Question and Answer Session

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Riverside
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<p>Introduction:
I currently attend the University of California, Riverside and I enjoy being there. I'm going to be a second year, planning to major in Business Administration (in pre-business now because there are requisites you need to do before applying in the major). </p>

<p>Now I surfed on this forum when I tried to help a friend search for something related to SIR and UCR. I read all the posts and realized instantly that UCR is still being bashed/dissed by non-insightful comments</p>

<p>Let me ask you this, "How do they know how UCR is if they have not attended the school?" </p>

<p>Are their criticisms from an informed source? I would say, no.</p>

<p>There are MANY goodies coming to UCR but I am not going to type it unless the situation calls for it because it IS a lot. </p>

<p>Background information:
I applied to 4 UC's 1 1/2 years ago. UCLA, UCSD, UCI, and UCR.
Sometimes I wonder why my year (C/O 2004)had the lowest acceptance rates ever (half joking, but it was pretty low). They made up for that this year by accepting a WHOLE LOT more. </p>

<p>Anyways, I got accepted to UCSD, UCI, and UCR. Yet.. why did I choose UCR? The main reason is the Major of Business Administration. Only 2 UC schools offer it, and its UCB and UCR. Second reason, I wanted to help make something out of UCR. I wanted to see the least amount of people from my HS and start anew. </p>

<p>Those that did "chose" UCR, not because it was your "last" choice, Congraduations! I will be seeing you during Orientation and the rest of your Undergraduate studies. </p>

<p>Now I leave the rest of this thread for your questions and comments and I'll answer them promptly when possible. I'm a student staff member of UCR so I'll inform you to the extent of my knowledge. </p>

<hr>

<p>I realize that it is a bit late to post this but this thread may be useful for the next class as a reference to UCR as I'll check back once people start applying to UC's and getting their results back.</p>

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<p>Is it true that the grading curve is very generous for good students? How dangerous is it to walk around in Riverside? Is it really as boring as people say? Why do you think UCR is bashed so much? Have you read the posts by Stayoutofriverside? Take a look at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=42104%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=42104&lt;/a> and tell me what you think....</p>

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<p>"Why do you think UCR is bashed so much?"</p>

<p>Well, you can blame the industrial revolution and all the good stuff that. All that industrial waste gets trapped in the valley. Yup, Riverside. Even though there's smog; I haven't met a single person that is literally about to die from it. Most people that complain about the air quality at Riverside are from Norcal since they have this "pride" in them to state that they are from there.</p>

<p>To the point: Yeah, there's smog-there's smog all around L.A. but you can live and people "do" end up liking the area. </p>

<p>Why is Riverside bashed on all the time? - Well its been bashed on for a long time now and much like smoking, it's hard to quit. The UCR joke(s) have come up SO many times that there really isnt a way to stop it except to let time take it's course. </p>

<p>Another reason may be because we need to meet a certain quota of students; which relates to the high acceptance rates. Because we are the least funded of the UC schools. Most of our funds come from other sources. Enrollment is currently only at 17,104. We're projecting an 21,000 enrollment by 2010. Also by 2010, UCR campus would be renovated like no other. It's ridiculous how much more beautiful the Riverside campus is going to be. </p>

<hr>

<p>"Is it true that the grading curve is very generous for good students?"</p>

<p>What is a good student? From High School? But to answer your question, No - Many students there struggle, especially in their Science classes. My first year at UCR, there has not been a single class I've taken that had a "generous" curve. </p>

<p>Many of our CNAS (Science Majors) students have much difficulty in getting that "A" in their classes because the professor makes the class hard. If you attend a UC, you know that green Biology book? Yes, that one. Do you know who wrote it? A professor at UCR.</p>

<p>Those grades are extremely imporant for students trying to enter our BioMed Program w/ UCLA Med School. Instead of the traditional 8 years it takes to graduate (undergrad and med), you can do it in 7! During their freshmen year, the BioMed program acceptes 300 students, only 24 students MAX get accepted to the program every year. It's extremely competitive but we send more to the UCLA Med school than any other school, even their own!</p>

<hr>

<p>"Is it really as boring as people say?"</p>

<p>UCR, no - Any college in the U.S. or even the world is what you make of it. There could be a bunch of programs for students available but it's up to the students to actually push themselves to go. </p>

<p>"How dangerous is it to walk around in Riverside?"
As dangerous as any other city. At any time, hundreds of students visit our University Village which is kind of off campus but within a short walking distance from the University. Seriously, the situations given are blown out of proportion. Problems arise in any neighborhood. </p>

<p>But how dangerous is it to walk around UCR? Not dangerous at all. If you do feel that you need someone to walk with. We have a free campus escort service which is powered by students that will walk with you from a mile radius from the school. You can call from any building as the red phones only go to our campus escort service from dusk to midnight. Past midnight, our UCPD services kick in to take up the escorting. </p>

<hr>

<p>"Have I read StayoutofRiverside's posts?" Well now I have. </p>

<p>Like many of the reponders there, they either try to stop the disrespect/bashing and there are those who bandwagon along. </p>

