University of California-Irvine Top Questions

get your education and get out.

One of the reasons I chose to come to UCI was because I felt it was big, yet small, I know that sounds weird, but it has a sense of community and familyness that I didn't find on another campus. It felt like home.

UC Irvine is still making a name for itself, and I think that in a couple more years it's going to be one of those "top tier" schools with that everyone wants to go to, just like UCLA or USC. It's drawback is that it's in a suburban area, so the area around it doesn't necessarily cater to college students. However, being in the OC area, there's a lot to do. Disneyland is right around the corner, the beach (Newport and Huntington) is a 10 minute drive from the campus, Angels Stadium and the Staples Center are about 20 minutes away, and it's right in the center of all of the southern California schools, about an hour from UCLA, USC, UCRR, UCSD and SDSU. The school itself is not too big, on the average day, I run into at least 10-15 people that I know on the campus, but at the same time, with any college, you have to put yourself out there and get involved in something, anything to have fun. We are also National Champions in men's volleyball.

The area and education. The location is not only safe, but very pretty. The campus is big, but because of the layout feels small. As with most UC schools, when I tell people that I go to UCI, I always get the response that it is a very good school I spend most of my time on campus in classrooms, sometimes visiting the library to study. This campus is not really a "college town," as it is a "commuter school." Most people live fairly close to home and so on weekends UCI becomes a ghost town. There was some controversy over the dean of the new law school, but all issues have been resolved regarding that. We have a national champion men's volleyball team, however school pride is not the same as colleges with top 20 basketball or football teams. The most frequent complaints that I hear is the demographic of students being heavily weighted toward asians, but over the past couple years I feel that it has become more well rounded. Dorm life is something that I will always remember as nothing I have ever done had really compared with it.

UCI is a little bland. There is very little school spirit. But after that not much to complain about. The one thing (and it is true about any big school) is that you got to get invovled with a group of friends, club, lab, sport, greek system or something or you'll feel detached. At UCI, people love UCI through their little pieces of UCI. Note remember the bio majors who study all the time will tell you their lives suck and that UCI blows, yes it does if you study every second in major that offers very little creativity when it comes to research. For me as a Psychology & Social Behavior Major + English Minor, I have small classes and great labs. Yeah I have lectures but I've got to know those professors, and honestly lectures are best things for certain introductory topics. UCI provides a safe home atmosphere. I can’t stress enough you will love the fact that no one is waking you up at 3am in the morning. Note housing isn't too great for Freshman but the upperclass housing (2nd year is guaranteed) is awesome. Plus, the apartments just across the street are plentiful and quite nice. Compare this to stuff you see at schools like UCSD with there concrete ugly mammoth apartments and UCI looks even better. UCI is beautiful, the park in the middle is stellar, the intramurals and recreational (dance, kayaking, martial arts, sports, yoga) classes are phenomenal. UCI is a great school in a great place. It literally is located 5 minutes from the beaches that The OC and Laguna Beach are filmed in. This place is amazing. New Port Harbor is breath taking and quite uncorporate. The campus food is no UCLA, but it dominates about 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the competition and the meal plans aren’t real ridiculous like say Cal-Poly SLO where they force you to buy more meals than you’d ever be able to use, recommendation though is get the smallest mandatory meal plan. Finally, at UCI, you get to be your own person. No one will tell you who you should be. There is no UCI identity like there are at some bigger schools (especially private schools). You come to UCI and whatever majors and activities you want to do, you can be. Comapre this to say to Chapman which is the size of high school, were there is a norm of dress, of interests, and of activities.

UCI has a beautiful campus. They are trying hard to change it from being a commuter school and are slowly succeeding. The new Student Center is beautiful and the ARC is off the hook! I think UCI is neither too large or too small, but just right. People outside of orange county generally don't have much of an idea of where UCI is, but as it grows bigger and more prestigious (as it is currently), I think this is changing. If you're looking to go to UCI soon, it's definitely on the upswing....it's a really good time to come here! Irvine isn't much of a college town, but is a really central location for the beach, Disneyland, LA, San Diego and more! School pride is increasing, but we could definitely use more!

