereux and Sands. If it’s at all sunny, you can bet that both will be crowded with tanners and surfers (actually, the surfers are there no matter what the weather). The mountains are about a 15-minute drive away and provide plenty of opportunities for hiking. Isla Vista also has casual and inexpensive restaurants, and most do not close before 2 a.m. any night of the week. Just consider yourself warned that, with such a great atmosphere, productivity can be very low. Some students know that they will only stay focused if they live outside of Isla Vista.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Avoid Isla Vista if you want to... Avoid Isla Vista if you want to get good grades and want to graduate in four years. Other than that, Goleta (where UCSB is located) is a decent little town, and Santa Barbara is a good-sized city. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

If you can imagine a bunch of... If you can imagine a bunch of 20-year-olds hanging out together, that’s basically the atmosphere here. It’s definitely very laid-back and has a party atmosphere, but when you need to buckle down to study, it’s possible. We also have a lot of Santa Barbara City College kids hanging out here, too, who are usually the non-stop partiers. It’s a lot of fun, and the placement of the campus and the town couldn’t be better. Downtown is about 10 minutes away, the mountains are 15 minutes away, and the beach is literally right next to campus. It’s a great location; I couldn’t ask for better. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

After living in Isla Vista for a... After living in Isla Vista for a year, nothing will shock you. The other day I saw my neighbor take his pet goat for a walk—somehow, that is not weird to me. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

At first, it seemed as if there... At first, it seemed as if there was nothing to do here for free, but I proved myself wrong. There are tons of great day hikes in the mountains or around the beaches, a few free/cheap museums to explore, and weekend art walks and markets along the beach downtown. It’s also fun to visit Red Rock when it’s overcast in town, and Lake Cachuma. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Isla Vista is great for the first... Isla Vista is great for the first couple of years, but don’t miss out on all the stuff to do in downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Summerland, and Carpinteria. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Santa Barbara:
• The first Kinko’s was in Isla Vista, created by a UCSB grad student.
• Big Dogs Brand, Patagonia, and Islands Magazine all have their headquarters here.
• JFK and new wife Jackie O. finished off their honeymoon in Santa Barbara.
• The Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference are annual events.
• Santa Barbara County is becoming one of the best wine-producing regions on the coast.

Famous People Living in Santa Barbara:
Jennifer Aniston
Jeff Bridges
Julia Childs
John Cleese
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
“Bachelor” Andrew Firestone
Billy Idol
Kathy Ireland
Michael Keaton
Michael Jackson
Steve Martin
Brad Pitt
Ivan Reitman
Oprah Winfrey

Local Slang:
Hendry’s – The beach that non-locals know as Arroyo Burro
Carp – Carpinteria, a beach town just south of Santa Barbara
State – State Street, where all the downtown shopping and dining is located
APS – Alameda Padre Serra, the street that cuts across the top of the foothills, or “Riviera,” and has a great view of downtown and the ocean
Brooks – The photography institute in Montecito
RoCo – Santa Barbara Roasting Company, a downtown coffee shop

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