Time for College. SD or Santa Cruz, Best Fishing?

[stanbery]

I figured you ladies and gent would be able to help this nice young man out.
I will post a link to here so he will be able to look at all the comment.
Thanks for the help.
This is what Pasha wrote on another forum (GST)

So now as I'm finishing up my senior year in High school, Ive heard back from all the Universities that i have applied to and now its time for me to make the hard decision of where to go. I figured asking you guys would be a great idea because after all, the fishing in the area of the school will be very important to me.

As it is I've narrowed it down to San Diego State and UC Santa Cruz (I got into UC riverside but Im not so in love with the area).

I know San Diego has many places to fish in both the ocean and nearby lakes, but what about Santa Cruz? Are any of you familiar with how the fishing is up there (both salt and fresh)?


Also, I am planning to major in Psychology with possibly doing the pre-med deal.. Does anyone have any insight on which school would be better from an academic stand point?


I realize that in the end, i need to make the decision and i need to feel out the right "fit" for myself, but i figured oh what the * it wouldn't hurt to hear some opinions!

Thanks guys!

Thanks again for the help.

Jon

[RichardCullip]

Fly fishing wise, San Diego has a much broader and more diverse fishery than Santa Cruz.

Down in the San Diego area the salt water is much warmer than up in Santa Cruz which brings more species into range of fly fisherman. In San Diego you can hit the beaches to fly fish the surf, hit the bays to target multiple species of bass and other critters (even bonefish) and even talk your way onto a boat to target bonita, yellowtail and some of the bigger tuna species.

Up in Santa Cruz you will typically face much colder water and bigger waves than you would down in San Diego. The species that can be caught from the beach are much more limited than down in San Diego. That being said, the surf perch are much bigger in Santa Cruz and you can effectively chase stripers from some of the beaches up there. If you have access to a boat, you can get out and chase big white seabass, albacore and play with rock fish that will come up and smash a surface popper with reckless abandon. Santa Cruz puts you much closer to the wonderful water up in Northern Calif. The Yuba, the Trinity, the Lower Sac and a host of other great streams are within a fairly easy drive (certainly much closer than San Diego).

You will find good fishing, but different fishing, in both places. I personally like warmer and drier weather so I'd go with San Diego if I had to make the decision you are faced with. San Diego State has a strong reputation as a party school. Factor this into your decision. Santa Cruz is a great place for a laid-back relaxing lifestyle (think hippies from the '60s). Factor this into your decision.

[1mocast]

Santa Cruz is a great place for a laid-back relaxiong lifestyle (think hippies from the '60s).

Yep...Lots of nice coastal forests around and in the city. I have read rumors of troots in the local city streams.

From what I remember, the school used to be a Pass/Fail university; No letter grades are given. Not sure if this is true still. Just another criteria for your post-graduate ambitions.

I would research both schools with the top criteria as which one has the better Psychology dept. And look at other majors which would perk your interests.

[NorcalBob]

Some good advice. Santa Cruz has steelies about 10 minutes from campus (in season). Although we don't have quite the diverse salt water fishing scene as San Diego, our fish are bigger! Santa Cruz is also known as a "hippie flake" school and it's academic reputation is not all that great. Make a choice on what's best for your academic career (not sure I'd even go to Santa Cruz if I was planning pre-med), not fishing. Both places have great fishing, it's just different.

[WanderingBlues]

SDSU is so crowded and getting classes is a pain. A degree from a UC school (even UCSC) is more prestigious. And before the CSU folks chime in, I graduated from Cal State San Bernardino.

I'd give UC Riverside a 2nd look. It's a great campus and you can fish with us farmers in the Inland Empire. Lots of water in the local mountains.

[John Harper]

Are you kidding me?

Unless you like Birkenstock clad earth mommas, go to SDSU!!!!!

There are so many hot chicks there, and don't forget the Pacific Beach/Mission Beach nightlife.

