San Clemente Apartments: Graduate Student Housing

I have mixed feelings about this place. When I stayed here during the summer for a 6-​week session, I had two random roommates (one that had already been in that apartment for 2 years and another that moved in for summer only).
We had ant problems almost EVERY DAY. At one point, there was a DISGUSTINGLY THICK trail making its way into our kitchen trash. The roommate that had been in the apartment for 2 years said she has seen ants in the apartment, but not like this before. The other roommate just up and left for the weekend, so I had to fix up that mess all by myself.
Having experienced the whole ant situation during the summer, I was NOT excited to be moving back to San Clemente for the school year. This time, it was with a roommate I had chosen and it would only be the two of us in a two-​bedroom apartment. While there were some ants here & there, it really wasn’t a problem because we were clean and always made sure to refrigerate any sweets that weren’t wrapped. Thinking back on it now, I feel that most of our ants problems in the summer probably had to do with the other roommate’s lack of cleanliness. So choose your roommates wisely, it matters when you’re wiping piles of ants off your kitchen wall.
Also, while I liked staying here and having my own room, I HATED the residents above me (I’m on the first floor). It’s not really San Clemente’s fault, but so many people here have complete disregard for their neighbors. If you decide to sign a lease here, don’t be that jerk who:
– Blasts loud bass during midterms and finals weeks
– Bounces balls and jumps around at two in the morning
– Slams doors/​cabinets/​drawers so loudly that the people below you wake up

This place robs students every chance it gets. Foot long rats rain from the palm trees, run to class or get dragged to their lairs.

DO NOT LIVE HERE unless you don’t mind having ants all over your bed and clothes. Ridiculous! No matter how clean you’re, ants will still come to you for no reason!
I lived here in Fall 2013-​Spring 2014 (3^rd floor) and also Summer 2014 (1^st floor). First year it was the worst experience I ever had. I lived by the field on the 3^rd floor, every weekend at 7am, you’ll hear SCREAMING soccer parents cheering for their kids. Do they even realize they’re playing right next to an apartment EARLY IN THE MORNING?! Yes, you may choose to go to study room to study. What’s the point of paying $ 1000/​mo for your own single room if you can’t even stay in there to study?!
I am so glad I am moving out next quarter.

I lived here my senior year at UCSB. The staff is very helpful and kind. However, I had expected a more quiet and studious environment. Instead, it was where all the party animals seemed to live. Because the walls are so thin, you could easily hear a party going on from a few apartments over. If you are one of the serious students who came to UCSB to get an education and not just party 24/​7, Manzanita Village on Campus is a MUCH better option for housing.

Ohhh, San Clemente…
I have pretty mixed feelings about this place – on one hand, it’s super-​convenient and it’s nice to be surrounded by other grad students (for the most part), but on the other, it’s not very comfortable and it’s kind of expensive. I would definitely recommend living here during your first year, especially if you’re coming from far away like I did, because it’s just easier in so many ways and you’ll be able to meet more people. However, I also think anyone who chooses to live here after their first year is probably insane.
Some of the advantages are…
–You won’t have to go to the trouble of searching for a place to live when you first move here.
–It’s basically as close as you can get to campus without living in IV with all the undergrads, so you can easily walk or bike to school. Also, a permit for the parking deck is included if you have a car, so no worrying about where you’ll keep your vehicle.
–Utilities are included. You’ll already have enough to worry about as a grad student, so it’s nice that you won’t have to worry about forgetting to pay all your bills.
–Chances are, someone else from your cohort or your program will be living here too, so it’s very easy to socialize and build relationships.
–I always felt pretty safe living here, especially because your front door locks behind you automatically (don’t forget your keys!), but also because it’s well-​lit and there are resident coordinators to handle any disasters you might have.
–It’s fairly new, which is nice, and since it’s furnished, you won’t have to worry about spending money on furniture.
–There are plenty of machines in the laundry room, so as long as you don’t try to wash your clothes at the same time as everyone else (I personally liked Saturday nights), you can put each of your loads in a different machine and get all your laundry done in like an hour and a half. Plus it never closes and they have soda and snack vending machines.
And now for the downsides…
–The atmosphere is terrible. It feels like living in a dorm, which makes sense because you kind of are, but it still sucks. The furniture is uncomfortable, and since you’re not allowed to replace it with your own, you’re stuck with it. Also annoying is the fact that the beds are full-​extra long, so you have to choose between queen-​size sheets that are baggy and loose or full-​size ones that are too snug. The walls are a sterile white and the carpet is gray (and will turn your feet black from dirt if you walk around barefoot), and don’t even think about painting.
–When I lived there, the wi-​fi really sucked. Sometimes it would work, but other times it would be super-​slow or not work at all, and every time they sent out an email about how they were fixing it, it would just get worse. Fortunately there’s a wired connection in every room, so as long as you get an ethernet cable, you’re not totally cut off.
–It can be kind of noisy on weekends when people have parties. I don’t know if this is true for the other buildings, but I lived in Arrowhead and there’s an echo in the courtyard, so you can hear everything that goes on down there – so don’t plan on having any intimate conversations outside. Also, since my side of the building was next to the parking deck, whenever the assholes with motorcycles would rev their engines and zoom around in there, the sounds were deafening. I never had any problems from weekend kiddie soccer games like others have mentioned, but sometimes the trash trucks would wake me up.
–Speaking of soccer games, be aware that whenever there’s a home game, they shut down Stadium Road briefly when the games start and end to help control the flow of traffic. This means if you’ve been out and about and decide you want to come home, you may not be able to get back in for a little while. It’s a nuisance to not be able to park your car and come home at will, so plan your trips accordingly.
–Ants, ants, ants. They are everywhere. .. they’re in your kitchen, they’re in your bed, they’re in your underwear drawer, they’re on your desk. .. doesn’t matter how clean you are, they’ll find you. Fortunately they don’t bite, but they’re still annoying.
–It’s expensive. This wasn’t as big of a problem for me since I didn’t mind paying more to be close to school, but for a lot of people it’s a real concern. Housing in Santa Barbara/​Goleta isn’t cheap, but if you’re willing to live farther away, you can probably find something nicer for less money.
So those are my two cents about San Clemente, or actually probably a whole dollar’s worth. Like I said above, it’s a great option for your first year, but otherwise you can almost certainly do better.

