To the UCR bashers...bash this.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Riverside
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<p>I got admitted to R as a transfer in the BusAdmin major. You guys are right. After visiting the place I got the sense of disregard and lack of initiative. I went in the afternoon on a weekday and the campus and dorms were pretty much dead. The libraries were very sparsely occupied with the majority of students not studying but rather looking for a place to socialize - in the library of all places. Marijuana seemed to be the popular substitute to books.</p>

<p>The campus seems pretty unkempt and the architecture wasn't very inspiring. In fact the whole UCR scene is rather uninspiring. The students I met weren't the brightest people, nor did they have any demeanor of potential. And when talking to them, I could see in their eyes that they were silently screaming for me to get them the hell out of there. To them, college wasn't a learning opportunity, but rather a dreary process that was supposed to deliver them to greener fields. UCR quickly dispelled this myth and they were left there waiting for the rescue boats. Hence the descriptions of "disregard" and a "lack of initiative." In a place where the herd mentality reigns supreme, it's hard not to be drawn into the Riverside abyss of apathy and helplessness. </p>

<p>There really isn't much here to do except study, and "who in their right mind would want to do that? I mean you're only in college." Not a lot of self-motivated research going on here. I felt like I was on a high school campus. Kids don't really come to UCR to learn, they come here to be conferred a degree and then jet. If school spirit or campus participation are important to you, look elsewhere.</p>

<p>Pentland was OK but just because a building is nice, doesn't make its inhabitants any more sophisticated than they already are. </p>

<p>Then when reading most of the posts of UCR students defending their school against the bashers, I regret even more that I didn't commit more time and effort in applying to another school. Not the brightest of the lot here. I'm not going to name names but some of your guys' rebuttals were an insult to yourself, even when you were trying to defend your own intellect. I mean even humility warrants respect, but to continue with an argument that you obviously lost a mile back...</p>

<p>You might be the brightest in your family or neighborhood, but that doesn't really say much. Especially when the majority of the student population comes from a low income background. And I got the sense that these kids didn't really value a degree or an education. I've met my fair share of UCR students and alumni and they really don't go anywhere. In fact I know a guy who enlisted in the military a year or so short of graduating. How does that even register? And a lot of students have likened their experience to "4 more years of high school" rather than a college one.</p>

<p>But this is just a superficial opinion based on only a few of the many factors that a university consists of. However, from an objective perspective (mine), the school is barely hanging on. </p>

<p>The financial figures show that UCR gets the least of government funding in the UC system by a large amount, and I found this on the UCR website. A school on its knees trying to increase enrollment to compensate for the lack of funding. How in the world did they miss this? I'm sure prospective applicants really want to see that your school is getting the butt end of taxpayer money. And if these applicants have an IQ greater than that of mayo, they'll realize more money equals better quality faculty, facilities, and just a better college experience in general. Good going UCR, you just dropped yourself 20 spots in the rankings.</p>

<p>When you go to the website, when you go through the orientation, whatever you do, it's all an act - if you already didn't know it. They just want you to sign the contracts, pay, and then they drop you and look for more money. Can't say much about the faculty, but I'm sure it's nothing great - the quality is probably at the level just sufficient enough to keep the funding coming. </p>

<p>Now my point:</p>

<p>I know as many, if not more UCLA students than I do from UCR. And I can say that there really is no difference except the typical UCLA student is fatter than the typical UCR student. Might be the dorm food but other than that, there really is nothing separating the two. Both are of equal intellect (stupid) and both really have no idea what they're going to do after college, or how they can apply their degree to a career. I also know two guys from Berkeley, both are also the same. One just graduated and sits at home doing nothing. The other is of mediocre intellect and only got a job because of his degree. I know USC students who should've stayed another year in high school. </p>

<p>What I'm saying is that there really is no concrete difference between these schools. Sure, the numbers might say different, but I'm speaking to you guys from personal experience. Which of you can honestly say that you know what goes on in the process of calculating said numbers? Who knows what kind of politics go into an multi-billion dollar industry like the college industry? So don't believe all the numbers. Believe me.</p>