John

[midger]

I'd pick the school that gave me the best chance to become what I ultimately wanted to become. I'd consider the chances that each offered for scholarships and grants. I'd consider their standings in the rack and stack of which one had higher status. I'd consider the odds of getting the classes I needed--ie is either impacted for getting classes? I doubt that Psychology will be impacted, as it is more an entry into some other program which means you'll have to change Universities again anyway. ( I say this because my wife's first degree was in Psych, which got her nothing until she got her other degrees in computer science along with a master's in another field from USC).

Then there are the social aspects of each area. DO you like the milder year round weather of San Diego or the slightly more robust weather of Santa Cruz (or the beastly hot summer weather of Riverside)? Do you prefer a large student population or a smaleer one?

Lastly, I'd consider the fishing, but that would be a distant last consideration, and I love to fish, but honestly, 4 years go by fast, so fishing would be my last consideration in looking for a college. If it were my first, then I'd be going to school in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado if I were a trouter, or Hawaii if I wanted Salt Water fishing, or is there a campus at Cabo San Lucas?

[FlyinFish]

Richard covered it pretty well. Aside from the schools, the areas themselves are very different. Depending on where you live now and how you like it, you may not fit in well in one or the other. Think about that and think we're you'd be happiest outside of class.

I personally do the saltwater party boat thing and the boats and crew and fishing in SD are outstanding. I drive from LA to SD to fish the 1/2 or 3/4 day boats because the crew and fishing is that much better. Also, the tuna trips are available as well. If you're into that, then that's a big plus for SD, obviously. Don't be intimidated my this type of fishing. Rental gear is available, and if you want, get a hold of me and I'll set you up and go out on some day trips with you. The crews in SD are all about customer service. If it was LA, I'd advise against it knowing you'd probably have a bad experience. If you do SDSU and want more info on the party boat salt scene, get a hold of me.

The surf and bay fishing can be pretty insane in SD. I've never done it, but have lots of friends who do. There are tons of options and spots in all those bays and beaches. If you have a float tube or kayak, that will give you even more water and options. The main draw for me would be that they have a much better bass population, both sand bass and spotted bay. You also have the LJ and PL kelps you can hit with a kayak for anything from bass to yellowtail.

The largemouth bass fishing is also pretty awesome in SD if you do that. They don't have much in the way of creeks that I know of, but it's a short drive to the San Bernardino mountains for some local stealth creek fishing.

Also, consider which is closer to the Sierras. Again, depending on where you fish. Neither is right there, but the drive time may stop you from making a shotgun one day run or even a quick overnight run to either the west or the east side.

One other thing, SDSU has much hotter girls, but the girls at UCSC will probably go backpacking with you. Tough call.

Oh an one more thing, the beer in SD is off the hook and the local microbrewing scene has taken off like nothing else. SC is close to some great brews as well, but not in the immediate area like in SD. I don't know if that matters to you, but it would to me!

But most importantly, having lived away from my fishing grounds a few times, I would say go with the one that takes you to new waters. It may not always be your favorite type of fishing and you may miss your usual spots every now and then, but in the end you will have taken advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore, learn, study, and fish a completely new and different set of waters. The experience and stories alone are worth it, but you will learn new types of water, new techniques, catch different fish, and so on. And this will all help you be a better fisher over all and prepare you for any new or different fishing situations you may encounter later in life.

[Papasequoia]

Some good advice. Santa Cruz has steelies about 10 minutes from campus (in season). Although we don't have quite the diverse salt water fishing scene as San Diego, our fish are bigger! Santa Cruz is also known as a "hippie flake" school and it's academic reputation is not all that great. Make a choice on what's best for your academic career (not sure I'd even go to Santa Cruz if I was planning pre-med), not fishing. Both places have great fishing, it's just different.

Just curious Bob if you own any boxing gloves or if I should bring my own when I come up there to kick your...er...I mean, to fish with you? I got my BA from Santa Cruz and was admitted to every graduate school I applied to, including Stanford (if those bastards had given me a scholarship like Michigan did I would have gone there). Hippie/flake school? Ok, it is very granola-oriented, I will give you that. However, it does not have a poor academic reputation at least from the point of view of those in academia who would be serving on graduate admissions boards. The UC system (all schools) are much better funded than any of the CSUs or state colleges, and UCSC has many, many outstanding scholars who teach there precisely because it is a very cool, surfing/redwoods/coast range/laid-back college town. A real college town, not some city where the college/university is just one more component. They have some outstanding programs in mathematics and the sciences as well as literature and the arts. I loved it there and have brought the kids there on more than one occasion hoping that they will fall in love with it like I did and want to go there (so I can visit).

