college communities in California...

[Dub D]

I lived at Cal Poly Pomona for a few months, it sucked. The damn school was worse than HOA's regarding rules. They made me do an apology letter because my friend decided it would be cool to drop a bottle from the top floor to the ground. I asked what happens if I refuse to do the apology letter. The housing told me it would go to the board members at the school to see if I would get suspensed for a quarter. Talk about overblown. So it really depends on where exactly you live in the community. I got tired of the stupid housing hence why I only lived there for a few months.

[Dport7674]

I prefer living in a college town. There seems to be more to do than if there is no college around. Better concerts etc.

[the city]

So what is so entertaining and special about these communities?

What makes San Luis Obispo, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Santa Monica different from other places?

Besides weather and being near the beach. Santa Cruz has the boardwalk. Santa Monica has the pier. What does Santa Barbara and SLO have? How about Berkeley? SLO and Santa Barbara for the mission? Berkely for Haight and Ashbury street?

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Would I live in a college community? Depends on the malls and whether or not there's a Macy's, obviously.

[KarlaT2]

A city I love not on your list is Davis (UC Davis). I would definitely live in a college town, in fact I'd prefer to. I even enjoy the community college around where I live now that I attend part-time. Always something going on.

[Wisteria]

the city: So what is so entertaining and special about these communities?

What makes San Luis Obispo, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Santa Monica different from other places?

Besides weather and being near the beach. Santa Cruz has the boardwalk. Santa Monica has the pier. What does Santa Barbara and SLO have? How about Berkeley? SLO and Santa Barbara for the mission? Berkely for Haight and Ashbury street?

First, the Haight is in San Francisco....just saying.

I lived in Berkeley and didn't particularly care for it...it was way too political for me; and too many street people hovering on campus. But I know people who love it there! It does have some cool shops and pretty areas, however, I wasn't keen on the university, itself, except for MSRI (Mathematical Sciences Research Institute) which was up in the hills and in the redwoods -- beautiful setting!

I live in Santa Cruz now, and obviously, you must know something about the area. Gee, The Boardwalk? There is so much more, it's amazing the Boardwalk was pulled out as a major reason. Great weather and being near the beach IS a plus. And having the university around is good because of the various activities, and the youthful vibe. Lots of good entertainment, art, shops, cafes -- and, of course, the numerous free beaches! I would think it was a pretty sleepy town before UCSC came along.

I agree with the other posters. Most people enjoy a college town -- and it is especially appealing to retirees because they can still access many activities, take classes, have good entertainment come to town, and more things to do because of all the students. It keeps one younger!

I'm not sure if this was actually a serious poll, because I can't imagine the kind of person who wouldn't like a college town. Maybe a strange loner or something....I don't know.

The one university on your list that I don't think contributes to the community is the new Monterey Bay CSU. It is out on the old Fort Ord post, and very far from town. It's like one of the farming community colleges. You have to go out of your way to get there, and it doesn't have much on campus. But then again, there would be no room to build a college campus in Monterey proper, so they had little choice but to use the old Army base. And many of the kids are commuters, too. Not much happening on that campus.

All in all, though, I do believe a college/university positively contributes to a community.