Is Santa Rosa the best dorm at UCSB?

The year I lived in Santa Rosa, the 2nd floor bathrooms flooded and water leaked down from our communal bathroom all down the hall. A tree fell on our dorm. Water was constantly getting in. They squeeze three people into what clearly should be a double. There’s NEVER enough space if all three of you are present. It’s one of the oldest dorms and it shows. However, living in a shorty on campus is nice, it’s close to beach access and two different dining halls (DLG and Ortega). I walked to all my classes when I lived there.

Really dark and gloomy. Extremely loud. Close to two dining halls and all your classes and the beach though.

Close to dining halls and campus resources. Many stalls in bathrooms, which was nice. Maybe I have a sensitive nose but clothes and blankets would start smelling really bad really fast.

PROS: Location is great; it is located in the middle of the Chi-5 dorms, so visiting friends in other dorms is convenient. It is also located closest to the rest of campus, so commuting to classes is quick. Unlike the other low-rise dorms (Anacapa and Santa Cruz), Santa Rosa is very close to both Ortega and DLG, so you have two close options to eat at. There is also a fitness room with several workout machines; nothing too impressive, but it's great when you want to get a quick exercise without having to go to the Rec Cen at the other side of campus. Staff is very nice. There is also a Pokémon Go gym right at the volleyball court ;). CONS: The building itself is relatively older compared to Anacapa and Santa Cruz, but this didn't make my living experience any worse. Restrooms were communal, but most dorms have communal restrooms anyway. Toilets got clogged fairly often. Washing machines frequently went out of order. OTHER NOTES: The rooms themselves were standard; just make sure to not bring too much stuff. I would recommend getting a room with the window on the north or south side, to avoid getting direct sunlight shining into your room. Washer/dryers require credit or debit card; they do not accept cash/coins or your UCSB ID card.

Loved it so so much. a very underrated dorm since it doesn’t have a direct ocean view from the rooms but is perfectly located between library, dlg, and ortega. had the chillest RAs and was the best overall experience.