<p>Ok, there may be some differences. One is that UCR gets bashed on a lot and this affects its students by making them feel inferior to those from other, more well-regarded schools. In turn they keep their mouths shut from contributing to the campus or society due to a lack of confidence and because they are afraid that they'll manifest the claims made about them. But I've met kids from UCLA and they aren't the brightest people, but they have this air of superiority that comes with their alma mater. This gives them the confidence to speak their mind because "I graduated from UCLA and so I know what I'm talking about." This rings true for USC as well. You'd be amazed at the types of people I've met at SC. It's a private school, so they commit a lot more money into enrollment compared to the UC schools. </p>

<p>So I'll be going to UCR not because it's such a great school, but because I like to root for the underdog. I like to hear success stories from those that came from the bottom. And in this case, UCR seems to be from there. I've done the research, and as a BusAdmin major, all the resources I need to get where I want to go are there. It doesn't really matter where you went to school, because in the working world, your actions speak for itself. Why do you think companies conduct interviews? It's not like they just sit there with you talking about how great your school was.</p>

<p>Some more stuff:</p>

<p>The UCLA campus is huge, which is why they get better funding. You also have to consider all the research facilities on the LA campus that also run on school money. I chose UCR because I don't want to walk a mile to class everyday. </p>

<p>The reputations of schools seem to perpetuate themselves. Meaning, a smart kids would rather go to a "smart" school over a "dumb" one. Which is why certain schools can constantly associate themselves with notable alumni and others with McDonald's employees. Companies pick up on this and might take it into consideration when hiring somebody. So the bias does exist but it is not universal. </p>

<p>UCR has all the standard amenities and resources that any high-class institution should have. It's up to you to find them and milk them for everything they're worth. But most of you just sit on your ass and complain wanting everything handed to you on a silver platter. The value is not in the degree, it's in the journey - the education.</p>

<p>What you learn is more important than what a piece of paper says. Do you think managers are idiots who'll hire anyone who graduated from a prestigious school? </p>

<p>Ok I know this post was super long and unorganized but I spoke my peace and hopefully I have given you, the reader, something of worth. If I wasted your time, then feel free to bash on my entry or add to it. I don't really care.</p>

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<p>Some of the points you presented reflect my reasoning for giving UCR a chance. Still other points reflect why I sometimes dread going to the school.</p>

<p>I've decided that it was just anxiety that made me doubt UCR. Although I really don't have a direction right now, I've assessed what I'm interested in and I know that UCR can help me steer myself in that direction.</p>

<p>I also realize that it will take a great deal of work to achieve this- however, this is typical at any college. What it comes down to is how much am I willing to work in order to meet my goals. Barring any hinderance that UCR may present, I think I can succeed there.</p>

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<p>I skimmed it. No comment until I know when your visit was and are you currently attending the school now or just recently admitted?</p>

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<p>and where do the majority of grads get hired for business. I have looked and looked but never found anything. I have only heard about a so called crappy career center</p>

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<p>Yea the career center is pretty much ***** but you don't get hired just because you got a degree. You have to take the first steps to "looking for a job" like most other human beings. The degree is just to get your foot into the door. Most of the hiring process rides on your resume and interview.</p>

<p>Depending on your field of study, recruiters from related industries will come to the campus and sort of "draft" prospectives they feel meet their company standards. You go to these school-held events, hand them a resume, schmooze a little, and get your name out. Then they might throw you an internship or tell you they'll keep in touch. It's really not that hard.</p>

<p>And although the UCR career center isn't monster.com, they do hold such events and, yes, there are many who find excellent jobs this way. It's all out there for the students. It's just that most students think it's "lame" and "ineffective." Well they can think whatever they like but that's how most schools, including USC, UCLA, and Cal, send their students into the working world - through career fairs. The career center is there for YOU GUYS. They may be @ssholes at the front desk, but I've called them MANY MANY times and I haven't even started school yet. They've been the nicest people and I got the feeling that they're bored out of their minds there because none of the students are really putting them to work. THEY WANT TO HELP YOU and they have all the resources to do so.</p>