A lot of people have never heard of Irvine. I think it was supposed to be UC Newport Beach but Irvine redrew their city lines because they wanted UCI. It would have been way cooler if it were UCNB. But, once people see the campus and ralize how close we are to the beach and mountains, they can't deny that we have a beautiful campus, minus the horrible 60's architecture. We lack school spirit and people call UCI "Under Construction Indefinitely" or "University of Chinese Immigrants." It is a wet campus which is pretty cool and it does seem to be getting more school spirit so slowly but surely we are getting there.

The professors and the actual classes are the best part of UCI. Parking rules need to be adjusted. School is growing too large, they need to stop expanding the incoming classes. People know and understand UCI to be a good school, and it is, it will definitely educate you, but like with any university experience the student has to take the learning into his/her hands. I spend time in classes mostly and then in any cafe's on campus or the library/gateway to study. If the pub was still there I would have spend time there. Definitely--"what college town?" The environment does not support UCI students unless of course it's significant research that will get them more notoriety--it's understandable for a suburban town that is really modern. Administration is good, no complaints. Lots of controversy, but mostly it's just so superficial. No school pride at all. But people still participate in things and it really doesn't hinder from a student in having a good time in general. Not much of a school pride atmosphere. Lots of unusual things about UCI...too many to list, but it's like any other place. Mardi Gras at UCI was fun. Freshman year was fun. But I can't pick one experience--I will remember as many as I can. Students complain about the lack of interesting things going on around campus. Although some groups put on interesting things, a lot of them are culture specific so they leave other students out. BUT, at the same time those students learn and grow by experiencing new cultures all around them...so there is a plus and minus to that. Mostly it's the lack of students meeting other students. It is very difficult to meet new people without some socializing atmosphere.

I like the size and layout of the school. I love the campus altogether; the only thing is Irvine is a boring town. The beach is practically the only place to go, and when it isn't hot, there is no where, especially if youre not 21. I know a lot of people that don't have school pride for some reason, but I consider myself to have school pride. There is no point in looking down on the school you are attending. It only makes you look bad. Freshman year has been the most fun for me because you meet so many people when you dorm. I also was on Mesa staff, which has been one of the most rewarding and fun experiences that I have had here at UCI.

The best thing about UCI is its proximity to San Diego and Los Angeles. If I could change one thing, I would give us a football team. The school is a good size. It depends. My older sister went to Princeton so people who know her are surprised that I am going to such a less academically acclaimed school, but other people seem to think it's a pretty good school. I spend most of my time on campus in class. I'm not on campus a whole lot other than that. I get coffee with friends at starbucks every once in a while, and go to the Bren center for sports games once a week or so, but other than that, I'm off campus most of the time. "what college town?" UCI's administration seems pretty good. I guess I don't really have anything to compare it to. Some guy who had been working at ASUCI for a long time tried to strangle another employee. Nope, not a lot of school pride. There are an unusual amount of Asians. Living on campus first year with such great friends. No school spirit, no football team (although the second explains the first), and nothing to do in Irvine.

I love the campus. I love how the school is situatied around Aldrich Park. Irvine, the city, is bland and unappealing, but for those same reasons it feels safe and comfortable.

My favorite thing about UCI is being close to Newport, Laguna, Corona del Mar, etc. I lived off campus my 2nd year in Costa Mesa and rode my bike to the beach when i didn´t have school. Something I would like to see changes in is the counseling.. everytime I go in to ask questions I feel like I get general answers, nothing too specific to my situation and that they dont really care.. I guess it´s hard to with so many students but it feels too impersonal. Not so much a college town except for the off campus housing around the campus. Another great thing about our school is that we have an AMAZING gym. The ARC is big, has everything you need from yoga and other classes to a lot of basketball courts, indoor and outdoor, a pool, indoor track, rock climbing wall, machines, etc. Sometimes it is hard to take advantage of when you live farther off campus but totally worth it and better then the 24hr across the street. There is good food options right around campus and now there are more on campus. I am studying abroad for my Junior year but I hear the Student Center is great. Speaking of studying abroad, the CIE office has a lot to offer although there are some issues with communication but, definitely study abroad.. I had to have a good GPA to leave for a year and when I was a little short, they worked with me and helped make it possible to go to Spain for the whole academic year. Ring Road is great, easy to get to classes, and I like the booths always set up and the events they have for students.. One thing that bothers me is they outlawed bikes on ring road because, rumor has it, the Dean got hit.. Well that is a lame excuse and now they give tickets out and actually have people enforcing it. I wouldn´t say there is an extreme amount of school pride, but we can´t all be USC right? I do wish we had more focus on sports and supporting our athletic teams because sporting events always create more school pride, maybe it´s because our baseball team and volleyball team are the only ones known, oh well, you should still go to the baseball games, they are fun, we are good and the field is beautiful. The Greek system is pretty big, although I am not into it at all because personally a lot of the frat and sorority students are so wrapped up in the Who´s Who and its really lame, especially their parties. I haven´t had too many issues with the Administration, and after switching majors from Humanities to Social Science, the SS faculty was very welcoming and I continue to get loads and loads of emails with updates, events and anything related to Social Sciences. I plan on getting more involved my 4th year, I do suggest that of everyone. There are more clubs then you know and I am eager to do so. It will be hard returning to Irvine after being in Barcelona for a while, but hopefully I can find more diverse opportunities when I do so.

