The other day, I was at work and overheard some people talking about how one of my co-workers was thinking of applying to UC Santa Barbara. So naturally, I listened in. The first thing the man he was talking to said (with a slightly disapproving tone, may I add) was, “Isn’t that just a party school?”
Just hearing that statement irked me in so many ways. Not only because I hate hearing that stereotype over and over again, with the never ending condescension from people who are older or attended “classier” universities, but because people seem to be uneducated about all of the other amazing things and opportunities so-called “party schools” have to offer. I should not have to defend my choice of institution repeatedly or to justify to people that I am receiving an excellent education. People need to stop putting down my university, just like many others, because some people like to let loose and have fun; especially because, believe it or not, people can multi-task and still achieve great academic tasks even when attending a “party school."
U.S. News and World Report ranked UCSB number eight among all public universities in 2016. In 2016, UCSB was also ranked as the number one public university in the world by the Leiden Ranking for its impact on the sciences. These rankings are a testament to the high caliber of academics at our school. UCSB students are very serious and ambitious students as this school is not for the academically weak (as seen in the rising competitive admission statistics every single year). Students here work very hard to get into the school and they work even harder to continue succeeding academically here. If you ever visit the campus during midterms, dead week or finals week, then you can physically see this as there is basically no room in the library since it is so packed with dedicated students.
Additionally, not everyone parties as excessively as the media depicts people to be. It’s not fair to group everyone into an extremist category. People on our campus do spend their time doing other things (believe it or not) like participating in philanthropies, working, interning, playing in a top notch sports club program or participating in one of the 500 registered student organizations on campus. Researching with one of our highly acclaimed faculty (perhaps with one of our six Nobel Laureates) is very likely as well, as over 50 percent of the undergraduate population participates in research within their four years here. Students at UCSB are incredibly well-rounded in academics and extracurricular activities, while consistently making a positive impact on the campus and the community around us.
So my point here is to not judge someone’s choice of education based on its party school reputation because a college or university is so much more than this. Do not make someone feel inferior or embarrassed because they go to, or aspire to go to, an amazing college where people multitask in academics and in their social lives while excelling in both areas.
