<p>Hey, Im seriously considering UC Riverside and just wanted some input</p>
<p>What do you guys think of the school? From reading on here I get the impression that its a great school, just a bit underrated. Am I wrong? Any input on the area, students faculty, etc etc</p>
<p>I am at like a 3.7, 1330 SAT with a 720 Verbal... for SATII i did alright but had a 780 US history (Im a poli sci major)</p>
<p>So anyways, what do you guys think of the school and would it be a poor idea to go there considering my stats</p>
<p>Ryan</p>
<p>The reason im considering is because i just recieved the Chancellors SAcholarship (75% of tutiton covered) and will probably be accepted to the honors program/</p>
<p>If you do get accepted into their Honors Program (which you should, i had similar stats as you), then I'd highly suggest you listen to their honors program presentation during their "Discover UCR" day in April. I found their Honors Program to be very attractive (better than what's offered at the school I go to now). </p>
<p>I have a friend who is a polysci major at UCR and he says that it is really good there. He's enjoying the experience and says that the faculty are generally very helpful. Also, my dorm tour guide (who was a valedictorian who passed up Yale for UCR) at first was pre-med, but then switched over the polysci and said she is enjoying it there. </p>
<p>Overall, the caliber of the students there aren't the strongest, but among the honors program, you should find a solid group of bright kids (much like the valedictorian who got into Yale, the valedictorian of my high school one year chose to go to UCR because of the thomas haider program-- he has now obtained admission into UCLA Medical School). </p>
<p>I would also consider a campus visit. I think UCR isn't as bad as people say it is. Ultimately when it came down to fit, as well as academic opportunities and cost (I had Regents), UCR was my overall second choice. Hope this helped a little bit and good luck with your decision (it was tough to pass up UCR for me!!)</p>
<p>Hate to say this, but there's no way you should go to UCR with your stats. You could get merit money at decent private colleges if money is a major issue.</p>
<p>The kids we see go to UCR are not the bright motivated ones. The reputation isn't great in Ca and it's unheard of outside of CA. A poli sci major so I'm thinking law school. Check the rosters at good law schools for UCR grads. You won't be impressed.</p>
<p>There's actually someone on the planet who turned down Yale for UCR? Very hard to fathom.</p>
<p>zagat, thats what the tour guide (the one who rejected yale for UCR) told me personally. she was originally admitted into the thomas haider program for pre-med (top 24 students get into UCLA med school) but changed to polysci. </p>
<p>let's try to avoid all the typical CC comments for a moment about how you shouldn't go to UCR. from my experience with the two examples i brought up who chose UCR because of money and special programs tend to also be very motivated. it's not going to matter where they went to undergrad because they KNOW they will get where they want to go in life. in the end, its where they graduated last that matters. in the case of the valedictorian from my high school, he didnt mind being in UCR for a few years. In the end, he's going to be able to say that he graduated from UCLA Medical School. looks like all the obsession over undergrad reputation doesnt matter anymore now, does it?</p>
<p>now, im not saying in particular to the OP that he should go to UCR or anything. but give UCR a fair chance. oftentimes, the people here on collegeconfidential think its the end of the world if you dont go to a prestigious school. thats absolutely not the case, and if the person is motivated enough, they can go anywhere they want-- yes even harvard law school (one UCR alum currently attends there). granted, the majority of UCR in general isn't going to go to top grad/professional schools. but you know what, that doesnt matter, because when we look at the students in the honors program, its ANOTHER STORY. there's only a select few of them, and these few are the trailblazers that are going to try to put UCR on the map with their success.</p>
<p>to the OP... perhaps you may want to elaborate a little bit more. what do you want to do in life? what are your goals? do you consider yourself someone so motivated that you think you can rise out in the top of the class at UCR's honors program?</p>
<p>first off, thank you so very much for your help.(thanks to the rest of you too) anyone who takes the time to answer prospective college students questions is quite kind</p>
<p>im going in as a poli sci major with the eventual hope of being a poltical anylst and a syndicated newspaper columnist. ive always been a good writer and planned on pursing my skill via the school paper and personal writer, so i figured poli sci would be the best way to improve the knowledge side</p>
<p>yes i do think i can be part of the upper end of the students and have always been motivated. are the kids reallyas bad you guys are saying. i have heard it has a lazy reputation.</p>
<p>im not currently thnking of law school but i would ef like to keep my options open. i cant fathom a university of calfornia degree being a detriment in the law school app process</p>
<p>im planning on staying in CA, the other shcools i was toying around were UCLA UCI, UCSD and UCSB....so obviously i have a thing for SO CAL. </p>
<p>kfcu, feel free to email me, id love to talk to you more
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again any other info or input</p>