Considering I’m well halfway into my last quarter at UCSB, I thought I’d do an update. So I’ve been living here for about 2 years, and many of my initial thoughts still hold true, but there are also some other new things I wanted to point out.
The parking situation isn’t any better now, and I still hold this against the university because it’s very inconvenient for residents. Lot 51 is difficult to nab a spot in at peak hours (you have to venture in in the morning or around noon) and Lot 50 (the parking structure way on the other side of the apartments) is your only bet. Which means you’d have to walk from one end of San Clemente to the other. –_​–
Also, one thing I’ve experienced more and more recently is the fact that some residents who live in San Clemente are pretty disrespectful of other people who live there as well. I’m in Encino on the third floor and there is one quad at the end of the hall (yes, I’m calling you guys out) always full of potheads, smokers, and raging alcoholics who are loud as hell and BLAST their music until the wee hours (they were still going strong at 4am during midterm week). Also, there’s a guy who sings opera at the most random times… and always does so with his window open — what happens is his voice ricochets off all the building walls and is thus magnified 10x, disturbing other residents. Of course, you can’t blame the actual apartments or school for this, and moreover — I’m sure the noise situation is 250x worse in IV.
Overall though, I think San Clemente has been good. The Apartment Assignments Office is pretty good (esp. Mayra) in assisting you with any problems. I had 2 asshole roomates who made my life hell and Mayra was able to get me out and into a new room to the best of her ability, so that is appreciated.
The only things that have dampened my experience here, like mentioned, have been the parking and the lack of respect from some residents (and also, just some of the shady characters I’ve met as roomates).
The Loop is opening up in IV this fall and although the prices are at least $ 100 – 200 more expensive per month than San Clemente… note that the place is BRAND NEW, so I would suggest people looking into San Clemente to give The Loop a try. Of course, it’s hard to say what the noise, parking, or population characteristics will be like over there, but I recommend transfers or 2^nd years to check out both places and weigh out their options. Also, I suggest rooming with someone you know if you can — rooming with anonymous people can be good in that you could meet some great people (ex. my current roomate) but you can also run into some disrespectful, shady people (ex. my last 2 roomates) — the way I see it now after going through some bad roomates (and the whole hassle of moving out and needing your roomate to sign an approval notice, which is really awkward) — you’re better safe than sorry.
I know I’ve hawked San Clemente because the place is the only apartment in the entire IV vicinity to be furnished as is, but I recently learned that the Tropicana Gardens are furnished as well and also, The Loop is furnished as well, so there are definitely more options now.
All in all, I’m upping my previous rating by 1 star just because of the overall learning and living experience I’ve had here. However like said, there are more options now so I suggest students to check other places out before making a decision.

I chose to live in San Clemente because it’s convenient, I didn’t have to move/​buy new furniture and I wanted a place with a built in community. What I have since learned is that living downtown near the bus stop is not much less convenient, and if my classmates didn’t live here as well I wouldn’t have had a built in community. Even though the staff put on events often enough, the socializing is still quite minimal. I’ve lived here for 8 months now and have seen my next door neighbors maybe a handful of times.
My biggest complaint, however, is by far the soccer field directly behind the apartments. You do not get to choose which apartment you want so if you end up in one that faces the field during fall quarter you will get woken up before 8am every Saturday and Sunday by screaming soccer parents. This screaming will continue throughout the day, which makes it very difficult to study in your room. During the week you will get woken up by lawnmowers. I have gotten woken up before 8am too many times to count and once at 6am. I was told by police that a county ordinance says they can start mowing at 6, but I complained to UCSB facilities and they said they wouldn’t start until 8:30, which is San Clemente policy for their groundskeeping. UCSB facilities has yet to keep their word. Complaining to San Clemente management is a waste of time as they are practically useless. (Besides the maintenance crew and the RCs, the staff just don’t seem to want to go out of their way to make the living situation here as nice as possible.) If it’s not the soccer moms or the lawnmowers, the trash trucks will be there to wake you up nice and early on Friday mornings and others during the week. Basically, if you’re not a morning person or just like to sleep in do not live here. My friends who live next to the parking structure have also told me how horrible that is with car alarms going off during the night.
Other cons: Furniture is kind of cold, kitchen is small (Kitchens are same size in a two person as in a four person apartment. I live in a two person and can’t imagine trying to cook in that kitchen in a four person apt.), parking can be inconvenient if you live in Donner or Encino villages (quite a walk to the parking structure), guests have to pay for parking or find parking in IV, downtown SB is kind of a trek.
Pros: Clean, new, cable, internet and parking are included in rent, close to rec cen. If you do get an apartment facing the soccer field you will have a nice view, but this hasn’t made up for all the mornings I’ve been woken up.

