University of California-Riverside Top Questions

Before coming to UC Riverside, I wish I had known the ammount of job opportunities available off campus to help pay for my educational expenses. There are not many here in the city of Riverside and it does not help me be able to afford expenses such as books, transportation, rent, and food while being a student here. Other than that, I love this school. It has provided a place for me to focus on my education and become a better person as I pursue higher education.

How to write a decent essay is one thing I wish I knew beforehand. You would think that high school would teach you how to write a paper that doesn't sound so erroneous and tedious, but nope, that's a job for college. Maybe I could have gotten more scholarships and aid to pay for tuition and such if I had written more convincing and eloquent essays for my college applications.

I wish I knew of the socializing situation before I came; most people in this school are more shut-in.

I wish I would have known I couldnt afford this school, which is what resulted in me taking so many breaks inbetween. I would have liked to attend a school that is more concerned about students needs and is empathetic towards them. My previous major (psychology) was too impacted and my academic advisor at the time had been grandfathered in and had no educational background beyond high school. Therefore, I didnt recieve the support and instruction I needed. Thankfully, I changed my major to History and was able to get exceptional advice and leadership from my academic advisor, Christina Cuellar.

I had wished I wouldve known how serious some of these students take studying becasue some of the rooms get occupied very quickly, so the study rooms get taken fast.

I wish that someone had told me that the "Freshman 15" actually exists! That, and I wish they had told me that trying to take on too much at once is definitely not a good idea, because I tried that, and it ended up not working out too well. I loved that everyone told me to get involved though, because the groups and orgs that I am a part of really help me get through the school work!

That not all professors would be as rough as one of them that I had my first quarter and that not all of them would be as easy as another one that quarter.

I wish I would have known how to plan a major and minor. People dont tell you that sometimes they overlap. This can cause you graduate in more than four years.

I wish I had known more about the weather. I came from Florida which is usually hot up until Late November, early December. I didn't come prepared enough for the weather or for the location.

The advice I wish I would've have received is to explore different in options in a variety of classes before declaring a final major. Their are so many opportunities in every field that many individuals clearly miss to seek which explains the amount of individuals that switch their majors many times. My advice is to keep an open perspecitve to everything because college gives you the chance to explore and experience many different aspects that will uncover one's strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, as well as a guide toward a future career path.