University of California-Riverside Top Questions

Diverse and open to conversations.

If you are the type of person that just wants to party until school's out, you will feel out of place. We have a population of Christians, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics. There are no religious tensions that I am aware of. It isn't uncommon to see people wear headscarfs and turbans. We have a Mosque and Christian church almost right next to each other near the school. Everyone has a "to each their own" attitude. The LGBT center is especially strong. I can say this from experience, because I am a transgender student. I have never once felt unwelcome at the campus. However, be careful about being publicly LGBT outside of campus. The area around there is rough. Most students are from the nearby area of Riverside county. They tend to be politically apathetic and politically aware. They are more likely to vote democrat than republican. A large portion of our students come from poverty and are first generation college students. If race is important to you, people at UCR tend to hang out in same-race groups at first. However, as time goes on, you are more likely to hang out in mixed-race groups. Most of the students stick with their own groups. However, if you put yourself out there and ask to hang out with a different group, almost always will they include you. Groups tend to be inclusive than exclusive. One sorority even openly accepts and recruits transgender students. Fraternities will also extend invitations to transgender students. Students here generally don't care about how much they earn one day. They tend to just want to enjoy what they do and pay the bills. College is generally seen as something to advance a career and a place to grow as a person.

Students are generally open-minded about social issues. Most students are from the middle class and take their education pretty seriously. There's also a lot of clubs on campus from a snowboarding club to an origami club. I've never encountered any racism here and I don't expect to.

Students at UC Riverside greatly vary. It is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the nation. The majority of students are Asian, with Hispanics/Latinos, Caucasians, and African Americans each accounting for a significant portion of the student demographics. The fact of the matter is there is no average student at UCR. There is such a large diversity amongst the students that nearly everybody is welcome, and a person would be hard pressed not to find a student who shares similar views or tastes. There are campus resource centers for every student who is looking to connect with other students. In fact, there is an LGBT Resource Center, a Women's Resource Center, a Campus Health Center, and many other diverse resources that can accommodate any student's needs. Because UCR is located in a desert, it is usually hot for the vast majority of the year. This means most students show up in either shorts and a shirt for guys or dresses and skirts for girls. When it does get cold in winter, jeans and sweatshirts become commonplace for the majority of students; however, it seems like sandals or ugg boots are worn year round regardless of how hot or cold the weather gets. Being in California it is no surprise that the majority of students are predominately left on the political spectrum. While there is a Young Republicans of America organization on campus that enjoys lots of participation, most students tend to be more liberal. There are many students who are politically active and every Wednesday on campus there are students protesting. Usually these protests either revolve around the "Occupy" Movement or the school administration and the tuition hikes prevalent across California colleges.

Students at UC Riverside greatly vary. It is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the nation. The majority of students are Asian, with Hispanics/Latinos, Caucasians, and African Americans each accounting for a significant portion of the student demographics. The fact of the matter is there is no average student at UCR. There is such a large diversity amongst the students that nearly everybody is welcome, and a person would be hard pressed not to find a student who shares similar views or tastes. There are campus resource centers for every student who is looking to connect with other students. In fact, there is an LGBT Resource Center, a Women's Resource Center, a Campus Health Center, and many other diverse resources that can accommodate any student's needs. Because UCR is located in a desert, it is usually hot for the vast majority of the year. This means most students show up in either shorts and a shirt for guys or dresses and skirts for girls. When it does get cold in winter, jeans and sweatshirts become commonplace for the majority of students; however, it seems like sandals or ugg boots are worn year round regardless of how hot or cold the weather gets. Being in California it is no surprise that the majority of students are predominately left on the political spectrum. While there is a Young Republicans of America organization on campus that enjoys lots of participation, most students tend to be more liberal. There are many students who are politically active and every Wednesday on campus there are students protesting. Usually these protests either revolve around the "Occupy" Movement or the school administration and the tuition hikes prevalent across California colleges.

