Personal Questions about UCI

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
1

<p>Hi everyone! I have been reading these forums for over a week now everyday, and I did not yet register because I was not sure if I would get in to UCI. Well, I just did today, so I have many questions that I am hoping students who go to the school can answer for me.</p>

<p>I am the first one going to college, so excuse me if my questions are ones that everyone should know. ^_^;</p>

<li><p>If I had two C-'s last semester as a senior, one in Spanish IV IB (so I guess it technically counts as a B-), and one in Adv. Algebra II Trigonometry, will that put into jeopardy my place at UCI? I was in a serious car accident earlier this year, and my grades fell because of it, so I am hoping that (a) they don’t care if you had some C’s, or (b) if they do care, they will listen to why. What do you think?</p></li>
<li><p>Do I HAVE to dorm with someone else? I am one of three brothers - I need my privacy. :stuck_out_tongue: What are my chances of being able to get a single one?</p></li>
<li><p>Which place, holding that #1 does not kill my chances, is the best to have a dorm out of the many places UCI offers? I want a quiet place, close to campus. I am undeclared, so I was accepted to the Division of Undergraduate Education.</p></li>
<li><p>Do the individual dorms (the rooms you sleep in) have showers, ovens, etc? Or is it a common one that people have to share (I need a private shower too!)</p></li>
<li><p>I have a laptop. Do the rooms have the yellow network connection thing or wireless access? If so, can people monitor what you are downloading (such as videos, music, etc.?)</p></li>
<li><p>I have heard that in college, you have more free time, less homework, and generally, everything is easier (probably especially after the IB program here). What is a Freshman’s schedule generally like? What is recommended? How hard is UCI compared to high school?</p></li>
<li><p>How close are teachers to their students? Will they know my name?</p></li>
<li><p>How far is UCI from the Atrium Hotel (It’s by the John Wayne Airport)? :D</p></li>
<li><p>I can eat my own food… right? I don’t need to go to a cafeteria or anything? The food I like requires a fridge and a microwave.</p></li>
<li><p>What can I do for fun on the campus? I like Pokemon and Anime. Do they have any clubs for these kinds of things? From reading this forum over the past week, I already spotted some people I know from the Pokemon community going to UCI, so I am sure some few others are wondering the same thing. :D</p></li>
</ol>

<p>That’s it for now… Thank you for reading! :)</p>

2

<p>I think that most UCs do care about C-s and Bs, but they listen to why. I had a D in math, but I was still accepted to UCD.</p>

<p>UCI is 10 min away from the airport.</p>

<p>Wait, are you a member of PokeCommunity? :O What's your username? If not, just ignore me.... x) I couldn't find if there was an anime club or something, but maybe you can so here's the link... <a href="http://search.dos.uci.edu/organizations/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://search.dos.uci.edu/organizations/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

3

<p>This is from a mom's perspective, so take it all as you'd like:</p>

<p>Most of the time colleges understand if there is a surprise in one's life and there is ahrdship that can explain a grade problem. I'd certainly advise that you raise your grades this semester, though, so you can show that you are back on track. (This is no guarantee, though; you should contact the school and explain soon, so that you are clear on it all.)</p>

<p>Our child moved to a single during her freshman year, mid-year. I don't know, due to how crowded the campus is, if you can still have a single, but they were offered during her year in the dorm. (It was thought that a roomie would be nice, but that opinion changed after the other roommate threw up one too many times all over the floor after getting drunk.)</p>

<p>For a quiet place you can see which dorms are more studious. I know our child found the arts specific dorm was quite noisy.</p>

<p>If you want a private shower you need to find a different school! The bathrooms aren't IN your room. At least not the ones I've seen. The dorms I saw did have a kitchen in the middle of the common area. </p>

<p>I believe students are to agree to the policy of no illegal downloads. I know at the universities where I teach that's the case. I understand the internet connection is a good one, but I've not actually used it.</p>

