<p>Ask me anything - I am sophomore - Economics major with a minor in Italian language. I am transferring next year, but for many reasons (Not necessarily because of UCI itself).</p>
<p>why are you transferring</p>
<p>why should I chose UCI (economics) over UCSD (economics) and UCSB (business economics)?</p>
<p>Alicantekid: I am transferring for the following reasons</p>
<ol>
<li>I commute from Chino to Irvine every day to and from (an hour each way roughly) due to my financial situation.</li>
<li>They do not offer an International Affairs/Relations major (they only offer International Studies which is too broad of a major for my liking).</li>
<li>I dont like California weather - I prefer the snow.</li>
<li>I cant stand the typical OC culture/style - everyone seems to love and it is fun, but its just not for me - im more an artsie/indie guy.</li>
</ol>
<p>As of now I am going to NYU as a transfer (they gave me money, woot), but I have yet to decide between the other schools I was accepted to, so eh.</p>
<p>HonkForCookies: I wouldnt choose UCI economics over UCSD economics. UCSD has a far superior economics department than UCI does. Here is why:</p>
<p>The Economics professors that cant find jobs at UCB and UCLA go to UCSD - UCI gets the leftovers. However, it is important to note that UCI has a ton of foreign professors that are prestigious, but not to the level of most top US college professors. </p>
<p>UCSB Business Economics is a joke in my opinion. While they do have great professors (equal to that of UCI for the most part), the curriculum is bland. It is all basic, watered down versions of economics concepts that are made to appeal to the stereotypical frat boy and sorority girl. The one thing I have learned in college is that anything that has to do with "business" (Business major, business economics, etc...) is for the most part a joke. It can only be beneficial if you go to a college that has a presitigious MBA program that can aid in the learning process of undergrads (NYU, UPENN, etc..). If you really want to go into business, pick an industry and double major or minor in the topic. Example: If you want to go into the Bio-Med industry then minor in bio or double major - same goes for Informatics and so on. That way you have a profound understanding of your industry and not just some rules on how to boss your peers around. </p>
<p>Honestly, management techniques and skills are learned through internships and work experience. No school, for the most part, can teach you anything of the sort other than the very basics to business life - why do you think many MBA programs require a minimum of 3 years work experience?</p>
<p>Anyway, if I had the choice, Id choose UCSD. You will have a far more challenging curriculum that can only benefit you. </p>
<p>Remember: the only thing that sets you apart from everyone else is your experience in the work force. A business degree or just an economics degree will get you places, but having that extra minor or major in the industry you want to pursue will put you over the top. Save the business schooling until your MBA - itll be worth it.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you want to read some information on this topic, Business Week has a whole section devoted to the top Undergrad Business Programs - in one of the articles, it clear states that an undergrad business major is redundant if you are going to snag an MBA in the future. Check it out.</p>
<p>Wouldn't the economics curricula at any UC be pretty similar? I mean maybe the professors are more famous at some more than others, but are there a lot of differences between the econ programs (not biz-econ) at the different UCs?</p>
<p>Yeah UCI doesn't have a an IR major. Most school don't actually, but UCI does have polisci with an emphasis in IR (which is what I'm doing). Well it'll just say Political Science on your degree but you can specialize in International Relations. I realize that you already know this and are transfering anyway but just for general FYI for anyone reading. And International Studies is a mix of international type classes, like polisci and more cultural studies type things. Kinda broad like the OP said.</p>
<p>I hope you like NYU, should be fun to live in NYC (bring a sweater tho :)).</p>
<p>Ha, ya, actually im taking a class with Dr. Bach (Poli Sci) - its an International Relations class. The only thing with UCI is that there isnt a major that focuses directly on it. Georgetown on the other hand, has an entire school devoted to the subject and NYU has a simliar honors major devoted to it.</p>
<p>Anyway, as for the Econ - yea, the curriculum is quite different. I have friends at UCR who are way behind relative to UCI. Oh and I was informed that the HONORS Econ kids at UCI are using the text books regular kids use at UCSD, UCLA, and UCB. In other words, UCI honors kids are UCSD, UCB, and UCLA's regular kids. Ouch!</p>
<p>Oh ok. I didn't know there were special honors econ classes at UCI. I figured that to get departmental honors in econ you just needed to do an honors thesis like it is with other majors in the school of social sciences. That's what I'm going to do for polisci. I'll take normal polisci classes but do a thesis with a professor my senior year to graduate with departmental honors in polisci (with an IR emphasis of course).</p>
<p>how much fun did you have at UCI</p>
