Poll of where you would want to play D1.

[Ravaging Beast]

In playboy's top 25 party schools, UCSB is #5. Princeton Review ranks UCSB #4. The only thing holding them back from #1 is that there is no football team. Here is what playboy had to say about UCSB:
"5. Santa Barbara -- You don't have to imagine what the blonde bombshell in class would look like in a bikini because she probably wears one to class anyway. After all, how many schools can boast of having their own beach, where students have been famous for "surfing to class" for years, not to mention getting in a few waves before an exam. Party central might be on Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista, but there's never a shortage of house parties at UCSB, otherwise known as U Can Study Buzzed or the University of Casual Sex and Beer."

USNews ranks UCSB #45 (tied with U Washington) academically. It is #11 for public universities.

[cgarrigues]

One of the things people who don't attend major D1 schools miss out on is the amazing college tradition, . . .The alumni are incredibly proud and supportive. It's a lifetime bond.

Just to echo, JP. Even though I took some undergraduate courses at Hobart, as a Michigan grad, I don't think I'd have gotten hooked into lacrosse in the last few years if not for the Michigan team. That alumni connection is really something.

[mholtz]

UCSB Freshman Applicant Statistics (Fall 2005 Entering Class)

Applicants: 37,501

Admitted: 19,808 (53%)

* 3.99 average GPA
* 1260 mean SAT I score


Michigan is more comparable to UCSB but with bad weather, $32,000 per year out of state tuition and unmanagable size.

Ok... This is an odd situation for me, because I am defending Michigan. What is "unmanagable" about the size of Michigan? 23,773 undergrads?

I will say this, before I was a part of the USL-MDIA, I had never heard of UC-SB. I doubt you'd find many people on this board that had never heard of Michigan.

Not a knock on UCSB... Just defending my... cough... neighbors... ack. ok. there's all the nice things I'll say about UofM for a year

[mholtz]

UCSB Freshman Applicant Statistics (Fall 2005 Entering Class)

Applicants: 37,501

Admitted: 19,808 (53%)

I have a hard time believing that UCSB admits 19,000+ freshman a year. Seems that a school of this reputation would be a little more selective.

Michigan State (one of the largest campus based on physical size) admits just under 10,000 per year (per our admissions director). We typically have around 40,000 total students (including grad students)

[John Paul]

Wow, don't expect me to reciprocate Matt. Thanks, though.

Just so I'm clear - the last thing I wanted was to have this discussion turn into a Michigan vs. UCSB thing. As I said, UCSB is a great school, in an amazing location with a very good MDIA lacrosse program. I was just pointing out some of the differences between a handful of the major D1 schools and smaller schools. Obviously, not everyone is looking for the same things or all colleges would be exactly alike.

[MandibleS4L]

The advantages of UCSB are undeniable, but not all encompassing. Though it is a fine academic institution it lacks a certain catch of larger, older universities. Going to a large school, with storied tradition and esteemed reputation has lasting effects beyond the campus education. Alumni networking, connections, and scholastic recognition are among the many reasons schools like Michigan, UVa, Cal, UNC and UCLA remain such popular and competitive schools to get into. Not to mention you get to see your school on ESPN, which is nice.

[Gopherlax29]

I go to the U of Minnesota, and we have the second biggest campus numbers wise in the country (somehting like 48 people less the tOSU). Also, our campus covers 2 cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) and a 3rd bank acrosse the Mississippi, with the metrodome and downtown mixed in. It's HUGE, but VERY managable, so I can imagine U of Michigan is fine as well. I said Michigan because I like the football, the seasons, and size. (Many reasons why I chose Minensota) I think it is unfair to argue beween the 2. Also, I think those rankings for parties etc are bogus.

