Is it really worth attending UC Merced? I’ve heard so many negative reviews on it and I’m having second thoughts.
That depends on you, what you want from school, what you plan to study and what your other options are.
Ignore the noise - visit the school, talk to some current students on-campus.
People like to talk trash on new schools regardless of any system. If there was a new school in the Ivy League I guarantee most people will say it is the worst.
We do not know where UCM will end up in the UC system, seriously. It could be the worst or it could surpass UCB and UCLA (although unlikely), you never know. It does not have an established reputation yet, hence the college rankings not ranking UCM at all. This happened with UCSD…UCSD is just 55 years old. Yet somehow they are, at average, ranked the number 3 UC by rankings and the people in the UC system. I did read a post in CC that said their relative actually denied UCSD for SDSU since UCSD just got established a while ago, and now that relative regrets it.
What people may say about UCSC and UCR will be more accurate, although some are just plain nonsense. UCM, no one really has a valid source until the years go by, has done major research on the school, or has gone there…
I am applying for UCM and this is one of my top choices, on the edge of being my first choice depending on a bunch of variables (FTF Fall 2016). But let me tell you from my research, if you do not like being personal, being in an isolated campus (or city, like Penn State for example), pressured of being a leader and making dramatic changes to the community, knowing every person you walk by as you head to class, and other similar things - do not go here. If you are just interested of what you just read, research UCM…see for yourself.
Good luck.
By the way, if people make fun of UCM if you go there. Ask them what school they go to, if it is considered lower tier than UCM, they cannot talk and are just desperate for attention.
Visit UCM. it will answer your questions.