<p>Yes, you have more time. Some find their classes easier than high school. Some don't. But you are definitely on your own and held responsible for everything. No excuses. I'll let students answer the rest of that one.</p>

<p>At the schools where I work large classes mean instructors won't know you unless you make the effort. They also don't usually warn you if you are failing. Unless you ask. Best advice: ask professors if you have a problem. They have office hours. Use the. </p>

<p>Can't answer the Atrium Hotel question without doing the homework you could do: just plug the two addresses into google maps and check it out! :-)</p>

<p>You can eat your own food ... if no one else eats it first! </p>

<p>Students can answer #10.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful. Do keep in mind that I'm a parent not a student ... just trying to help out!</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>I dont think they care if you have c's as long as you have a weighted 3.0. They only have a problem if you get d's or f's, which you have to report to them. Even if you HAVE a d or f.. most of the times.. they let you retake the class over the summer.</p></li>
<li><p>I went to one of the housing tours today.. and one person asked the same question.. its really hard to get a single room.. unless you have a handicap.. but it doesnt hurt to try (put it on your housing application.)</p></li>
<li><p>I'm not sure which one is better.. but a lot of people on this forum suggest mesa court</p></li>
<li><p>They dont have individual showers.. you have to share. </p></li>
<li><p>i have nooo clue if they moniter what you dload.. but they do have internet connections in rooms</p></li>
</ol>

<p>6,7,8. dont go there yet.. so nooo clue</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I think they make you buy food plans from them (not too sure though.. maybe someone else from the forum can answer this for you)</p></li>
<li><p>have no idea</p></li>
</ol>

5

<p>My grades are up this semester. They only went down last semester because of the car crash. I didn't explain any of that in the application, though, since I did not want to make excuses before I even got there. XD</p>

<p>Do I have to report Cs to UCI? I thought the policy was you only report Ds and below. If I don't report it, will I get in trouble?</p>

<p>NO PRIVATE BATHROOM??!? WHAT?!?! Oh, that stinks. People don't know how to aim into a toiler in public restrooms - I am going to have to sterilize the entire bathroom before I use it. XD</p>

<p>Please tell me there is cable TV at UCI. I need my Cartoon Network, Spike TV, and CNN. :p</p>

<p>I don't just go to PokeCommunity. I am the webmaster of pokebeach.com. :p</p>

<p>Thank you to both of you for your help! Any further help would be appreciated from anyone!</p>

6

<p>Selina-</p>

<p>I have probably a little under a 4.0 weighted GPA - maybe a 3.5 at the very, very, very least. I thought they did only care about Ds and Fs, which was confirmed to me by you, so I am happy I probably will not have to report those two bad grades I had.</p>

<p>Can my handicap be that I cannot concentrate with another human being in the room and that even the harddrive on my laptop spinning makes me so irritated that I cannot accomplish anything involving the mind? :p Surely they must understand that some people just cannot live with others.</p>

<p>You said that we have to share showers, but what about bathrooms? Do the rooms have bathrooms? :D</p>

7

<p>You only have to report D's and F's and maintain a 3.0 wtd g.p.a. </p>

<p>This is what the "Freshman contract" Says:</p>

<p>-Receive a high school diploma or equivalency.
-Complete all senior-year courses as listed on your application.
-Your senior-year GPA in UC-approved courses must be at least 3.00.
-If you receive a D or F grade in any A-G or college course in your senior year, notify the Admissions Office immediately in writing and submit a copy of your grade report or transcript.</p>

<p>so no, I don't think you will get into trouble.</p>

8

<p>So they will not remove me from UCI if I have a couple of Cs, yet still maintain higher than a 3.0? They will only possibly remove me if I have any Ds or do not maintain a 3.0?</p>

<p><em>is just worried</em></p>

9

<p>Jon, the harsh reality is that you'll have to get used to living with others. That means shared rooms, bathrooms, study sessions, etc.</p>

