Time For A Much Needed Break!

The Sunset Over Campus

This past semester can be described as a roller coaster with far too many ups and downs, but I'm glad to have finally made it to winter break! I'm looking forward to these next few weeks of relaxation away from school. I'll be spending part of my winter break back home in Santa Cruz while the other half will be spent exploring Thailand! In my time away from school I'll be signing off from my blog, but will be back in late January to fill all my readers in on my adventures abroad. I hope everyone has a great winter break!

T-minus 8 Days

Follow the Light!!!

And the count down begins. Well, the countdown actual began on the first day of school, but now the end of this semester is finally tangible; only 8 days to go until I'm done with my last final! However, this is a bittersweet number. I'm so close to the finish line yet have so much to do in such little time. Now that I've submitted my college apps and took my last midterm this morning it's time for me to buckle down and start studying for finals. This upcoming week is gonna be no joy ride, but winter break is the light at the end of this long dark tunnel of a semester.

Seeing that this has been the most demanding and rigorous college semester of mine I decided to reward myself with a vacation. At the end of this semester I'll be packing my bags and heading to Thailand for a few weeks. My roommate and I will be backpacking from one end of Thailand to the next with plenty of stops in between. This will be my first time traveling to any Asian country so I'm excited to see what Thailand has in store for me!

I wish everyone the best as you wrap up this semester! Stay strong, and study hard, only 8 days left!

Thanksgiving Break

Oh how I love the sight of a full fridge! 

Thrilled to have finally made it back home, well home as in my parents house in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Though its only about a 4 hour drive from Santa Barbara it's hard for me to find time to make the drive up. This is my first time home in about six months making it the longest time spent away from my childhood home, and I'll admit that I was getting a little home sick. It's refreshing coming home to a clean house, full fridge, home cooked meals, quiet neighborhood, and single room with a queen bed. All of which are things I live without at my house in Isla Vista. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my family and friends! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving break!

Where to Next??

One of UCLA's Lecture Halls
(Can't remember its name though) 

Last weekend the SBCC Honors Program and Transfer Center took a group of students down to UCLA for a transfer conference where I got to tour the school and hear from transfer counselors, admissions committee members, and some current students. All gave helpful advice to those interested in the school and in the process of applying. I also linked up with some friends of mine who recently transferred there to hear about their experience so far.

I'm currently in the process of apply to schools for Fall transfer. I originally planned to finish all my applications and personal statements during Summer to avoid the position I'm in now, scrambling to finish up my apps before the November 30th deadline. It sucks stressing over college apps while still trying to keep up with everything else that's going on. I recommend future applicants take care of their apps during summer like I had wanted to do, but unfortunately that's easier said than done.

Here's a list of all the in-state schools I'm applying to and the designated major:
- UCSB as a pharmacology major with an emphasis in neurobiology and behavior
- UCLA as a psychobiology major with a minor in either neuroscience or biomedical research
- UCSD as a physiology and neuroscience major
- UCB as a neurobiology major

I know, I know... I have a different major for every school I'm applying to; that's where things got a little complicated. Not all UC's offer the same majors so I chose each major based on the upper division courses I'd be taking at the given university.

I'm also applying to a few out of state schools, but I'm a born and raised Cali boy so it might be hard for me to leave this state behind even if it's only for a couple years. Luckily out of state apps aren't due for another couple months. Out of all the schools listed above I don't really know which is my number one; it tends to change like the weather (That is, non-California weather). But it's comforting to know that all of these schools are great options. I'm gonna have to do some serious thinking over these next few months to decide where I wanna go. Though I probably shouldn't get too far ahead of myself because I first have to get accepted. However, I believe SBCC has provided me with the experiences and education necessary to make me a competitive applicant for any school I apply to.

Another pic of UCLA's campus.
 Probably one of the most beautiful campuses I've visited.

Enrolling in Classes? Here are Some Tips!