To be honest, I am in love with this school. I think it was exactly the right place for me to go to college and i can't picture being anywhere else in California. Irvine is in a great location. We are close to the beach, LA, San Diego and Disneyland! I love Aldrich Park and the beauty that is this campus. I love that students can shine anywhere here and there are so many opportunities for everyone. Each person brings new energy to the campus and I think that the campus community is amazing! As a person who is very involved, I love seeing all the people I know on Ring Road and the smiling faces of everyone that I interact with. There isn't very much that I would change about UCI because I think that we are a unique school with so much to offer. I think that one thing that I might change is the massive amounts of construction. i know that it's to be a bigger and better school, but it's so noisy all the time, and the campus is much better without all the noise. I really like hanging out in the New Student Center because I always see people I know and there are always concerts or speakers going on on the stage. There is also food and I can use my zot bucks, which is awesome! I also hang out a lot at Cha for Tea across the Street. That's not really on campus, but ask anyone and they'll know what you're talking about! Irvine isn't really a college town. You pretty much have to drive anywhere that you want to go, but its okay! We have out places to hang out (Spectrum, Fashion Island, University Towne Center, etc.) I definitely think that we need to work on school pride. I often see people wearing sweatshirts and other apparel from other schools and it bothers me. I wish more people came out to games and supported our teams...'cause they are pretty good!

THe best thing at UCI is the availability of resources. From the career center, to the study abroad center to jobs on campus, to office hours..the entire UCI campus is filled with easily accessible resources. I'd probably change the atmosphere around UCI, make it a little more college-like. Have more places to hang out around campus, like open a lounge or something. I think the school's just right. If it were larger, it'd be harder to meet ppl, if it was smaller, it would be too suffocating because everyone would know everyone. A lot of people give me a reaction like 'oh wow..you're smart' and some people, that either go to UCLA or Berkeley are like "oh thats cool". I spend most of my time in class or outside on the Student Center terrace, eating and hanging out with friends. Its not a college town, but we do the best we can with our apartment parties and whatnot. I like the admin. THere's a big issue between the Muslim community and the Jewish community, but what else is new? It depends on what group of people you look at, but i think there's a sufficient amount of school pride, but it'd be better if there was more. the only unusual thing is the fact that our mascot is an anteater. I'll always remember the professors that are really understanding and caring about their students, who help out a lot during office hours. the most frequent complaints is the parking tickets. its ridiculous.

The campus is very laid back and designed very well. The teachers and researchers here are amazing also. Prob would try and get sports bigger at uci.

Getting involved in campus tours and student housing has been the best thing! And the study abroad options! Big contraversies on campus... the Israli versus Palistine issue. Most memorable moment... walking through the school of the arts and being sung to be a random arts student while he played his guitar; midnight tours; housing training; Disneyland with fellow staff members; late night In n Out, etc... The school gives you the small school vibe with the big school experience. Things I would change, that people would get out more and do more/take advantage of all the amazing resources on campus. Also, the City of Irvine, while beautiful, has no downtown, no "college" area, no nothing. The city is boring but there is lots of wonderful shopping. :) You're close to the beach too!