[LaxRef]

I go to the U of Minnesota, and we have the second biggest campus numbers wise in the country (somehting like 48 people less the tOSU). Also, our campus covers 2 cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul)

Isn't it actually Minneapolis and Falcon Heights?

and a 3rd bank acrosse the Mississippi, with the metrodome and downtown mixed in. It's HUGE, but VERY managable, so I can imagine U of Michigan is fine as well. I said Michigan because I like the football, the seasons, and size. (Many reasons why I chose Minensota) I think it is unfair to argue beween the 2. Also, I think those rankings for parties etc are bogus.

Are you trying to say that rankings like partying and academics are not completely objective and statistically valid in every way?! I demand that you explain yourself!!!

[SLUDoubleDeuce]

Remember, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics!

[Weberlax12]

ohio state already has a division 1 team.

So does ND hence the word Fictional! Personally I would love either UCSB for the reasons you guys are talking about, Or CSU because i love the mountains, and i would be so close to be able to go skiing.

[Hackalicious]

Any hard data on how California public schools rank nation wide? I imagine they are pretty well funded, etc. Any stats?

The Times in UK ranked the top 200 universities in the world.
http://www.thes.co.uk/statistics/intern ... /main.aspx
(registration requried)

UC Berkeley was #2 behind Harvard.

US News also does rankings:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/colleg ... _brief.php

Some selected USLIA teams [US News in Brackets]:

Berkeley #2 (#2 in US) [#20]
Texas #15 (#9 in US) [#52]
UCSD #24 (#14 in US) [#32]
UCLA #26 (#16 in US) [#25T]
Michigan #31 (#18 in US) [#25T]
UCSB #72 (#29 in US) [#45]

US News ranks things like alumni giving. The Times' rankings use peer rankings and academic citations. That'll favor big schools with a lot of different graduate departments.

[FlockOfSeagulls]

After all, how many schools can boast of having their own beach, where students have been famous for "surfing to class" for years, not to mention getting in a few waves before an exam. Party central might be on Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista, but there's never a shortage of house parties at UCSB, otherwise known as U Can Study Buzzed or the University of Casual Sex and Beer."

Bro, you guys are SO radical!

My vote is for North Texas.

Booyeah.

[John Westfall]

I'm going to say UCLA. Playing in Hollywood would be exciting. Also UCLA is a great School and near beach. I just don't know if I would get any work done. Where as Lynchburg, Virginia where I went ended up being perfect and I got a lot of school work done because there was not much to do off campus or distract me.

[Dwayne Hicks]

I figured I would chime in on this one just because it's my alma mater.

I'm sure UCSB is a very good school with lots of attractive things to offer. But if you were a high school all-american and you were in South Bend this weekend for ND vs Johns Hopkins game on Friday night and then ND vs USC game on Saturday, which school would you be playing at next year?

As far as it being a religious school, it is a Catholic university but only 55% of the students who attend are Catholic - FYI.

Also, just to answer the question, there are only 7500 undergraduates at ND. It is a very small school.

Go Irish!!

[Wade]

I'm an SB grad but I voted for Michigan.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have gone there myself (I hadn't seen lacrosse before college and was lucky to play at a time newcomers could pick up the sport in college and still have a chance to contribute) but if you're looking at DI schools to play for (basing the choice from an athletic stand point), I don't think I could pass up the overall sports atmosphere at UM (top ranked football/basketball) to go along with national reputation and strong academic standing.

As for academics, I love seeing UCSB move up, but most people outside of CA have never heard of it. Just like I knew nothing of Washington U. - St. Louis until they popped up on the MDIA radar. Also, hindsight based off my grad school choices showed how much a school's reputation can mean in the job market. I guarantee someone on Wall Street would hire an ND grad over UCSB if it were blindly based on the school's reputation.

Anyway, I'll quit rambling soon...I loved SB, wouldn't change my choice to go there even though at the time it was based on: didn't want to live in a large city (Cal/UCLA); wanted to stay by the coast; couldn't afford to go out of state; and am more of a beer person than 420 (UCSC). Looking back I'd do it again, but if I was a DI laxer UM would be hard to pass up.