<p>What's the atmosphere at UC Irvine? From what I've heard its really laid back and chill. More than a prestigious name or national rank, I'd love to go to a college that has chill people but excellent academics. The last thing I want to worry about is super competition with my classmates - that's what high school was.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me about their experiences with the people and mood and atmosphere of the campus?</p>
<p>Yoh Yoh Yoh, wuddup.
The UC Irvine atmosphere is extremely chill (in my opinion). I've said this before, but i went to an ULTRA competitive high school (sent over like 40 people to UC berkeley, yeah no joke dude). The environment is pretty laid back in my opinion, classmates help you and stuff. You'll also start noticing easiness (if you went to a competitive high school) in class because the teacher will start curving test scores, something my teachers never did in high school. The nice weather (i notice you're from norcal) completes the perfect atmospheric effect. I actually went back to San Jose (where i'm from) and asked myself, DAYMN how the hell did i weather this for my entire lifespan living in the bay? Most days are sunny and warm here, even in the winter months. The student body here is awesome, everyone's really chill and talented in some aspect. The academics are excellent too, because you get your fair share of super-smart students and professors. However, don't let the laid-back community get to you! Still gotta maintain a college work ethic and get studying homework done though.</p>
<p>(gawdamn what is up with my long posts lately)
yeah hope that answered your question lol.</p>
<p>I second iloveants remarks. The academics are always provided for you at basically any college so, in this case, UCI definitely has many options. It can, however, boil down to your major. Make sure your major has a notable program on campus, otherwise you'll be a bit disappointed at the curriculum. Are you, by any chance, seriously ambitious to climb up the ranks to a master's or Ph.D?</p>
<p>yeah, actually i'm planning to go get a masters and eventually a Ph.D, but I don't know if i'll do that through UCI. Maybe finish those up at another college, I don't know yet. I'm planning to major in History - emphasis is US History with either a double major or minor in Poly Sci</p>
<p>hey iloveants, what high school did you go to? i'm only 30min away from san jose, so I'm glad the weather something we both share that I know I can adjust to :)</p>
<p>Well if you're very very serious about graduate studies you may want to reconsider UCI. This is because UCI lacks that one aspect -- the atmosphere of ambitious students. You can't really talk about your ambitions to pursui a doctorates or your research experience while at UCI. There definitely are a lot of people who you can talk to, especially TAs and professors, but much more "prestigious" schools will satisfy that gap better than UCI. When I mean prestigious, I mean the big schools like Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley. Also, schools like UCSD and UCLA won't be much of a difference.</p>
<p>Just my two cents~</p>
<p>I agree with you jason.. to the point when you said, "Also, schools like UCSD and UCLA won't be much of a difference." You do get the vibe that there arent THAT many ambitious students here, but UCSD and UCLA seems MUCH more ... ambitious and competitive in my opinion.</p>
<p>how come, do you mean the goal of most students there at UCI is basically to get a 4 yr degree and then enter the workforce?</p>
<p>iloveants:
I just wanted to point out that UCSD and UCLA may be more competitive and ambitious through statistics, but the reality is the actual seriously ambitious people at UCI and UCSD will be about the same amount. Maybe UCSD might have more bio students that want to go to med school, but who will actually go through with it? It feels as though it'll balance itself in the end, though not perfect, and give you a number not drastically far part. I actually had a long discussion about schools with one of my professors. He told me to take a year off and visit schools like Harvard or Stanford (there are visiting undergraduate programs that basically do not reject anyone). He did include UCB, but, when I asked him about UCLA, he said there may be much more competition at UCLA, but the numbers of people i'll find who actually love their field and want to continue for the love of it (not for the money and such) will not surprise me so much as people at places such as Stanford. </p>
<p>[Oh, btw, I seem to not find UCSD students drastically better than UCI students. We actually have a really large number of UCSD admits on campus that turned it down because they didn't care enough to go that far. I do acknowledge the difference though.]</p>
<p>CE Man:
I don't necessarily mean that. It's just many people have different goals in life. Yes, people who choose UCI in place of maybe UCB or UCSD since they are too far basically just want to get an education and start working. But the application process of all the colleges (let's reduce this to just California) is basically a way to weed out those who love to learn whether it be generally or specifically in a major. It's obvious those who are accepted to UCB, Stanford, and Caltech have a higher chance of actually getting an education because they truly enjoy it. UCI does have very many bright students who definitely have the potential to go further in studies but it doesn't always mean they are doing it because they love it. I can't seem to find as many students to talk to share my enthusiasm about certain subjects. I've talked to many students that place on the top of the curves in my classes. Although they may have higher grades than me, they always turn to me and call me a nerd for being so enthusiastic, haha.</p>
<p>note: I apologize if my post is not completely coherent. I wrote this post pretty quickly.</p>
<p>all i wanna know is if people there are chill lol</p>
<p>lolll i suppose they pretty much are. but beware, some ppl here in irvine r a bit superficial. some girls @ my school continually yammer about how they brought their $$500 purse or $200 pair of pants @ Saks...etc. i took some summer courses their this summer and the ppl were pretty nice though a bit on the quiet side. Oh, and most ppl who grow up here are either verrrryy sheltered and idealistic or freaking cynical about everything. but all in all, itz a pretty nice place to live. u don't need to worry bout crime cuz nothing really ever happenz here in "the bubble" as we call it.</p>
<p>there are a lot of ambitious students at UCI, I guess it depends on your major. some majors are really chill, but some majors (like bio) have heavy competition.</p>
<p>I'm in electrical engineering so yea... I'm already looking at the higher end.</p>
I turned down San Diego because I couldn’t get in state residency even though my dads been here for a while etc. not the point. I’m in a JC with a hope to transfer to UCLA but after going to UCLA and UCI I really prefer UCI Since it’s more quaint and laid back seemingly. I additionally infer it is the same academically. I wanna go to law school and get a high gpa so I’m considering UCI (a major in history) but at the same time the nerdy competitive isolationalists are generally in medicine or engineering. Idk man I don’t know if UCI could really be THAT much less competitive. Neverthess the campus is just my vibe
The social scene at UCI is really unacadamic and laid back. People won’t discuss school outside of class and may not be too happy with the school in general.
People will act, look and behave exactly how you would expect an average 18-22 year old to behave.