The best thing about UCI is the fact that it requires you to move outside of your comfort zone and question ideas, develop new ones, and be entirely unapologetic in self-discovery. It seems like this would be high praise for a university that was not my first choice, but I have grown to realize that UCI's particular brand of teaching is unique, and I could not have had the same experience had I gone to that exclusive private school on the East coast. Every aspect of UCI is a niche in itself. UCI is perhaps the largest group of cliques and clusters of people, although no one is left out. At UCI everyone belongs somewhere, and you can pick exactly where you want to belong to- which is a huge positive point in my opinion. College is an opportunity for a new student to discover exactly who they are, and to made decisions based on their new-found sense of identity. It may take a year or two, but a student must understand that it is a process that is reflective of their environment. UCI meshes a liberal point of view in a conservative city, but more than that, it exposes its students to different world views, religions and activities the way a good college should. It certainly does not provide a one-sided argument, as you will always find someone who will have a different point of view, and those who will relate to your particular brand of opinions. I was pleased to find a large population of unashamed Muslim students, as I know controversy is apparent in today's society. One of the best things about UCI is Anteater Square- where each student is allowed to express him or herself, no matter what their views (I would not go as far as to say without dissent, because that would take away the whole point of this forum!) On a lighter note, UCI does sustain some of its stereotypical "geek" background, and is shaped in a perfect, 1 mile donut, with a large park at the center. The pathway around campus is named "Ring Road," connecting to one of the freshman housing complexes called "Middle Earth." It is lighthearted and reminds us to take each step with a fresh outlook on the day's activities. It would not do to dwell on the heavier aspects of life all the time. There are always programs going on and Alumni also take an interest in the school, putting on a huge homecoming carnival every year. There are a lot of movie nights on campus, as well as fairs and health weeks. Every quarter there is a vendor's fair that comes to campus, selling trinkets and clothes; it sort of reminds me of a small vintage town with thrifty wares at university prices. (I always get the free "taste test" kettlecorn) Basketball is our most popular sport, although I'm told that we perform well in Baseball and Volleyball too. (My interest in sports extend to the level that I just don't want the volleyball tournament to be on the same weekend of Relay For Life, Colleges Against Cancer's 24-hour walkathon that raises money for cancer research) It does bring a lot of people together however, and on game nights, the streets are packed with students proudly wearing their free, neon yellow "CIA" (Completely Insane Anteater) shirts. Although game nights find UCI students popping out of the woodwork with astonishing and somewhat alarming regularity, weekends bring new meaning to the term, "ghost town." UCI finds itself in a spot where most students go home on weekends, forcing those from Nor-Cal to bond in in the awkward absence. Being from Nor-Cal myself, I delight in the fact that there is parking galore, unlike the school days where there is hardly parking to be found, especially because of the limited spaces and none-too helpful rules imposed on exactly who can and cannot get a parking pass. (It is sort of like who gets an earlier enrollment period. It seems to be based on standing, amount of credits, what time of the day you were born, color of hair, foot size and whether you are rock or grass Pokemon type- quoting my favorite essay on why you should Never Become a Japanese Major)

The best thing about UCI is the education. I would change the environment around campus--make it more amenable to student life (such as several hangout spots that are open late). The campus is large, but somehow there is not enough student interaction because of the lack of places for students to congregate. I spent most of my time at the Cultural Center. It is definitely not a college town. The UCI administration does not seem to be very active with the students. There is not much school pride.

The people I met were the best things about UCI. Loves, best friends, room mates, brilliant students and professors, staff members--they all made UCI a great experience for me. Irvine is too big to be considered a college town.

The area is nice...we need more school spirit. a football team, a GOOD basketball team or something....People always say UCI is a great academic school...and i think we are, so that's good. I spent a lot of time at the student center area. A college town requires food/bar establishments to be open past 9pm. I think there is school pride, but it's different from a school like USC, UCLA or even somewhere like Illinois...they have something to be proud of...i mean YES we did get fairly far in the College World Series..but other than that? no football team, since for some reason MR and MRS. Irvine think that having a football team will somehow destroy their utopian society. It's safe here in Irvine. That's very nice to have...i'm just glad I didn't grow up here. I'm glad I grew up around crime and more "ghetto" areas...it builds character and street smarts...something not many "Irvine-ers" have.....Complaints include too much amdin rules...how do you BAN skateboarding on campus? that was huge....you might as well ban walking on ring road. because of ONE incident, they ban it..i mean i remember hearing someone jumped off the parking structure building in a suicide..sad, yes. But should UCI blow up all parking structures more than 1 level high? it doesn't make sense...