<p>Don't worry you'll adjust to it. We're good people!</p>

10

<p>Are you sure that none of you guys are psychos, weirdos, diseased, or murderers? :p</p>

<p>How often does UCI have some sort of crime or murder? :D</p>

11

<p>I heard UCI is a very safe city to live in from a friend who lives in Irvine.</p>

12

<p>Irvine is the number one safest city in America... which should mean that it's pretty safe, haha.</p>

13

<p>All UC's do not tolerate ANY illegal downloading. If you do it even once you will be caught and could have your internet connection suspended. If you do it again your internet is terminated. You can even be kicked out of the dorms for illegal downloads. Don't do it! Are there any suite style dorms at UCI? I know at UCD there are and you have a semi private bathroom (just you and your roomate) share along with the added bonus of a common room. You can definately have a microwave and small refrigerator in your room, but get a meal plan too, you will use it.</p>

14

<p>I thought Thousand Oaks was. :p</p>

<p>Sounds good, then. I, however, refuse to share a room with someone who does not like Pokemon or Anime, since those are the only things I like. If the person I dorm with does not have these interests, I will have nothing to talk about, lol.</p>

<p>I think I am the one coming off as a weirdo here...</p>

15

<p>Congratulations on the acceptance. Well, I?m a student at UCI right now and I have answers for all your questions.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Cs don?t matter. As an IB class you are entitled an extra point, hence the B-. There are no differences between B-, B, and B+ so you?re in good shape. Just have a 3.0 weighted.</p></li>
<li><p>Chances of getting a single is low. Don?t count on it</p></li>
<li><p>If you want a quiet place, try Mesa Court and pick academic excellence (though picking academic excellence halls is not dependable). If you want close proximity, pick Middle Earth.</p></li>
<li><p>You share bathrooms with 2 of each bathroom item with about 8-12 people. The kitchens are shared by the entire dorm of 60-80 people. They are barely used though.</p></li>
<li><p>The rooms will have a wall jack for your Ethernet cables to plug into. Dorms do not have wireless yet. I?m pretty sure UCI doesn?t monitor what you download, but they do monitor how much you download.</p></li>
<li><p>Normally freshmans take one less class from a normal load. The difficulty is very subjective and noone can answer that question for you particularly. You MIGHT have less hw and more free time in one class, but you would need to devote that free time to studying the subject instead. You?ll see when you get on campus. Take a community college class over the summer to see the style of college classes.</p></li>
<li><p>Professors of large classes will not know names unless you go and talk to them. For smaller classes, there is a chance they will learn your names. I think upper-division courses will make you closer to your professors. </p></li>
<li><p>UCI is literally about 5 stoplights away from John Wayne Airport.</p></li>
<li><p>You can go buy food at a nearby place if you want. The dining commons is paid for in your housing bill so you?d be wasting money not going. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided in the kitchen. However, you should get your own for convenience.</p></li>
<li><p>UCI should have clubs for Anime somewhere. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>WPM_Jon, I can already see you are very new to the college deal. Be prepared to be shocked and run into many problems. The college life is going to be a very big experience for you. Be careful.</p>

16

<p><a href="http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#25%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#25&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>...or one of the safest, haha. </p>

<p>College is a place where you meet people who are different to you, welcome it with open arms. x)</p>

17

<p>I also have a question, and this might bug some people. its about the social life there and from all the negativity ive been hearing, it seems to be a drag. Well i no there has to be SOME parties around, but my questions is, is it more of a Kick back place? (Which i would prefer over some parties)</p>

18

<p>Yes, UCI is more of a chill campus.</p>

19

<p>So there really is no chance of getting my own room? Even if I tell them that any little noise throws off my concentration?</p>

<p>If I /have/ to have a person in my dorm, it can be a friend from high school, right?</p>

<p>And thank you all for your help so far! I really appreciate it!</p>

20

<p>jas0n, u seem to be a UCI fan and seem to be residing there currently. What are ur personal views towards this place. Pros and Cons if u will...</p>