Everybody must be too busy signing
up for classes, campus is strangely empty 

Though I know some people have already registered for classes, including myself, I remember the struggles of trying to register for classes as an incoming freshmen and first year student. I'm not entirely sure how they decide who gets to register when, but I know first year students have the lowest priority, which can really suck especially when your competing against hundreds of other students for a spot in a class. Being a third year I don't have nearly the same troubles as I used to when it comes to registering for classes, but I remember those days so figured I might give some tips for those still waiting to register:

A cool pic of campus, but completely
unrelated to this post :)

1. Meet with a counselor to figure out what classes you need in order to transfer. The classes vary by major and the school you want to transfer to but a counselor can help figure all that out. Even if you're not planning on transferring they can still set you up with a plan to complete your general education, earn a certificate, and/or earn an associates degree. They will steer you in the right direction and help you to avoid wasting time taking unnecessary classes.  

2. Once you know all the classes you need to take (or just want to take for fun) figure out what times those classes are offered and who teaches them.

3. I personally like to get my classes out of the way early in the morning rather than taking night classes, but I know everyone is different so try and find class times that work best for you and fit in your schedule. 

3a. myEDU.com is a great website to use for planning your schedule. It has a complete list of all the classes offered at SBCC and will outline various potential schedules. 

3b. ratemyprofessor.com is another website that can potentially be helpful when deciding which classes and professors are a good fit for your learning style. It's a site where students can post reviews/comments about teachers and classes. HOWEVER, take every comment with a grain of salt because there is no way to tell what "type" of student is posting any particular comment; it could range anywhere from a disgruntled slacker to the teachers pet so you really never know. 

4. Once you have your ideal schedule (i.e. the right times with your preferred teachers) gather all the CRN #'s for your desired courses so you can quickly enter them when registering. Rather than searching for each class # at the time of registration it's helpful to have everything laid out since it’s often a competition to get those last few spots in a class. After you get the course numbers ready for your ideal schedule I recommend coming up with a plan B, C, and sometimes even D just in case you aren't able to get in all the classes you originally intended. Having this ready before hand prevents you from scrambling to figure out a new schedule if your first one doesn't work out. Myedu.com really comes in handy when plotting out alternative schedules.

5. Lastly, make sure to know your registration date and time so that you can register as soon as possible because I'm not exaggerating when I say a class can fill in a matter of seconds. 

*** Joining the SBCC Honors Program was another tactic that helped me get the classes I needed. All Honors classes are transferable and count towards your IGETC and are often major prep classes. Among many other great things about this program, it's a relief knowing that I won't have issues getting into one of these classes; they are generally able to accommodate all honors students trying to enroll. Joining the honors program was one of the best decisions I made while at SBCC and I highly recommend joining. In addition to great classes with awesome teachers and students it also helps give you a competitive edge when applying to transfer. If you’re interested in learning more or want to apply check out their website http://sbcchonorsprogram.org/

I wish everyone luck during this stressful time of registering and I hope these tips help! I promise it gets better, I can generally get the classes I need/want on my first try these days so no longer need 3 alternative back-up schedules.

Sleep Deprivation is Real

No need for a bed
when you have a desk

I wish I could talk about some awesome trip or cool adventure I've gone on lately, but unfortunately that would be far from my reality. My most recent activities depict the typical, frequently uneventful, life of a pre-med student: eating, sleeping, working, going to school, extracurriculars, and studying for school; however, not necessarily in that order. I've had to pull some late nights and long study sessions to complete all my assignments and pull the grades I want for my classes this semester: organic chemistry, physics, and honors history. It's nice that the SBCC library stays open an hour later this semester than in previous years, but unfortunately 11 o'clock isn't always late enough for me to get everything done. Since I live in Isla Vista the UCSB library is a short bike ride from my house so I find myself spending far too much time there, especially when I have exams. It's open 24/7 so is always able to accommodate those late night study sessions. However, sleep never fails to hinder my studying. Which leads to the pictures accompanying today's blog post; photo credits go to my study buddy who never fails to snapchat me at my lowest points.

