Student Profile
William
- Class: Senior
- Major: History
- Gender: M
- High School: Carmel High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
UCR is a school where you can experience a lot of opportunities as well as learn in the classroom in that UCR in comparison to UCLA or UCB has Latinos and African Americans beyond just lip service and because of the multi-culturalism there is a great feeling of community and unity in my opinion. The school is nice and Riverside a good place, but it is not a huge city like LA but it is very close to Irvine and LA if you want to do other things on the weekends. School Pride is very low-Number 1 reason is no football team, and the feeling that this is an ok school by many especially the upper tier students as many have scholarships-this leads many to seek transfers. Also our mascot the Highlander-is really a bear so ....not exactly a clear idea for everyone to take pride in, there are many buildings with Scottish names. I would say the worst thing about Riverside is the lack of social community in that many go home for the weekend and don't stay and have fun like during the week; they could really make a cool place I believe. Controversy came lately with the Chancellor leaving for another school, but she got the UCR medical school on track and that will raise or visibility quite a bit especially in the region. We have as of yet had not replacement. There are many groups on campus that you can get involved with Mecha, Student Govt(ASUCR), frats, sororities, professional societies, Honors(one of the best funded in the country), all kinds of groups even jugglers, Dems, Republicans, ASPB-they have 10 million budget and put concerts and other event on campus. We have a Wednesday concert every week called a nooner and this is the best day of the week for culture and students as there are many vendors that come on campus and it is a cool vibe.
Academic Life
Professor access is one of the coolest things there is at UCR most of them you can easily talk to and get feedback from, there are some lecturers but many are full bore professors with ongoing research which is nice to have in the classroom. Favorite classes at UCR have been philosophy as we have a very good department there and it is heavy on modern social theory-Rawls as the head of the department did his PhD at Harvard under Rawls. There are many chances to have intellectual conversations after class, but if you don't wanna have one there is still places for you, I like discussing the material and do so with friend in honors and PAD-my co-ed frat and it is quite nice, but I know those who just want a degree and just party so either way it is up to you. Competition is almost non-existent I cannot remember a class where I didn't have ample opportunity to study with others and get along fine. I would say it is a good atmosphere overall of working together. Academic requirements depend on department but there are many who get into the school who must take remedial classes and who stay quiet in the classrooms, but I usually ignore them and focus on the ones who speak as I do. Me department is History and it is ok but not bad, there are good professors but it has few strengths and low requirements, I would have changed it but went abroad for year and making it work would have been difficult. I minored in Philosophy but if I had the time and money I would have majored in that as I loved it. General requirements are extensive-bio, math, liberal arts-nearly a year of class for me, but more for some depending on CC and AP transfer units.
Student Body
The socio-economic mix is significant in that we have people from the tough parts of California and those that partied in Orange county and so could not gain admission into a better school, the dichotomy of personality, race, wealthy, status, and background is vast. A case study would be PAD-we have Persians, WASPs, Latinos, African Americans, Koreans, Chinese republicans and dems though many more dems than republicans and that is true of the entire school. Lower middle class and upper lower class would be the norm, but there many upper middle class as well. Most students at politically apathetic and if active leftist, many want their degrees just for a job, but others don't so it depends. There are many race oriented organizations so if you wish to isolate yourself you can, but many groups don't have race as a criteria as honors or PAD and a few others-I never affiliate with the bigoted and racist ones-but they exist if you want only people of your color-many spew PC nonsense and only encourage petty ideology. These are in the minority as many who come here have friend of all colors and creeds so know that before you come.
The Best Things
Diversity of thought and race
The Worst Things
Lack of spirit and commuters who don't stick around