<p>Another option is to join a fraternity or student organization related to your field. I'm not talking about rushing so you can get some tail and pound brews. I mean organizations like Beta Alpha Psi (business frat) or the Math society and so on. Take for instance, BAPsi. More big name accounting, finance, and investment firms hire BApsi members than through any other college-related resource, nationwide. I'm talking about your Morgan-Stanley's, your Big 4 accounting firms, these are high paying jobs that people ALL OVER THE GLOBE are vying for. And they are most easily accessible to the college graduate whether you believe it or not, even at UCR. You'd be amazed at the opportunities UCR gives to you compared to the pool of applicants you're competing with. But most people only look up, seeing how far below they are from those on top, never looking down to see how high above they are from the rest.</p>

<p>In the case of UCR, there is no BAPsi chapter, but you can start one. And if you do and put that fact on your resume, you can get a job in ANY of the Big 4 firms. And there are other frats and societies besides BAPsi in the business field. I believe UCR has 2 or 3 other business frats and an accounting society. If they don't have what you want, start a charter open one up at UCR. It'll look amazing on your resume and you'll have something to do besides smoke weed and get drunk.</p>

<p>And if the company you want to work for isn't at the career fair or if there's no student organization for your career field, then simple. Just call up the company you want to work for, ask "Where can I apply for an internship," and sell yourself to whomever makes the decision. Cold-calling is very very effective because it shows initiative, shows that you got some balls, and managers like to broaden their options - by you calling them, you give the manager more options with their staff. Some internships are paid, others are not, it all depends on the nature of the work and how much of yourself they want you to commit.</p>

<p>If you're looking to go full-time, then send a resume. If you don't know how to write a resume, go to google.com, type in "resume," and start reading. If you don't know who to send the resume to, go to the company office, walk up to the front desk, tell them you'd like to submit a resume, done.</p>

<p>SouthPasdena:</p>

<p>"Business" is not an industry. You have to know specifically what field you want to get into (ie. accounting, finance, banking, investment, etc...). If you have no idea, then just randomly pick one and shoot for an internship. They'll expect you to know pretty much nothing about the field, which is good because the purpose of an internship is for you to find out if you like the job, and for the company to use you for free-cheap labor.</p>

<p>NXS:</p>

<p>I visited the campus about a month ago. I've been recently admitted.</p>

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<p>i understand that business is not an industry per say, i thought you were already a student who has access to the career center and been to career fairs.</p>

<p>I have seen flyers for their career fairs and firm nights and they seem like utter crap, at least the fairs do. Firm night seems the same as it does at every other college that has an accounting minor/major/conc.</p>

<p>That is why i wonder more about who hires. I know the lists arent complete for career fair attendees.</p>

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<p>i've been to the career fair and I was less than impressed. Most of the firms recruiting are local small to medium companies. There really aren't many prestigious financial companies hiring and be prepared to be bombarded with a plethora of financial management / commission based sales like northwestern financial and aflac. However, i talked to my ta about firm nights and she said that three of the big four accounting firms recruit, so that doesn't seem so bad.</p>

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<p>hobofromdowntown:</p>

<p>do you know which firms in particular? do the firms pick up a lot of UCR students at these events? i've been searching but have yet to meet or find a UCR alumni in a big 4 firm. maybe they're just keeping to themselves, but it's still pretty unusual.</p>

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<p>i believe firm nights include the big 4 excluding PWC. Possibly moss adams and grant but i really cant remember the last time i saw a flier for those things. it really seems like there is a better chance going to fullerton or
long beach from your experiences for i have heard excelllent things about fullerton since i work at the brea home depot and half the students attend fullerton. Funny thing is they are almost all business majors, some who were accepted to berkley and ucla and so forth but decided to stay and save some money.</p>