UC Riverside Reputation?

State Forums
1

I’ve heard UC Riverside has a iffy reputation. I’m from across the country and all my family lives in California and I really want to get back there. Why, if it does, does UC Riverside have a bad reputation. I have a 3.6 and it’s basically on target, from what my resources have said, for UC Riverside? Also how is financial aid in California, if you know?

2

Do your parents reside in California?? If you OOS, you will get little to no financial aid for any UC. If your parents reside in California, pay taxes, have driver’s licencse etc… then you would get in-state rates along with financial aid.

UCR has a “bad reputation” due to several factors.

  1. Before UC Merced, it was the default campus for UC applicants that were ELC eligible (top 10%) for their HS but were not accepted into any UC’s.
  2. Location as compared to UCSB/UCSD etc… is not the most preferable. Campus is very nice but you need a car to really go to local attractions and the beaches (30-40 mins). It can get hot in the summer since it is inland but nothing too different than most of Southern California except for the beach citites.
  3. It is still considered a lower tier UC since it has lower admission GPA/SAT/ACT Stats but none the less it is still a good UC. The have just opened a Medical school and their admission stats keep increasing each year, making it a more desirable campus.
    Both my sons have classmates that attend and are very happy with their campus experience. Since you have family in California, come for a visit and see for yourself. Visiting is the best way to determine if the school would be a good fit.
3

UC Riverside is a lower-tier UC, but in a sense that’s like saying Brown is a lower-tier Ivy. When compared to the average US university, UCR is still pretty good.

4

Washington monthly(2014) rated it one of the top 2 universities in the U.S for promoting significant research, community service etc & Time magazine (2014) rated it the #1 University in the country based on the white house plans emphasizing on the criteria such as graduation rates, meeting financial aid needs, etc…Their reputation is improving a lot compared to the past

5

You don’t give all your stats but, unless you really nailed the SAT, with a 3.6 UCR is probably a reach - especially for an out of state applicant. You’d probably make it into most of the CSUs -but, out of state tuition and no need based aid make the tough to rationalize.

If you tell us a little more, we can help direct you further.

Good luck

6

from the admissions this year… it looks like its moving up the ranks very fast…