Carlos S.
Google
I entered UC Davis expecting a serious academic environment—one built on rigor, collaboration, and mentorship. What I found instead was an institution propped up by reputation more than results. The culture felt crowded with ego, politics, and surface-level ambition. Collaboration was talked about constantly but rarely practiced. Too often, success seemed tied to appearances, social positioning, and knowing the right people rather than actual competence or effort.
What stood out was the gap between confidence and capability. Many students carried an inflated sense of intelligence simply because of the UC label, yet showed little depth or curiosity when challenged. Independent thinkers or genuinely strong students were frequently dismissed, sidelined, or treated harshly for not fitting into the dominant academic culture. There was very little awareness of personal limits, and questioning the system—or outperforming it quietly—was not welcomed.
The lack of meaningful support only reinforced this. Advisors were stretched thin, professors were often inaccessible, and career guidance felt disconnected from real-world outcomes. For an institution that costs so much and markets itself as elite, the results were underwhelming—especially when many graduates end up earning about the same as an Uber driver.
Santa Monica College, by contrast, was grounded, disciplined, and results-oriented. Despite being a community college, it consistently sends a large number of well-prepared students to UC campuses, including UC Davis. At SMC, the focus was on mastery and momentum, not branding. Classes were demanding in the right ways, professors were engaged, and students were expected to actually learn—not just signal achievement.
Advising at SMC was intentional and personal. Counselors helped students build concrete transfer plans and career pathways, not vague narratives about prestige. The environment rewarded focus, work ethic, and clarity of goals rather than ego or academic theater.
When you compare outcomes instead of logos, Santa Monica College delivered far more value than UC Davis. It respected students’ time, intelligence, and finances while quietly producing students who were better prepared and more resilient.
If I had to do it again, I’d choose Santa Monica College without hesitation. It offered structure, accountability, and a real return on investment—things UC Davis promised loudly but failed to deliver consistently.
