num_pages: 180
description: Introduction from the AuthorThe University of California at Santa Cruz is, by all means, a unique institution. Well known for its tradition of a narrative evaluation academic system, as well as its banana slug mascot, UCSC has never been one to trot along the typical college pathway. Historically, it has been known as a school where students consider their education to be a multi-faceted experience. Students and faculty alike have never been satisfied with simple numbers or grades to justify the experiences the students have had in the classroom. UCSC still holds true to the innovative view of education, and students of all disciplines receive written evaluations in addition to grades at the end of each quarter. This idea of a more personalized grading system seems to be popular with students and, as a result, the school’s enrollment continues to grow annually. Consequently, rapid student growth sometimes causes over-population in some classes, as well as more people and buildings on campus, which often limits the recreational space available to any and all students.While already notorious for its innovative outlook on academics, UCSC is becoming quite known for its politically volatile environment as well. There are a lot of active, involved students at UCSC who care a lot about the environmental and social changes that take place around them. Most of the students at UCSC find Santa Cruz an incredibly fun and irresistible place. Its recreational opportunities are limitless, with hiking and biking trails all over campus, as well as the surfing and sailing classes that are offered throughout the year. Outdoor enthusiasts seem to flock to this rich environment. In fact, in a recent issue, Outside Magazine rated UCSC the number one school in the country for outdoor activities.The festive atmosphere of the Santa Cruz area is one of the main reasons why people flock to UCSC. The town has its own distinct feel. The streets are always lined with musicians, surfers, hippies, and people from all walks of life. Santa Cruz is a small town, but it’s also a college town. There are tons of young people (not just UCSC students) and lots of things to do. You won’t grow bored here.If you can adjust to the liberal culture and the hot sunny days, Santa Cruz can be an incredible place to spend four years of your life. The school offers top-notch professors and a broad range of classes and majors to choose from. The school has so much to present to its students, and many say that UCSC is a great place to analyze and conceptualize the world around us. Looking at the beaches, redwoods, and everything else that there is to do in Santa Cruz, I would have to say that one of the only problems here is getting distracted from your academic schedule.Hadley Robinson, AuthorUC Santa Cruz
language: English
title: UC Santa Cruz: Off the Record - College Prowler
titlecomplete: UC Santa Cruz: Off the Record - College Prowler
ratings_count: 1
publisher: College Prowler