The students at UCR are diverse, simply put. It is one of the most diverse campuses in the entire country, so with that being said it is quite difficult to describe all the students. In a brief, but concise answer I would say that if you are looking for diversity and an experience with people you never once thought you would meet, UCR is a perfect place. There are students from all different sects of the globe, which makes everyday a new and interesting one

UCR is what you make of it. UCR students have a lot of agency, and that's what I like best about the college. There are many leadership, research, social, and personal development opportunities at UCR - to access them, you have to be proactive. If you really want to grow - professionally or personally - there are many resources at UCR for you. There are also many ways to fail your classes, abuse substances, and get kicked out. It can be easy to get lost amongst the masses (it's a pretty big school - I think about 18,500 students), but that also means that you can connect with so much more. The hugeness of UCR means that a lot of students have trouble finding their 'niche' on campus - but the opportunity will always be there. There isn't much school spirit at UCR, probably because we don't have a football team anymore. The administration is trying to increase school spirit with a "Tartan Soul" campaign that advocates Integrity, Accountability, Respect, and Discipline, but it hasn't had much effect. UCR doesn't have a "college town" feel, but it's located an hour away from the beach and the mountains. It's possible to get by with just public transportation, but its comfortable to have access to car. The budget cuts affect UCR enormously. Many services (like free trolleys that take students around Riverside) have been cut, building the medical school has been delayed, and class sizes are swelling to the point where students find it difficult to get classes. There are ways to ensure priority registration - enrolling in the Honors program, or playing for a school athletic team are a couple methods that give your first pick at classes. Incentives and disadvantages, UCR has both. Unfortunately, there will always be people who focus on the school's negative stereotypes. I remember hearing about an encounter my roommate had with an acquaintance she'd met at a party. She had told him she attended UCR, and he'd given her a surprised look, then said "Wow. Really? I never would have guessed - you sound so intelligent." It's irritating, but that reaction can also be motivating. It's up to the student to make their experience memorable.

UCR is the 3rd most diverse campus in the United States, As such, we have a wealth of students from all racial, social, religious, and sexual backgrounds. There's not really any way to avoid people of other social circles; you will inevitably meet, have classes, and work with students of different backgrounds. But that's okay! Part of being on a diverse campus means that you learn more about other people, and in turn it makes you a better listener and communicator. There are many ethnicity and LGBT based organizations, but you don't have to be a part of that group exclusively in order to join. In fact, joining one of these organizations increases your network and social capital, making it easier to do things like get a job, or find out which classes to take. It doesn't matter if you are in the dining hall or at the movie theater across from campus; you'll see clusters of students that are more often then not mixed-race rather then single race. In addition, UCR has a very laid back, jeans and tshirt feel that makes it really easy to approach people and make new friends.

If it is diversity people look for, they'll find plenty of it at UCR. They generally pride themselves on being one of the most diverse campuses. Anybody can feel like they belong in one way or another there. Mind you, this is coming from someone who spends most of his time on campus, standing on the top floor of a building alone, staring off at the world. Walking through the commons, though, you'll find people wearing suits, people in sandals and shorts, and everything in-between. In class, students usually dress casually, unless there is some specific reason they're wearing their suit. In my majors, it would be a bit difficult to see someone in a suit, but it occasionally happens. The school is relatively politically active. Though I've never participated in one, we generally have rallies over this or that injustice. They're commonly during class, though. Someone on the left will say that the school is too right-wing at times, people on the right will call it too left-wing. I tend to not bother myself with the pointless bickering that goes on around parties, though.

There's really no such thing as a "typical" UCR student. Walk around campus at noon one day and you'll see a variety of races and religions easily interacting with one another. As the 5th most diverse school in the nation, UC Riverside offers a unique opportunity to learn alongside those who truly represent California's heritage. Many of my friends are the first in their families to attend college, yet others come from a long line of doctors and lawyers. I truly can't say there's a mold of UCR student. SoCal style dominates here, so pack your Rainbow flip-flops and cutoff shorts. Greek (sorority and fraternity) apparel is a huge trend, as well as touting a longboard or cool retro bike. I'd say my only complaint is that there are far fewer cute guys than girls, so girls tend to mob over a hot single man. Indulging a college bro's ego even more? No thanks! Due to recent education cutbacks, many students are enraged and have begun peacefully protesting at the belltower. There are often tables encouraging students to sign petitions or register to vote out on the quad, and overall I'd say UCR is definitely a liberal school. It reflects the California vibe combined with the enthusiasm of a young voting populace.