A Frank Underwood quote from my favorite TV show, House of Cards, sums up the way I feel about sleep, "I've always loathed the necessity of sleep. Like death, it puts even the most powerful men on their backs." Don't get me wrong, I still love the feeling of a good nights rest and understand its importance, but I just can't help to think of all the things I could get done if I didn't need to sleep. I haven't figured out a way around sleep yet, but when I do I'll make sure to fill everybody in. Until then, I guess I'm just going to keep taking my occasional power naps in the library.

That Time of the Year Again

Ready to go on a
Safari

I wasn't sure what to think when I first heard hoof steps outside my house the other night. My initial thought was that I had forgotten to set out milk and cookies, but after careful deliberation I realized that would've been about two months premature. And if those hoof steps weren't reindeer on my roof it could only mean one other thing. Halloween in Isla Vista. The arrival of mounted sheriffs and the emergence of chain-linked fences enclosing Isla Vista are all indicators that Halloween has come. In most places Halloween is considered to be a one night celebration,

Hangin with Jigsaw from
The Saw Movies!

however it's more like a week-long celebration in Santa Barbara. People were already throwing costume parties last weekend. I would never take back all the fun I've had spending my last few Halloweens in Isla Vista, but I'm happy to escape the chaos this year by getting out of town for the weekend. I'm glad to have experienced the notorious Halloween celebrations in IV, but living in the area during Halloween weekend definitely has its downsides. Especially with more midterms next week. Though it can be fun and also comical mingling with the thousands of people roaming the streets in costumes; it is an experience I would recommend any college student have at least once. However, for me it's become one of those "Been there. Done that." type of things that I'm ready to move on from. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween weekend with an emphasis on the SAFE for those of you sticking around IV since the fun is already a guarantee!

Photo I Took of Isla Vista During Last Year's Halloween...
Soooo Many People!

Ending the Week on a Good Note

Nothing like ending a busy week with some kayaking! A few of my roommates and I grabbed some kayaks from the Excursion Club to catch the sunset from a view that's far less impacted than the typical cliffside view. After catching a stellar sunset we stayed on the water to try out the whole "night kayaking thing," unfortunately for us the moon was a no show tonight... I wouldn't recommend doing this without a full moon, as you can imagine it got kinda hard to see out there and kayaking gets a little tough when waves start creepin up on you. But none the less, still a cool experience!

You're probably wondering what type of place allows someone to just go ahead and "grab a kayak," but wonder no longer, the Excursion Club is the answer to this question and any other questions regarding getting equipment for essentially any outdoor activity. It's a student operated organization located in Isla Vista. Club membership costs $60 for an entire year, but it's well worth the price. In just a couple visits you get your moneys worth. This club allows people to check out basically anything and everything involving outdoor activities from kayaks, stand up paddle boards, rock climbing gear, camping equipment, snow gear, etc. you name it, they got it. They also offer an assortment of weekly activities including skydiving, sailing, yoga, sweet hikes, etc. etc. etc... And the best part is that you get all this for the flat rate of $60! I would recommend this club to anyone interested in outdoor activities.

Postscript: Reading this back made me realize how much I sound like a corny commercial spokesman, I kinda feel like the "ShamWow!" guy right about now... but I swear I'm not working for the Excursion Club. Just felt like I should inform more people on the cool things this area has to offer! 

