University of California-Davis Top Questions

Parents and/or students should know that UC Davis is a very quiet and studious place. It is an ideal school for a student who is focused on their education, more so than their social life. The students at UC Davis are mostly white or Asian and for the most part, people tend to hang out within their racial groups. Davis is not very diverse however, it is a very friendly place in which the people living here are polite and respectful. There are not many activities to do in the small town of Davis compared to that of a college in the city. Please visit the school prior to attending it because it is a very different and unique envirnment in which some people love and some people dislike. Also, if you do decide to attend Davis, it is important that you get bike and a sturdy bike lock to go with it. A bicycle will be the students main source of transportation arund campus, expecially freshman year.

Before you start looking at a school, make a list of things that you want out of the school first. Include things such as city size, the size of the student population, the "type" of school (research oriented or teaching oriented), etc.. This will help narrow down the choices since the number of colleges offered in this nation is high and the process of selecting just one can seem daunting. Most importantly, make sure to visit the college. That is ultimately the only way that you can be sure if you will like the college or not. To make the most of your college experience, the best advice I can offer is to get involved. Everyone has something that they're are interested in, and more often than not, there are others that share those interests. College is a unique environment that provides the oppurtunity to meet a large and diverse population and allows for networking that can be crucial for employment later in life and overall mental well-being. Involvement stimulates the mind, looks good on a resume, helps your social network, and ultimately, is fun.

Dont base your decision on "EVeryone applies there, its popular, its a big party school" blablabla. Go to the school thats right for you. VIsit the campus and see if you like it. Visit the surrounding areas, and talk to students. If possible, audit during a lecture and see if you like the way freshman classes are organized. A lot of the bigger campuses have HUGE lecture halls, but as the years go on the classes become smaller. If one is worried about a social life, just know that every college will have parties, many have fraternities and sororities. Dont go where others want you to, but go where you feel at home and where you feel you will have fun and enjoy college. College happens once, and it goes by very fast, so make the most of it. Also know that you can major in ANYTHING and do ANYTHING you want, its just a matter of knocking out the mandatory prereqs.

Find a school that has balance and many possibilities.

I would advise students to first consider the location. For example, do they want to attend a school that is located in a small town or a big city? Also, the student should choose a college based on the degrees and programs offered. For instance, some schools may be well known for various art or science programs. To make the most of the college experience students should get involved in clubs and extracurricular activities. These activities offer a way to meet new people and have a well rounded experience. Internships and volunteer work are also great ways to discover other interests as well as build a superb resume. I would definitely recommend that the student live in a dorm or some form of on-campus housing during the first year of school. These opportunities allow the student to interact with other students that have never lived on their own and also experiencing college life for the first time. The students are also able to meet diverse people with interesting stories.

University of California Davis is a wonderful school, but if you or your children are planning to go for major of Biological Science, you should put in your mind that it will require hard work to survive in this school.

Visit as many potential colleges as possible and find a college with a wide variety of majors. I changed my major from animal science to graphic design, if my colllege didnt have it I would have had to change schools, which can be a huge hassel. Find a college that has variety and isn't too small.

At their roots, all universities are businesses, and many universities will act accordingly. The best colleges are probably those with the most resources available to the students (financial aid, psych services, tutoring, an on-campus housing program, etc). If not for the value, then for the fact that the school actually cares about its "customers". Beside that, a campus that is clean, has a relativley low crime rate, and is within easy access of shopping, banking, and, most importantly, housing of some kind, doesn't hurt. A campus with a reputation doesn't hurt, either; universities with a rep usually have them for a good reason!

The biggest advice i could give to parents and/or students would be to consult current students about the school and to evaluate the campus, not just the reputation of the school. Current students are able to provide information about the quality of the learning experience, the social activities, and how the environment is. The second piece would to ignore the reputation of the school and focus on an environment where you'd be successful. Davis may not be the best university, but it has a large, beautiful campus and is the epitome of a "college town."

I would say to find the college that most matches the student's career choice. With the not so competitve enviroment, I think students are more able to learn not under pressure.