I know this school WAS stereotyped as “UC Rejects” or “UC Retards” couple years ago. Is that stereotype even used anymore? Wasn’t it because the acceptance rate was high because it was the referral school back then? I’m not really worried about this. UCR is actually getting selective, slowly, like all schools. Is the school any good? As in school activities, the area, and student life.
I can’t comment on student life, but I can say that many programs at UCR are very respected. It’s a great university, but what happens in California is that we have several UCs that are among the top 10 public universities in the country. Most states would be happy to have one UC-quality university but not all do. People in CA have the luxury of getting snobby and setting up a hierarchy among the UCs, but with the possible exception of Merced, they are all top universities and offer excellent opportunities for students. Some students like and feel comfortable at UCR, and a great education is available there for those who make the most of it.
@bookguy thank you. Does where I go for undergrad even matter if i go to grad school? Or does prestige not matter and just GPA/what you accomplished in college?
@ImJustaPerson - both matter. When applying to grad school the most important consideration are the different parts of the application (GPA, letters of recommendation, research), but yes, the reputation of the university and/or program can also help. If you go to grad school in a field that requires a grad degree, then the grad degree becomes more important than undergrad work once you are out on the job market.
Are you considering UCR vs. some other university? You have posed two very different questions - is UCR good? yes. Are other universities more prestigious? yes What is the better choice for a student? That depends on the student in relation to a variety of factors. Sometimes a school’s reputation is not the most important consideration.