Expensive and sterile. Things echo, you can hear everything that your neighbors do, and the kitchen really is smaller than it should be. Seriously, the only reason to consider this is because you have to live close to campus and do not want to deal with the IV-​related nonsense. This might be the best of the on-​campus housing options (I do not know as it is the only place I have ever stayed), but this does not say much for the other options.
Staff is barely available, mail pick-​up is a hassle if you have a package. But, laundry is fairly cheap (a welcome surprise). The study rooms and some other amenities are rather nice.

Before you move in, here are some simple things you should know about this place. I was one of the first people that lived in this complex, and I used to work with Housing and Residential Services, so I’m privy to information that may not be available to the public.
+It’s very clean, nice, and pretty new.
+Rooms are singles
+The walls are thick.
+It’s quiet, so you can study, and there are study rooms in every village if you can’t study in your room.
+Nice design
+Free Cable, wireless, and utilities are included in your rent.
+It’s close to campus
+Spacious common room
–It’s difficult to socialize. Grad students generally aren’t the most outgoing folk, so you may have trouble getting to know your neighbors. the Resident Coordinators (think RAs) WILL call the cops on you if you’re playing music beyond 12 or so and you may get a noise violation. That’s if you’re in one of the stricter villages, anyway.
–Small kitchen, especially if it’s a four person apartment and everyone cooks.
–It’s expensive relative to getting a single in Goleta.
–Parking is hell. You can only park in the areas between villages for something like 20 minutes, and guest 30 or 45. If not, they’ll give you a ticket. You have to fight for a spot in that little lot by Los Carneros, or you have to park in the parking structure. There’s plenty of parking in the structure, but unless you live in the building. If you have a guest, they have to pay for parking unless you get a pass for them in advance, by mail.
–It’s a lottery to get a place to live here. However, the lottery is biased towards grad students and transfer students.
–Roomates are random. You can request to live with people that were accepted into the complex, but other than that, you really don’t know who you’re living with. Fill out the survey they give you seriously. If you’re a pothead, say you smoke. If you’re messy, say you’re messy. Sometimes you’ll get that wild-​card who didn’t fill out the survey as you did because his situation changed, and he’ll be that roommate nobody likes.
–If you play loud music, have a lot of sex, or jump up and down a lot, the person under you in the apartment below you will hate you. Especially if you guys do not have similar sleeping patterns.
I enjoyed it, personally, but I feel it’s necessary to go over what the issues are with the complex.

After looking at Santa Ynez and El Dorado, San Clemente dorms were the best choice when it comes to Apartment housing. Even though the prices are higher than both said places, it’s a lot more quiet and spacious than the other two. This place is fantastic for the grad students who mainly want a quiet place to study, but also appeals to me — a transfer student who don’t want to sleep through loud obnoxious parties that end at 2−3AM.

Although the location is fantastic for a grad student who will live his life in the lab or the library and the price includes all utilities, this graduate student housing is, in the end, very disappointing.
1. For what you get, the prices are higher than the already expensive Santa Barbara market despite being purportedly affordable housing designed for graduate students. The rents continue to increase despite falling prices in the SB market. An additional 5 min bike saves me $ 200/​month with much more space.
2. Although being in close quarters to many other graduate students, the community is incredibly sterile.
3. The bedrooms are cramped, as are the kitchens.
4. It seems that the RAs are encouraged to act as a police force, more concerned about policing residents than helping.
5. Although the fields in back seem nice and convenient, they are filled on the weekends with screaming soccer parents and their children. This eliminates the possibility of a quiet Saturday morning’s sleep.
6. The mail service is very slow.
7. Most of my friends feel like they are being patronized as if they are undergraduates. That said, there are actually a large number of undergrads living here because it cannot be filled with enough graduate students.
8. Similar amenities in undergraduate living spaces are not present here. There is no fitness room or pool.
9. The policies governing family graduate student housing are far more lenient than those in this housing for single students.
If you’re a new graduate student looking for housing, I would seriously consider other options. Although it is convenient to sign up for this housing before you get to UCSB, it is neither ideal nor cost effective.