Help Me Decide If I Should Indeed Attend Riverside

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Riverside
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<p>I tend to write a lot and I have to go to sleep soon, so I'll try to get straight to the point :). Anyways, I got accepted into Riverside last month (and it appears that it's the only UC I was admitted into), but I am seriously considering opting for community college instead. Yes, part of it is financial (we are a middle class family, so I get NO financial aid) and the fact that I know I can do comm. college coursework and possibly get into an even better university, but a big part of it has to do with my experience there and my fear that it will be absolute crap. Contrary to what you may be initially guessing, my concern has little to even do with the campus and its supposed "ghetto" surrounding; it has much more to do with the social aspect. Throughout all twelve years of my public education, I have been annoyed by immature, obnoxious and ignorant peers, but I've been fortunate to only deal with them during the day. While I know most of these kids won't be attending Riverside, the few that do, I want to no involvement with, especially as a roommate. Essentially, short and sweet, I want to see that there are other freshman that will be attending in the Fall that have their head on straight and have morals and values by which they abide. These morals and values in my case are not drinking or doing drugs, not partying, living healthfully, respecting others and just being mature. Someone doesn't have to follow the same exact life that I lead (I have friends who drink and smoke, but they do what they do, and leave me out in that regard), but respecting my decision to do so and understanding where I'm coming from is important. Having fun of course is something important, but it shouldn't be one's utmost priority in my opinion. I just want to see that there are other students who are inquisitive thinkers, who don't get swayed by peer pressure, and who are loyal, through thick and thin. People who may not agree with you, but at least listen attentively. People who believe that college is for learning, not to get wasted, but at the same time who know how to have fun without the vices of modern society. I could go on and on, but I think that you guys get the point, at least if you can relate to me. Choosing a college is one of the biggest decisions I've made in my life thus far, and I want to make sure that I'm not dishing out $20K+ and moving out to Riverside (albeit I live in L.A. it's not too far lol) for something that feels like educational deja vu. Meeting some of you guys on here could help allay my fears, and possibly I'll find the "perfect roommate". Oh and by the way, I'm not always so, um, worried or serious, as this posting may suggest, I know how to have fun, maybe just not in the "conventional" way. I'm a guy worth getting to know, that is if I am comfortable around you ;). You guys may determine my fate, so impress me :).</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>Daniel</p>

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<p>Well, you haven’t met me yet! I’m pretty much what you described, haha. I love research and school… I don’t party in the sense of getting drunk and smoking and all that.</p>

<p>EVERY college will have annoying and immature people. But you just have to pick your friends and who to socialize with. There are people who truly care about their education and they do have their head on very straight. I’ve met people who I seriously think can change worlds and are starting to do it now in their college career.</p>

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<p>Dude, there are going to be so many types of people at any college you attend, whether it’s a CC, UCR, or Ivy League . . . There will always be people who want to party and there will also be people like you who just don’t feel comfortable with that scene. </p>

<p>I went to a CC for three years after I graduated high school. I can tell you that there are a lot more unmotivated people at CCs. There were always people partying, smoking weed, being immature, and most of those people were over 21. I think the key thing here is, do you think you can handle living independently (sort of)? Personally I am glad that I went to a CC because I was very immature when I graduated hs and if I had gone straight to a four year I know I would have screwed up a lot . . . But now even though I’m glad everything happened the way it did, I sort of regret not having the full four years of the typical college experience, because the first two years are mostly gen ed and you get to be sort of carefree and you get to make mistakes and party, but the last two years you need to buckle down a bit and take harder classes. There are pros and cons to either experience. If you know you can handle it I recommend going to UCR. You’ll have fun even if you dont want to party or drink, from what I have heard.</p>

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<p>I think u should stick with UCR. Alot of my friends who are currently in CC <em>freshmens</em> are having hard time getting classes, so the TAG prgm is harder to fufill in 2 years and they regret saying no to the UCs that accepted them. This isn’t only in CC. All colleges(least in california thats public) are having budge cuts so they have to cut classes/<em>MAJORS TOO</em> and its harder to graduate in 4 years >.<(no this isnt good, you pay alot more to stay in there D: ).</p>

<p>Besides UCR is a UC still, its not that much diff v.s u going to like UCB cept the people and surrounding. The classes are technically the same and not much diff. :slight_smile: Where you go for undergrad doesnt matter much.</p>

<p>P.S if your doing medical UCR has that transfer program to UCLA :).</p>

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<p>REALLY long post, sorry for typos</p>

<p>If you are truly financially strapped, you should go to a community/junior college (CC/JC) for 2 or 3 years. At the end of 4 or 5 years you will come out with the same education and diploma as everyone else from that school. If money wasn’t a factor I’d say do to UCR, just don’t go the UCR and suddenly not be able to finish because you ran out of money.</p>

<p>JCs will definitely have more annoying people. I’ve gone to one every summer for four years trying to make my double mayor go faster/easier. You will get your “ghetto” people, foreign people who really should be learning English before they enroll in the class you are in. worst thing is you may get partnered up with them in lab and end up doing all the work.</p>

