<p>Which UC has a better campus life? By this, I mean what activities and facilities are available on campus and off campus, which one has better food, what is the quality of the campus and dorms, and which campus looks better?</p>
<p>Davis and Irvine are comparable. I think Davis has better campus life.</p>
<p>DD attends Davis and loves the biking community; local vendors and bank row are all a short bike ride away. She has a number of friends at Irvine. Irvine is more of a commuter campus. In Davis, you’re in an agricultural town.</p>
<p>Irvine is in the middle of the city and has more of a city feel. Davis has more of an agricultural focus and is greener. It depends what you’re looking for. Both are good schools. Have you taken the virtual tours on each school’s web page? Can you visit?</p>
<p>Yeah I will be visiting them both in April. The Davis virtual tour is much better than the Irvine tour but I think that is mostly because the Irvine virtual tour was taken during the evening time and does not look as sunny because of that. It seems like only Davis has lounges for students to relax in but correct me if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>You’ll know when you visit. My humble opinion is that Irvine has a prettier campus and facilities and Davis has a better off-campus community.( I’m sure there are student lounges at Irvine.) You do have the beach nearby at Irvine, so if you have a car there are things to do off-campus, but it’s surrounded by a very upscale, suburban town that isn’t very accessible by foot. Davis is in the middle of a very student-friendly town where most students walk and bicycle.</p>
<p>moonchild: Davis has a really nice campus! Lots of grassy areas, bike paths, quaint shops. Plus, the Arboretum is 100 acres, yes ACRES, of trails, gardens and river area- open 24 hours. We’re from San Diego and I was very impressed with the aesthetics of the campus! (Mind you my expectation was cold UCSD-like feel). My dd has had friends visit her from Berkeley and they loved the campus! My dd has been on several trips with her clubs to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, San Fran, Gold Rush area, Jelly Belly factory, etc. </p>
<p>I’m unfamiliar with Irvine other than what my former students tell me about it. (They come home most weekends, so that may tell you something.) Davis is huge and you really do need a bike; it has a huge endowment because it is an agricultural campus so a number these sponsors (wineries, dairies, etc.) build their own brand new research facilities there. Irvine to the beach??? Really? I don’t remember the 405 being that close to the beach.</p>
<p>Actually, Newport Beach is about 10 minutes from the campus. I lived on Balboa Island as an undergrad (cheap winter rental)- it’s close, but you need a car. </p>
<p>I like Davis, too, but not so much the campus itself. It does have an “aggie” feel and don’t care for the aesthetics, but to each her own. 
Love the community, though-quaint shops, as you say. And no argument that it’s cool to be a couple of hours from Tahoe, San Francisco and Yosemite.<br>
Both are wonderful places to go to school.</p>