Midger is correct, look at what you really think you want to study, and check out the program at both schools and see which one is the best fit. Remember that just because a school has a good reputation in general, or in one certain area, doesn't necessarily mean that they are good in all areas/programs. A school that has a great Environmental Studies department might not have a very good Art or Literature department, or vice versa.

If you are serious about college, don't choose a school based on how close it is to good fishing. That can be one of your criteria if you have two equally good candidates and are down to lifestyle choices for where to go to school, but using it as a top criteria is short-sighted. College is 4-5 years, fishing is for a lifetime. Go to the school that will prepare you best for the future so that you can find a job you enjoy in a community that you can settle in for life that has good fishing. THAT'S when it's important to put lifestyle things like 'good fishing' near the top of the list. Where would you like to live for the rest of your life? For the record, even though it isn't one of your choices, out of all the many places I have lived, the one I would like to return to (and where I will probably retire) is Boulder, CO, and they have an excellent university (UC Boulder) as well as a reputation that Bob would call a 'hippie-flake' school.

Hope that helps. Oh, by the way, I didn't fish while I was in college so I can't help you there.

GO SLUGS!

[NorcalBob]

Lotsa good colleges are known as "hippie flake" schools. Nothing wrong with being a "hippie flake"!!!! If I was interested in certain fields (like marine biology) UCSC would be a good choice. However, if I was planning on entering about the most academic competitive field that exists (such as pre-med as the fellow plans) I would not recommend going to UCSC.

[Bakoguy]

Bob
With all due respect to yourself and my daughter (BS Finance SDSU 2003) I don't know any MED Schools that prefer SDSU with the possible exception of those dealing with early liver disease. Besides SDSU is so impacted you are lucky to get out in 6 years even if you try.
My (UCD 1974) opinion is the UC system is still the preferred ticket.
From UCSC (~3hrs) you can be in the Sierras or Upper Sac for trout, North Coast for Steelhead and Salmon, and even closer the Delta or American and Feather rivers.
Send the young man to UCSC. Perhaps he'll become a Psychiatrist and he can work with the pranoid dementia of the schools most noted educator, fisherman, story teller, rabble rouser etc etc.

[Papasequoia]

Perhaps he'll become a Psychiatrist and he can work with the pranoid dementia of the schools most noted educator, fisherman, story teller, rabble rouser etc etc.

You don't own a black helicopter by chance, do you? Where have you been lately? Good to see you. Davis would be a good choice too, btw. Centrally located near a lot of good water and a good school. In fact, the cabernet I'm sipping right now probably came from a UC Davis trained enologist.

[fish-on-bro]

You have to think, school then job. What school is going to give me the best shot at my career. Like they said, fishing is for a lifetime. Pick the school that is best for your field, ie: Do the good companies recruit from the school you want to attend. UC isn't necessarily better than CSU. One thing you have to ask the school is, what percentage of students graduate in 4-4 1/2 years and if the percentage is low, why. Is the reason, the school doesn't offer enough classes or it is over crowded. These are things you need to know.

Fish-on-bro, out....

[stanbery]

Thanks for all the great info guys I will pass in along.

Jon

[NorcalBob]

The UC's are every bit as impacted (in some ways even more so, because more UC students will be going on for advanced degree's) as the CSU's. In fact, based on a comparison from several of Chris' friends, more graduated from CSU's quicker than the UC's, due to the lack of classes required for degree's at the UC's (although the CSU's have the same problem). The only reason Chris got his in 4.5 years (UCD) was because his academic advisor was cool and said "we can't hold you hostage forever here just because we aren't offering classes" and signed off on his graduation requirements because they weren't offering the required classes. BTW, I graduated from the CSU system and was able to retire while still in my 40's so don't go thinking that the UC's are automatically superior to the CSU's!!!!!