<p>Well as a commuter student, I didnt do much of anything in terms of parties at UCI since it was just too far drive back home after a long night of partying. But aside from the partying, the clubs I was involved with made things fun. You see, with UCI you need to make your own fun - nothing is going to be handed to you like it would be in smaller, secluded universities (Dartmouth). You have Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Hungtington Beach, Laguna Beach, Orange, etc... - there is SO much to do around UCI and the music scene/culture is second to none for most people. The activities take place off of campus, but that doesnt mean its not campus sponsored. A lot of people have huge drunken bondfires, others go surfing, and even others plan snowboarding trips in the winter (including me). So, without a doubt, UCI can be fun as long as you make it so - just dont sit on your butt and expect opportunities to knock at your door.</p>
<p>is it easy to meet chicks? if so where can u meet them?</p>
<p>"Anyway, as for the Econ - yea, the curriculum is quite different. I have friends at UCR who are way behind relative to UCI. Oh and I was informed that the HONORS Econ kids at UCI are using the text books regular kids use at UCSD, UCLA, and UCB. In other words, UCI honors kids are UCSD, UCB, and UCLA's regular kids. Ouch!"</p>
<p>ehh...I don't think this statement holds true. Econ 121 and 123 series are "honors" series but any regular econ student at UCI can take the course. Sure we've got H100 series but it's not any harder than regular 100 series. In addition to 120 and 123, you basically have to write a research paper as well.</p>
<p>Ya but the Econ honors students use separate books. For example: Bocolod's 110B class (honors) was required to use a completely separate textbook. While the classes may be the same in terms of lecture (for both regular and honors kids), what is expected of the honors kids varies. Either way, it just goes to show you that our honors kids are pretty much regular kids just with dif. books - not saying much for UCI econ majors.</p>
<p>Oh, and as for chics (for the guy above) - its how it is everywhere - go to parties. Otherwise, youre doomed. Ha!</p>
<p>Check out clubs too - thats the best way to really meet people. You can also try the "hey" while passing people on Ring Road. </p>
<p>Honestly, meeting chics at UCI is the same as it would be everywhere in my opinion.</p>
<p>is it easy, specifically at uci, to attend/know about parties, if you are living at home?</p>
<p>Do you know anybody taking Criminology atm? How was it?</p>
<p>TheRipCurl1969: Well, I live at home and go to UCI and I havent found a problem finding out about parties. Its really easy to know about them because the Frats and Sororities are always flyering for them around campus. You are guaranteed to receive at least one flyer a day (or just about that much). So, in short, youll always know about the frat and sorority parties.</p>
<p>Kaii: Ya, I have two friends taking Crim right now and they love it. They say its challenging, but hey, thats what you get from a #5 ranked Crim major <em>I think its 5</em>. I believe the last US News and World Report ranking put UCI in the top five for Crim - it was above UPENN - I know that for a fact - now thats pretty awesome.</p>
<p>In addition to that - UCI ranked 2nd - you heard me, 2nd in Literary Theory (i think that was the category). Apparently we have an incredible English department - but I digress.</p>
<p>^oh awesome! and how tight is the campus security about drinking? not too familiar with this issue. if they hear about a party will they try to stop it or are they cool knowing we are college students and as long as we dont do anything stupid they wont care?</p>
<p>What were your highschool scores/GPA/SAT?
Does UCI look for AP classes/count AP Art as an extracurricular/well rounded thing?
How easy/hard is it to enter UCI [in your opinion]? </p>
<p>Is the Chinese Language Department alright as well?</p>
<p>how dead is the school on weekends?</p>
<p>Man, this thread is taking off!</p>
<p>RipCurl: Well, I never dormed at UCI so I dont for sure how security goes, but I do know that the RAs are usually leniant about drinking. I have some friends that had jerk RAs that would always try to break things up. The best thing to do is keep it discrete - as long as its kept at that, then nobody will bother you! For the real parties, just go to the Greek stuff.</p>
<p>Kaii: My high school stuff was pretty bad. GPA: 3.67, SAT 1180 (thats what I sent to them, I retook it after the fact and got a 1280, but whatev) - I was accepted to UCSB, UCI, UCR (and rejected from UCB, UCLA, UCSD, NYU, and Dartmouth). I had three 3 scores on AP and one 4. So as you can see, I wasnt the best (i screwed around a lot). As for looking at AP - yes, UCI and most UCs will look at your APs but not necessarily at your scores. I have been told that they focus on your willingness to challenge yourself - so as long as you have some APs then it gives them the impression that youre serious about college.</p>
<p>I have no information on the Chinese department, sorry. If its anything like the rest of the languages at UCI then it should be good.</p>
<p>Integra: Well, ive only been on campus during the weekend a couple of times and, yes, its dead. There arent a whole lot of people doing anything ON campus - everyone will usually be at the beach, at Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza (malls for you non-socal people), skating around town, or having Starcraft Lan wars in their dorms. As I said earlier, a lot of the activites take place around the surrounding areas which are all accessible by public transportation (plus, im sure youll meet friends that have cars). </p>
<p>When the new Student Center is completed in 2007, you guys will have a lot more to do on campus - that place is supposed to be awesome.</p>
<p>What were your extracurriculars?
What did you minor in?</p>