<p>Fit, fit, fit. You should go to a school if you like it. Regardless of how "great" a school is, it is ultimately you who put in the effort to strive for successs. Sure, Harvard will spoon feed you, but in the end if you aren't happy and you aren't motivated you will flounder.</p>
<p>Just because you are overqualified doens't mean that you will fail. You will have more opportunities then the average student because you will take intiative and be more motivated then the average student. However, if the question of whether you will receive a higher quality education and more opportunity @ IVY X vs Riverside then the answer is inherently no.</p>
<p>There will be more opportunity available at those institutions, but whether they will be utilized by you is another issue. If being extra enthused at UCR vs disatisfied/unmotivated @ IVY X then obviously UCR is the better choice. Be a ringer there. Every school needs it's share and you can be one =).</p>
<p>However before you commit to UCR I'd advise you to look at all your options. Make sure you really fit there. I mean the word "fit" to be a hollistic one, one that encompasses everything from dorms, location, intellecutual atmosphere, weather, the student body, and food, etc. Remember to look at all of those characteristics; remember intellectual atmosphere and weather are fit characteristics too. I personally do not think that UCR is perhaps the most stimulating enviroment or has decent weather for that matter, but if you are comfortable with it and you believe you want to go, then go!</p>
<p>It is excellent that you received a scholarship and will probably get into the Honors College. Those are both great achievements.</p>
<p>However, my one hesitation is the 'poli sci' major. UCR is underrated, its true, but its strongest programs are still in the sciences, not in the humanities. If you got the scholarship and honors college at UCR, you might want to consider another of the UCs, particularly one that's more humanities friendly.</p>
<p>Undecided, don't know where you get your information from but UC Riverside is actually VERY strong in the humanities and social sciences. </p>
<p>Of particular importance to the original poster is that UCR has a wonderful creative writing program that dovetails nicely with his/her interest in writing (they offer non fiction writing classes that would build his/her journalism skills). Additionally, UCR's political science department is quite good--- they have a strong pre-law advising program there, a special honors poli. sci. program, and a very active poli sci. internship program. Their Law & Society program is another plus for anyone seriously thinking about going on to law school.</p>
<p>In short, I agree with the other posters that the original poster should consider ALL of his options before making a final decision but I also agree with Kfc4u - Before judging UCR - or ANY school for that matter - based on stereotypes and what you have heard from friends, actually look at the school offers. UCR has pluses and minuses but it should not be dismissed out of hand simply because people here on CC see it as a "lesser UC."</p>
<p>Just wanted to add, UCSD would be an excellent choice if you can afford it - the political science program there is awesome and they also have a very good communications/journalism program.</p>
<p>My information is purely from friends and my brief experience over a summer when I took classes there -- I apologize, I should've added that disclaimer!</p>
<p>(Also, my AP bio teacher was a UCR alum and worked at the labs, so a lot of what I hear about in terms of UCR's great programs is, of course, related.)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I think it's too late to add new schools to your UC application (might be wrong).</p></li>
<li><p>The professors at all the UCs are going to be very good to excellent. </p></li>
<li><p>Because you are going into an Honors program, you should get more personal attention, especially if you put forth a strong effort. Your stats place you well at the top of the UCR class. Any prof should value having you in class--assuming you work hard and don't coast.</p></li>
<li><p>When you graduate, and if you have continued to perform at a superior level, you will have a great GPA and glowing letters of recommendation from two or three faculty members that are known and respected in their fields. Just do well on the GREs or LSAT or whatever an you'll be fine.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The money you save will come in handy for grad school.</p>
<p>Undecided - Sorry if I came off as harsh - didn't mean to, just wanted to point out that the stereotypes about certain schools aren't always true. Sorry! :)</p>
<p>And, I think it's important to always keep in mind my mantra: Where you go to college isn't as important as what you do once you get there.</p>
<p>If you get accepted to the Honors program, by all means attend. But the repuatation of UCR is WAY below any other UC, and you should really consider UCI, UCSD, or UCLA (of course of u get accepted, go to UCLA). My friend got 2 D's in high school and got a 2.33 in Senior year, but still made it to UCR. Riverside is totally desperate for good students, and just about offer everyone a scholarship.</p>
<p>And yes, it is the very few good students that put UCR on the map. The MAJORITY of the students there were forced to go because no better UC accepted them. In SoCal, most of the students at UCI were forced to attend because they were rejected to UCLA. Likewise, UC Riverside's students were rejected to UC Irvine. If Berkeley and LA are tier 1, and SD were tier 2, then all the other UC's xcept for Riverside would be tier 3. Riverside would be in a class of its own.</p>