Looking out over Sands Beach

Getting Funky on a Sunday

The Flyer I kept to Remember
 This Weekends Show

I finally got a chance to see one of my favorite artists this last weekend! Cherub performed in the Funk Zone District of downtown Santa Barbara for the annual Block Party this last Sunday. I missed the dynamic duo known as Cherub last time they were in the area so I'm glad to have finally seen them perform! And a performance is exactly what they gave the audience! This was also my first time attending one of these annual Block Parties. New Noise Music Fest transformed part of the Funk Zone District to host this all day music event that included various vendors, food trucks, and non-profit organizations to accompany the music. I've always wondered why it was called the "Funk Zone" but it didn't take long for me to figure it out. This area boasts an array of lively shops, restaurants, and bars that capture the hipster essence of Santa Barbara, making it the perfect venue to host Cherub's funky electro-pop beats. A successful Sunday to say the least. 

We've Reached the Half Way Point!

So glad this week is finally over! These last couple weeks have been brutal... studying for midterms, writing essays and finishing up all my projects have been no joke. I may be a little sleep deprived and slightly overwhelmed/stressed from juggling school, work and extracurriculars, but sadly I think that's fairly common for a lot of college students; especially this far into term. I'm sure many students can relate to the skeleton sitting in my organic chemistry lecture the other week. I don't know who set this up, but I applaud the mastermind behind this prank; the laboratory goggles were a nice touch!

On a positive note though, we made it to the half way point! Wish I could say it's the home stretch of the semester, but it's more like I'm rounding second base right now. At least I'm halfway there! Time for me to catch up on some much needed sleep so I can recharge for the next round of exams.

President's Council Garden Party

My Fellow Co-Presidents and I all
Dressed to Impress

As president of the SBCC Honors Program I got invited to attend the annual President's Council Garden Party this weekend along with my fellow co-presidents, Melika and Chino. It was a pleasure attending such an event! Maddy and Peter Jacobson opened their beautiful home to host this party that didn't disappoint. In attendance were a few nervous students (myself included), some City College professors, the SBCC Foundation, the President of the school, Dr. Lori Gaskin, the Board of Directors, and most notably those who have made warm-hearted donations to the college. In addition to funding the various scholarships given out annually, these donors are also to thank for the wide range of programs and resources city college has to offer. That being said, you may now understand why I was a bit nervous to attend this event and meet all these people. However, after meeting the other guests my nervousness quickly turned into excitement and an afternoon well spent! In my time at CC I've had the pleasure of knowing many of the professors and staff around campus who have helped SBCC gain the title of the #1 community college in the nation, but it wasn't until this weekend that I got the chance to meet the people who have worked so hard behind the scenes to get the school to where it is. It's great to have finally met this other side of the SBCC family. Thankful to of had this experience! 

Jack Johnson at UCSB

UCSB's Storke Plaza

Today was no ordinary Wednesday at UCSB. Jack Johnson, a UCSB alumni, made a surprise visit to the campus this afternoon as a tribute to the UCSB students lost this last May due to the tragedy that occurred in Isla Vista. There was no email, no announcement, no notice at all that the former Gaucho would be performing today. Rather, people followed the music to Storke Tower where they were greeted by the sweet tunes of Jack Johnson. Though not a UCSB student, I still feel very connected to the community as a resident of Isla Vista. It is awesome to have such a great community, of both UCSB and CC students, stand together through the good times and the bad.

The Legend Himself 

I'm glad to have been part of this day of remembrance for those lost on May 23, and an extra shout out to Jack Johnson for giving a great performance that not only brought UCSB students together, but also the community of Isla Vista. I truly love where I live!

Over the past couple years I've never really taken advantage of all the great shows and music that pass through Santa Barbara (Why? Wish I knew...), but last weekend I got a cool opportunity to check out a comedy show with some fellow bloggers. We got hooked up with tickets to Christopher Titus's stand up comedy show at the Labero Theatre downtown.
This was only the second comedy show I've ever seen but definitely not the last; I'm going to have to keep an eye for more cool shows in the area! With my hectic school schedule and long hours spent studying, a stand up comedy show was exactly what I needed; nothing like some comedy to get your mind off school. It's always been hard for me to find and keep the balance between school, staying active, and my social life, but this semester I'm determined to make it work! Hopefully, this blog will document this goal of mine throughout the semester.

