Being that I have only been at UCI for one year so far, I feel that I am really learning a lot from my professors and from the students that I have surrounded myself with. No matter where you are at, it is the people you are around that you can learn from. UCI has a lot to offer when it comes to academia. There are numerous Nobel Prize winners, each having a building on campus named after them. Upon arriving at UCI, I took a campus tour and during this tour I knew that I was going to be learning something new every day from the students and from the faculty. For example, did you know that there are 1100+ trees planted in the center of our school (Aldrich Park)? I had no idea! Taking the time out of the day to notice things of beauty like the structure of our campus has made me realize how thankful I am to be learning something new every day. I never walk out of a class empty-handed and wishing I had actually learned something. Instead, I always look forward to the next day of classes, even if it becomes a struggle to wake up in the morning. UCI has so much to offer in the broad scope of learning that I cannot name everything, but everyone should get the opportunity to see for themselves. Check out a classroom and talk to a professor during office hours. Those are the times that you learn the most anyways! One-on-one conversations have opened my eyes to a real college experience of never-ending lessons and learning.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I enjoy going to school here even though I have to admit my first year was a difficult one. I felt I didn't know how to get myself into that large crown of over 20,000 students! I was worried at first that no matter what I did, there was no way to be noticed and no way of finding my own place. After some searching, I found my niche in two places: the Cross Cultural Center and the Public Health Association. I am determined now more than ever that I will be able to find more places that will make UCI my home. I enjoy it more now than I did before because I know now that I am not alone in trying to find my footing. The park, which I mentioned before, called Aldrich Park is located in the heart of UCI and without it, I would not have had some of the best conversations with other students and friends! It is so beautiful and relaxing. I also enjoy the fact that there are so many different places to eat and the Student Center is always bustling with people! You don't have to be bored because you can even meet up with friends and form study groups at one of our three amazing libraries. Even on the weekends there are things to do like drive 8 minutes to the beach and hang out, or go to Newport and have a nice dinner. There is even clubbing in Costa Mesa! Everything is fairly convenient. Also, there is a University Town Center that has a Trader Joe's, Yogurtland, Cha, and Golden Spoon! There are a ton of places to eat and hang out.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I think school in general is expensive, but living in an area that is serene, safe, and close to the beach, I definitely think it has its bang for its buck. After visiting other campuses, I realize how much UCI has to offer its students! I love how convenient everything is and that there is not too much traffic. Sure, it may be a little pricey at times but in this economy, what isn't?! It's college in general that is difficult to pay for, so out of all of the the UCs I definitely like UCI!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
My number one tip is to work hard in high school and to keep that up all the way through until high school is over. There is never a time for slacking off or letting yourself get behind. Working hard will prepare you for college. I had a difficult time with this for a while in my first year of college, but I had to remind myself to stay on task and really stay focused. In a college like UCI, there are so many students that it's a good idea to always try to be ahead because once you fall behind you stay behind. There are so many students working hard that you cannot let yourself down. I also suggest looking into colleges by doing a college search and seeing what your top choices are. Are you looking for a place that is bursting at the seems with stuff to do and is not focused on academics? Or are you looking for a place that is safe and maybe close to the beach? Those things are important to take into account because you not only want to take into account the academia of your school but also the extracurricular stuff and the location of the college! For me, UCI is located in a great area and I love that about it. The beach is so close, and that helps me when I need to clear my mind and get through a rough day.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
This school is great for a student looking for a top-notch education. Yes, you can still have fun but it's also good to be studious. There are a lot of Bio Sci Majors at UCI and there are a lot of Engineering Majors, but that doesn't mean the English or Drama Major cannot get his/her moneys worth at this school. It is a very well-rounded school that not many people know about so take the time to research it. Our sports teams are excellent with some of the top in the nation, yet no one seems to know these things.
Being that I have only been at UCI for one year so far, I feel that I am really learning a lot from my professors and from the students that I have surrounded myself with. No matter where you are at, it is the people you are around that you can learn from. UCI has a lot to offer when it comes to academia. There are numerous Nobel Prize winners, each having a building on campus named after them. Upon arriving at UCI, I took a campus tour and during this tour I knew that I was going to be learning something new every day from the students and from the faculty. For example, did you know that there are 1100+ trees planted in the center of our school (Aldrich Park)? I had no idea! Taking the time out of the day to notice things of beauty like the structure of our campus has made me realize how thankful I am to be learning something new every day. I never walk out of a class empty-handed and wishing I had actually learned something. Instead, I always look forward to the next day of classes, even if it becomes a struggle to wake up in the morning. UCI has so much to offer in the broad scope of learning that I cannot name everything, but everyone should get the opportunity to see for themselves. Check out a classroom and talk to a professor during office hours. Those are the times that you learn the most anyways! One-on-one conversations have opened my eyes to a real college experience of never-ending lessons and learning.
I enjoy going to school here even though I have to admit my first year was a difficult one. I felt I didn't know how to get myself into that large crown of over 20,000 students! I was worried at first that no matter what I did, there was no way to be noticed and no way of finding my own place. After some searching, I found my niche in two places: the Cross Cultural Center and the Public Health Association. I am determined now more than ever that I will be able to find more places that will make UCI my home. I enjoy it more now than I did before because I know now that I am not alone in trying to find my footing. The park, which I mentioned before, called Aldrich Park is located in the heart of UCI and without it, I would not have had some of the best conversations with other students and friends! It is so beautiful and relaxing. I also enjoy the fact that there are so many different places to eat and the Student Center is always bustling with people! You don't have to be bored because you can even meet up with friends and form study groups at one of our three amazing libraries. Even on the weekends there are things to do like drive 8 minutes to the beach and hang out, or go to Newport and have a nice dinner. There is even clubbing in Costa Mesa! Everything is fairly convenient. Also, there is a University Town Center that has a Trader Joe's, Yogurtland, Cha, and Golden Spoon! There are a ton of places to eat and hang out.
I think school in general is expensive, but living in an area that is serene, safe, and close to the beach, I definitely think it has its bang for its buck. After visiting other campuses, I realize how much UCI has to offer its students! I love how convenient everything is and that there is not too much traffic. Sure, it may be a little pricey at times but in this economy, what isn't?! It's college in general that is difficult to pay for, so out of all of the the UCs I definitely like UCI!
My number one tip is to work hard in high school and to keep that up all the way through until high school is over. There is never a time for slacking off or letting yourself get behind. Working hard will prepare you for college. I had a difficult time with this for a while in my first year of college, but I had to remind myself to stay on task and really stay focused. In a college like UCI, there are so many students that it's a good idea to always try to be ahead because once you fall behind you stay behind. There are so many students working hard that you cannot let yourself down. I also suggest looking into colleges by doing a college search and seeing what your top choices are. Are you looking for a place that is bursting at the seems with stuff to do and is not focused on academics? Or are you looking for a place that is safe and maybe close to the beach? Those things are important to take into account because you not only want to take into account the academia of your school but also the extracurricular stuff and the location of the college! For me, UCI is located in a great area and I love that about it. The beach is so close, and that helps me when I need to clear my mind and get through a rough day.
This school is great for a student looking for a top-notch education. Yes, you can still have fun but it's also good to be studious. There are a lot of Bio Sci Majors at UCI and there are a lot of Engineering Majors, but that doesn't mean the English or Drama Major cannot get his/her moneys worth at this school. It is a very well-rounded school that not many people know about so take the time to research it. Our sports teams are excellent with some of the top in the nation, yet no one seems to know these things.