u/Crescent_3145 — reddlx

Hi! I'm a potential incoming freshman, and I'm a physics major, but I'm concerned about whether physics at UCSB is actually that much better than my other options (UCI and UCSD).

is L&S physics worth it or are all the funding/research opportunities aimed at CCS students?
From everything I see online, UCSB is really good at quantum physics and quantum related physics, but when it comes to anything else it's not that good. I personally don't want to stay in academia forever; I want to get a PhD and then work on more applied physics things like semiconductors or photonics, and I heard that UCSB is not good for that sort of research. In a similar vein, if there are major research groups/projects dedicated to non-quantum physics, do physics majors get priority to do things like that or would I have to fight with electrical engineering and materials sciences students too?
Santa Barbara afaik isn't in a major urban location like Irvine or San Diego, so are internships or research opportunities harder to come by? Is there a significant number of companies in the area?
How is PhD placement like with UCSB physics majors? Do they usually get the grad schools/advisors they want? Is placement here better than my other options?

Thanks for all the help! Also feel free to DM if you have any advice, tysm