Birthdays in Chemistry Land

I've always enjoyed chemistry but as time goes on I find more and more reasons to call it my favorite subject. The list of reason is extensive, but here are some of the better ones: the absence of dull moments when hangin with my fellow "Chemistry Campers" (in the words Of Dr. Sally Ghizzoni), the great chats I have with the heart and soul of the Chem. department (a.k.a Jill and Tracy from the stock room), and I can't forget about all the cool drugs I've synthesized in lab (and no this isn't Breaking Bad, synthesizing Aspirin and Ibuprofen is more my style). I didn't know it could get much better, but today's organic chemistry lecture did just that; It knocked all other reasons I've found down a notch on my list. Today's lecture was no ordinary lecture... In order to celebrate the birthday of my chemistry professor, the Great Dr. Jens Kuhn, our class had a special visit from the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself. Many props to the chem. department and Jens' wife for arranging the resurrection of Elvis Presley for his post-mortem debut performance in my lecture hall this afternoon.

The harmonious performance by the kings (yes plural) was a sound worth hearing and a sight no one would want to miss, and lucky for me it took place in such an intimate venue; I never thought I'd be able to see a performance of this caliber in a venue that only seated abut 80 adorning fans and groupies... who we can refer to as students on any other given day.

After today's performance I was left a little confused as to why Jens decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry rather than a career in showbiz, but at least the man has something to fall back on if he ever gets tired of teaching O-chem. He was a natural: effortlessly pullin off those stunna shades while keeping the crowd roaring with those dance moves of his. Apparently every year there is a new surprise for Jens' birthday: this year Elvis arose from the dead, last year the Tooth Fairy bridged the gap between our two realms to wish him a happy birthday, and I'm sure the years before brought in some heavy hitters also.

The cake prior to me get my hands on it

For the encore performance the birthday man ditched the shades in order to lay down some knowledge on stereochemistry and organic reactions. Concluding the show I engorged myself with the delicious home baked cake that Jill whipped up for Jens and others (told you the stock room Ladies are great!). I'm usually not a huge fan of cake, but this cake was someth'n else! I guess this goes to show that chemistry and baking aren't all that different after all.

Cake post Austin. They had to cut me off

Good thing we got our midterms graded prior to today's lecture (or should i say performance), otherwise I'm not sure if I would be blogging this right now. I'll keep my fingers crossed that by the time he's grading our next midterms this post will be a very distant memory of his. Well all in all, Happy Birthday to the Man, the Legend, the All-Knowing Dr. Jens Kuhn!

Finding this pot of gold known as SBCC

Well here goes my first attempt at blogging! I'm exciting to give everyone reading an insider's look into the life of a college student living in the the beautiful Santa Barbara area!

View From SBCC's West Campus

I guess before I get too carried away with blogging I should probably fill you all in on a little bit about myself and how I stumbled upon this pot of gold known as Santa Barbara. My name is Austin Hunter and I've recently begun my third and final year here at SBCC. I'm originally from Santa Cruz, California so basically went from one beach to to the next... I think I have separation anxiety when it comes to being near a water. Coming out of high school, and now deciding which universities to apply to for transfer, all began with location. I figure in order to be happy at the school I'm attending I must first be happy with the area. That being said it wasn't a tough decision coming to SBCC especially considering the campus is literally on the beach, it is far enough away from home to have the sense of independence yet also close enough to drive back if I please (about 4.5 hour drive), and has high transfer rates for city college students.

360 Degree View of Santa Barbara
 From Rooftop of Old Santa Barbara Courthouse 

I'm currently taking the last sequence of my major prerequisite classes and general education classes in order to transfer for the 2015 Fall term as either a neuroscience or biochemistry major.

After living in the Santa Barbara area and being an active student on campus for the past two years I'm looking forward to sharing an insiders scoop on SBCC campus life and also the hidden treasures that this area has to offer!