Rant/Rave from a 2nd year UCM Student

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Merced
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<p>Hey guys, I've been lurking around this forum for a few weeks and would like to address a few issues. A lot of the posts here tend to belittle UCM, as well as the city of Merced. I would like to set a few of those issues straight, plus I have a few issues of my own. </p>

<p>First and foremost of these issues is off-campus housing. I have read a few reports on this forum that the off campus housing situation is dismal and that you could end up living "in the ghetto". This is the furthest you could get from the truth. Merced has tons of brand new homes that locals actually cant afford to live in. These homes are usually rented out to students. I myself am paying $320 a month for a room in a five bedroom, three bath house. The house was built two years ago, and I am a bike ride away from school (it's 5.9 miles from the hill.) If you want to check the facts ask about the "Bellevue or El Redondo" houses. </p>

<p>Another issue is the quality of education at UCM. I'll level with you here: I did have a chemistry TA that had no idea what he was doing... absolutely incompetent. He was fired. UC Merced would not allow sub-rate teachers to stay for very long. They can afford to fire incompetent faculty if they wish. That said, my lecturers were absolute geniuses, and my biology class was genuinely one of the hardest and most rewarding classes I have ever taken. People complained about that same class, saying that the teacher was bad and they didn't get the material, etc, but I'd like to argue that the students just were not working hard enough. College level courses are not going to hold your hand for you, and if you decide to go to a rager (party) the day before you have a lecture, you won't absorb the material! These classes require hard, concentrated studying, or you will not learn; nor will you pass. </p>

<p>The food: it's awful. UCM food is the godawful slop that ended up on a plate. Let me put it this way: if you do not work out while you are attending UCM, you will put the pounds on. It's straight up gnarly. My advice: go to the Raley's that's exactly three miles down the road (down Lake and Yosemite) and buy some fruit, cereal, milk, and sandwich materials. The food is bad, or it was last year. End of story. </p>

<p>Parties. When I first entered my freshman year at UCM, I was struck by how into partying everyone was. I don't mean "normal college partying". I mean straight up Chico style beer chugging vodka gulping madness, with 150 people packed in a five bedroom house, vibrating the windows with the noise. To tell the truth, I thought I was in heaven at the time. I'll save you the trouble and just say it outright: if you party UCM style every other night like half of the students here, you will gain tons of weight, be unhappy, fail classes, and feel stupid. It almost happened to me. DO NOT rage like crazy if you want to do well. I'm not telling you not to party, but the average student here overdoes it, for reasons illustrated next. </p>

<p>Merced can be a bit of a ghost town, so a lot of people drink and do other drugs. The truth of the matter is, Merced is good if you are not into the urban life. Yosemite is a few hours drive away, there are hiking trails in Stanislaus, in winter there's decent skiing in Badger Pass, and you can always join a club! It's true that the school sort of neglects student activities, but I'd argue that it's the students job to make things to do. We've been given a blank slate, and the UC is always willing to throw down money for activities. </p>

<p>Something wonderful, truly great about Merced is the close knit community of students that comes from the small atmosphere. I have made better friends in one year than I could have at UCLA in three! I was extremely pleased with the attitude upperclassmen took towards freshmen: excitement for the most part. People here really are genuinely glad to have you there, in their house, hanging out with them. It's very gratifying and makes you feel very comfortable. </p>

<p>There's more, but I'm all ranted out. All of that said, is there anyone around here interested in playing club water polo at UC Merced? I'm kind of in charge of the team, and we want as many people as possible so we can establish ourselves. (Once we find a freakin pool that is :/) </p>

<p>Thanks you guys
Scruffy</p>

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<p>Quick question, on average how many hours did you study a day, and how well did you do in your classes? From your post, you seem like a pretty good student.</p>

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<p>So, these "parties" are they just drinking or do ppl actually dance?
On our first night at school there is going to be a party from 8-12. Since you have already experienced this "party" what's going to happen and what's it like?</p>

<p>I think Merced being a ghost town is a huge advantage then all the other UC's because there's more time to study. On the other hand, this could be a huge disadvantage in light of: because there's nothing to do then UCM students will study. But, as for other UC's, there are things to do and other UC students still study. I suppose it all depends on the student.</p>

<p>Go Bobcats!????</p>

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<p>Hmmm...</p>

<p>I know you didn't address the question to me, but I received a 3.5 gpa for both semesters last year and didn't really study on a daily basis.
However, I did go to lectures, pay attention in class, do the projects, and started studying at least two to three weeks before a major test (midterms and finals).</p>

<p>It is easier to learn as you go, rather than cram at the last minute.</p>

<p>However, I kinda did both.
I learned what I could in lectures and studied the more complicated stuff a few weeks before a major test. It seemed much easier that way.</p>