<p>UCR is not ranked as high as other UC's but what does the rank actually say? Who makes the ranks? Certainly not the students. Have you ever wondered why the top schools on US News are Private, why they produce really good grades? It is because that some (of course not all) are paid for. Yes, because it's a private school, there aren't regulations that a typical government University has to stand by. The whole class at a school could fail, yet they could get all A's. </p>

<hr>

<p>Random Facts:</p>

<p>Well if you're REALLY into Biology or Science related courses. Our professors and faculty at one year have had more AAAS Fellows than Harvard! We currently have a total of 69 UCR faculty members in the AAAS making us one of the top in the nation.</p>

<p>We're #1 in the nation for per capita research publications. So that translates to we are first in the nation for faculty productivty.</p>

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<p>What is the AAAS?</p>

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<p>AAAS stands for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"The American Association for the Advancement of Science, ”Triple A-S” (AAAS), is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities, AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide."</p>

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<p>Which dorms do you suggest staying in?</p>

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<p>It's not to my judgement to suggest which dorm to stay in. I can offer some perceptions of each dorm and their quality but each dorm has their own uniqueness to them. </p>

<p>Our Reshall names all derive from Scottish background. Their names are, Aberdeen-Inverness, Lothian, and Pentland Hills respectively. </p>

<p>A-I, is our oldest dorm, it gives residence to 900 students max. It has it's own dining facility and there's a real "chill" feel there. Everyone is open and has the typical dorm feel.</p>

<p>Our Lothian residents will be split into two sections. West Lothian (West Lo) and East Lothian (EastLo). East and West Lothian both use the same facilities and you have access in both levels minus the door that leads to rooms. East Lo is the newer of the two and it is where I stayed (woot woot!). East and West Lo too will offer the typical dorm setup with a centralized bathroom. Though I heard that West Lo is more "open" than East Lo in terms of being social. Residence max is 1000 students.</p>

<p>Anyways, Pentland Hills is our newest addition to our on-campus housing. It gives residence to 1154 students. It has a suite style feel to it. A building (building names go from A-N) is broken open to 4 wings and each wing alternates in sex. Each wing then houses about 8 students and has 2 individual bathrooms and 2 individual showers to give the closer feel than a typical dorm hall. Pentland Residents usually go to other dorms to relax and hang out because Pentland is kind of secluded. </p>

<p>All three reshalls feature computer labs, study lounges, convenience stores (open late at night), TV rooms, Pool tables, an exercise room, and more. Special study groups and tutoring are also offered. </p>

<hr>

<p>Our newest addition to our residence halls will be Arroyo Apartments which will be situated next to Pentland Hills (all 3 current residences are close together). It's suppose to come online for the 2007 school year and we'll start to break ground around the end of this year. This place is going to be PIMPED OUT to say. Much information has not been released but I saw the projected look and its just awesome; it'll cost $50 million to construct. It's a 3 story building made to look like it'll have 2 stories and it'll have it's own little area for food and well it'll just be great :0).</p>

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<p>OH! I should add that our dorm food is being REVAMPED THIS SUMMER! Each cafeteria will specialize in a variety of foods. No more traditional all-you-can-eat.</p>

<p>Kitches will have no walls.</p>

<p>Everything is prepared FRESH! In front of you!
FIRST OF IT'S KIND IN THE WORLD!</p>

<p>It's going to be interesting how things will work out :).</p>

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<p>nxs,
even though I'm goign to UCLA, i never bashed UCR because really, most people here think any school that isn't in the top 50 is "bad". i did visit UCR and besides the smell, i thought it was a awesome campus and school. I thank you and respect for actually representing and defending UCR. You should post this in the college selection, college admissions ,and parents forum so people can really know UCR the real way</p>

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<p>Hey rExRuN!</p>

<p>I can probably guess that horrendous smell that you encountered during your visit. I believe in the early spring or end of winter, there's this tree, no, over 20 trees give out this stentch that is just rotten. I won't go into detail of what it smells like but it's just bad. </p>

<p>Regardless, thanks for your comments and suggestions. I gave a quick glance at those boards and found that if I posted, it would seem a bit off topic. It's hard to convince people who already have the ideal of "bad" in them. It would be a waste of time essentially. I can only hope that new students will log on this forum and view this discussion; then have a much more broader look upon this campus than being close minded and going with the flow.</p>

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<p>I am one of the only incoming freshman who posts...</p>

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<p>Oh really? So when are you attending Bear Facts? I hope early :) so you get the better selection of the classes.</p>

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<p>July 14-15</p>

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<p>Maybe you should put one of your positive posts on this site.....<a href="http://www.studentsreview.com/CA/UCRV_c.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentsreview.com/CA/UCRV_c.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Do you have a major planned? and where are you from?</p>

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<p>Electrical Engineering... I am from norcal..</p>

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<p>Is it true that some res. halls are more social then others?</p>

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<p>Yes, of course. It varies from what kind of people are placed in your hall. Any hall could have the potential to be social, it's just up to them to make it as that. </p>

<p>Word of mouth goes that A&I is the most social, then follows Lothian and Pentland.</p>

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<p>Hey, I'm going to Bear Facts on those days too. Haha, this is crazy, especially since I found this site on accident.</p>

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<p>Wow :) See you guys tomorrow then. I get parents tomorrow but you'll see me around. My name is raymond.</p>