<p>@Gsteg thanks for your input! It helps me to read other peoples comments/experiences. & yes very true! I do apologize for my comment about saying UCI would be easier GPA wise</p>
<p>Well that’s what I get for making assumptions haha. Good luck to you as well.</p>
<p>Evelynnnlaw, no offense taken. I shared the same thoughts when I first transferred. Here is my take on the situation. If you can get into UCLA, then go for it if it’s your dream school. There is a difference between UCLA and some no-name midwest college, but between UCLA and UCI? Not that much different. Some of my professors were part timers. Meaning when they weren’t teaching at UCI, they were at UC Berkeley, Caltech, etc. Some of the courses can get ridiculously tough if you slack off just a bit.</p>
<p>At the end of your academic career, your assessment should be about what you’ve accomplished, rather than what school you went to. Just recently I had to hire someone to fill an entry-level engineering position. I had stacks of resumes but threw out all the ones without experience. If I see that you’ve done nothing during your time in college, then your degree is worthless to me. I turned down a graduate from UCI (3.8 GPA, no experience) for a graduate from Cal-State Long Beach (3.2 GPA with loads of experience). I think I only glanced at the school once just because they usually list it above their degree. Had to make sure they received a Bachelors in Engineering, and not Basket-weaving. LOL.</p>
<p>@Gsteg wow thank you so much. Ive always thought UCI is a great school and its truly where I want to go. but where Im from, its either you go to UCLA/UCBerkeley or they look down at you haha. even my mom. but your experience put things in a much more clear perspective for me! thanks! :)</p>
<p>@ evelynnnlaw</p>
<p>" but where Im from, its either you go to UCLA/UCBerkeley or they look down at you haha."</p>
<p>Are you in SoCal?</p>
<p>@UCdrone yes! haha yes San Gabriel Valley. are you?</p>
<p>I always thought San Gabriel is pretty ghetto?</p>
<p>@ evelynnnlaw</p>
<p>I’m in Irvine, actually the sign next to my freeway exit points to UCI! I’ve been accepted to UCI (was my dream school), and UCSD and now I’m torn. What do you love about UCI?</p>
<p>I’m in Orange County. I hear the same phrase all the time, and it’s usually coming from the uninformed or those who never been to college. They’re riding on the reputation more than anything else. Growing up, I had relatives tell me I need to go to X or Y school if I wanted to succeed. I’m sure I’ve been looked down because I didn’t go to an elite school, but I could care less. What matters more is that I have a stable career while my buddies who went to Cal, UCLA, etc are still unemployed.</p>
<p>UCdrone, not sure if the question is directed towards me, but I’ll answer it anyways. Prior to UCI, I was also accepted to UCSD as an electrical engineer. It took me a week to sign my SIR because it was that tough to decide. Ultimately, I chose UCI because it’s local, and a lot of my friends go there. I haven’t hung out in SD that much, but from what my UCSD friends told me, it’s pretty dead down there. Irvine can be dead too, but at least you have the entire OC and LA to explore. </p>
<p>Once I came to UCI, I switched to Mechanical Engineering. The counselors are quite helpful in sorting things out for me. I love the campus itself. It’s spacious and many of their buildings were built within the last couple years. It’s quite beautiful and peaceful in the afternoon. A lot of times I find myself at school for 12 hours because of homework and projects, but those hours weren’t stressful because the environment is great. </p>
<p>If I could go back to UCI, I would do it in a heartbeat, and I’m the guy that never liked school when I was a kid. </p>
<p>Reading through this thread reminds me of what I went through a couple years ago. I checked the admission page probably 10x a day per school. haha. Time sure flies…</p>
<p>@ GSteg</p>
<p>Don’t you just love the O.C? You are so right about schools, but you know what? It’s so hard to shake that mentality, especially those times when transferring out of CCC was beyond my imagination. (I barely graduated high school). Now, I’m finding out that’s it’s all about the program you’ll be attending. You are right when you say those who feel a certain way about elite schools are uninformed, or never been to college.</p>
<p>@ GSteg</p>
<p>My brother went to UCLA for undergrad and Law school. I remember he told me that one of his professors said that UC’s were all little meat factories; each factory made the same little meatball.</p>
<p>@ghiblijiang not arcadia haha </p>
<p>@UCDrone Last year I went to UCI every weekend during spring semester cause my best friend went there. For me, I LOVE the student life. There are so many opportunities for you to be involved such as student body, mentorship programs, cultural clubs, performing groups (hip hop dance teams, acapella groups, etc), frats and sororities. For me, I also love the area. its by the beaches and Disneyland and theres a hospital there where you can get the opportunity to volunteer. and I just felt like I could really enjoy my college experience there everytime I visited. But I think Im biased towards UCI because Ive only visited UCLA and UCSD once. but ultimately, I do see myself more at UCI. you can ask @Gsteg (who actually went there already)</p>
<p>@Gsteg why/what do you/your girlfriend love about UCI?</p>
<p>oops sorry @Gsteg I didnt see your reply. </p>
<p>& @UCDrone I visited UCSD during sungod (their music festival) on a weekend, and it was pretty dead/quiet. there isn’t much immediately around the campus itself. IRVINE/OC/NEWPORT area have alot of places to explore</p>
<p>@ evelynnlaw</p>
<p>I’m not too worried about the student life, other than study groups and super friendly people (I’m a married and an older transfer student). I’m worried people won’t allow me to join study groups.</p>
<p>UCI admission program updated today! Not sure if that means another batch??</p>
<p>@ ninko6</p>
<p>Good Luck! I hope it means that financial aid will also be available.</p>
<p>@UCdrone</p>
<p>im sure they will! the people Ive met there are friendly! </p>
<p>@ninko6 hopefully for you all who haven’t heard! goodluckkk!</p>
<p>no one has gotten their unofficial award right??</p>
<p>@UCdrone I don’t think you have to worry about that. My sister goes to UCSD and she said she has a lot of older people in her classes and sees them around. It doesn’t seem to be a big deal at all. Especially since there’s always grad students around. I mean, some people who are transfers look like high school freshmen so I don’t think it should worry you. Good luck!</p>
<p>@ clamfest</p>
<p>Thank You! I heard the same thing from the admission rep at College Week Live. Do you know if its the same at UCI?</p>