<p>At UCR, at the very LEAST you know your colleagues are up to a certain standard because they got into the school, whereas JC’s requirement is that you are over 18 or have a parents consent…and be able to pay $15/unit (or whatever…). I’m not saying that you won’t find a bunch of the annoying people you hate at UCR, you’ll definitely see a whole bunch of them during rush, or passing out info for the next party. You will get partnered up with one here and there. and may even end up living with one…but in my opinion, if my life depended on it, I’ll rather be partnered up with a UCR idiot over and JC idiot any day.</p>

<p>You will miss out on some of the “college experience” such as the dorming (trust me, there will be plenty of hall mates that will annoy you), bonding as a new independent person. “Freedom” at 18. </p>

<p>I HAD THE WORST LUCK WITH ROOM MATES…EVER!</p>

<p>1st year - weird quiet roommate who sat in front of the computer playing games all the time. fat, made a lot of noise just breathing. Worst thing is that he literally did not shower for 3-4 weeks, he does change his clothes everyday, but never washes them so there were bins and bins of nasty clothes in the corner. I kept the A/C at 60 just do slow down his decomp, one night he turned it up to 85…I woke myself up because I threw up in my bed (really I did). Next day I had a meeting with the R/A with pictures and proof my “incident” in bed, he came in and a week later I got my own single room all to myself for two quarters.</p>

<p>2nd year - decided to move into an apartment with a friend and another friend I’ve known since 4th grade. It was your typical college annoyance of who ate my food, why is there so much dirty dishes everywhere and who left a plate and fork in the bathroom (weird you say? there are people like this out there!) anyway, sometime during the last quarter I come home Sunday night after spending the weekend with my parents to kind the place broken into. My computer and monitor was stolen (that was my life as a CS major, I spent a lot of nights at the labs because I had no computer!) We suspected my friend from 4th grade had done it because the place did not look like it was broken into, the door was locked, the window was broken by it didn’t look like anyone climbed in, non of his stuff was taken and he had a lot of it. We talked to him about it and said we don’t care and just wanted out stuff back. That night I heard him on the phone saying “**** they know I did it…” next day after class I came home to an empty apartment because he took all his stuff and left…and no the cops were of no help, circumstantial my ass. can’t prove anything because his fingerprints were an exception since he lived there!</p>

<p>3rd year. Roommate wanted to divide up utilities by hours, tells me he didn’t think he should pay for the hours he was not physically home…I left after a quarter and ended up in a condo where there were too many parties that ended way too early in the morning…one of the guys actually found out he had a baby out there, did the whole DNA testing thing, next thing you know I lived in a condo with a crying baby who won’t shut up! at least there were less party since no one wanted to bother the baby.</p>

<p>4th year. moved in with a great friend, still friends with him…he was too nice, he let two of this overseas friend stay at the house in the living room. didn’t speak a word of English but is able to score crap load of drugs every time their parents sends them money thinking it was for whatever school they were supposedly going to. These were hard drugs, like burning it on a spoon and injecting! They would sleep ALL day long and stay up all night high and playing video games and being loud. I was only there until I needed to cram for my 1st quarter finals. </p>

<p>I spent the last two quarters of my UCR career living out of my car. It was the best living situation I had. I actually had a job on campus that gave me my own office, so I had a place to put in a small fridge. I studied there and took naps there sometimes. Only problem is that the building shuts down at midnight and I only had a key to the office. I showered and did my “business” at the beautiful rec center and slept in my car…I slept with a BB-gun in the car…don’t make fun of me, if you slept in your car in Riverside you would too!</p>

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<p>sapipa177 – HOLY WOW! You do win for worst roommate situation ever! Sounds like a nightmare…</p>

<p>But yes, I still say stick with UCR. You will meet the most AMAZING people ever and some pretty dang annoying people. Seriously, get involved with clubs, programs, organizations, etc. and you will meet incredible people. Trust. I don’t live on campus because it’s too expensive for me, so I don’t get to meet people that often compared to someone who dorms. But I’m glad that through all my activities, I’ve met responsible, intelligent, respectful and kind people who truly care about their education and who don’t smoke, drink, party and still know how to enjoy life and hang out. I would have rather met a handful of brilliant people than hundreds of idiots through partying.</p>

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<p>Dude if you can afford it go to UCR. You’ll meet the most amazing people in the world!!! Though sapipa117 had a horrible time with his roommates. I have a awesome roommate.</p>

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<p>I would say to go to UCR. No matter how lowly people think of it, it’s a UC. I know a lot of people who say “oh, I’m going to PCC right now, but I’m going to transfer to UCLA later.” You never know what happens “later”. You also miss out on being a first year at a traditional college. Some people don’t care about this, but some people do. It’s an experience that you can never buy back once it has passed.</p>

<p>Everyone’s “college experience” is different. Honestly, if you find the right crowd of people, you will enjoy it much more. I mean that’s obviously, but you have to make an effort to find these people. You can’t sit in your room and expect to make friends, you know what I mean? Join some organizations and meet people. If you don’t like one organization, join another… keep looking and looking. There will be a lot of immature, annoying people no matter where you go because you can’t expect all college students, especially first years, to be mature. After all, college is one of the places where people grow up. (:</p>

<p>It is seriously important to keep an open mind, especially when it’s your first year in college. You might find out that some people aren’t as bad as they seem. You might even get along with people who are totally opposite of you. Don’t rule out the possibility of befriending certain people just because they have different priorities or lifestyles than you. Also, please don’t assume all party-goers are idiots.</p>