What do you mean by environment? Things to do? Weather? Crime? Student Activities and Clubs? There do have the movie theatre/ pedestrian mall off University Avenue with many restaurants, shopping, etc (which I didn’t have in my day…had to drive to Tyler Mall about 15 minutes away). Have the new student recreation center with gym, pool, rock climbing wall, etc. which I hear is great (didn’t have this in my day either). Weather is more extreme…mostly on the hotter side (will she be there in summer?) but not that bad. I’ve heard people say on here, the climate is very much like Sacramento (for those in Northern California), but with much less fog and warmer winters. Campus is safe and the immediate surrounding housing by campus if fine. Gets a bit more dicey in certain areas 5 miles or so off campus…but was nothing like South Central LA at USC where my brother attended a long time ago. UCR was like Disneyland compared to there. There are also many student activities and clubs to look into. She will make many friends, and receive a great college education/experience. It would be best to tour the campus and see it for yourself!
I was actually referring to the crime situation which you have already answered. would you also happen to know how diverse its population is? We won’t be able to tour the campus before making the decision bec school ends in June.
@Amber168 For the university UCR, 42% Hispanic, 35% Asian, 12% White, 4% Black
Yes, UCR is very diverse. My daughter is biracial and she feels very comfortable there.
If you enjoy hiking, camping, etc. there are mountains and deserts in practically every direction.
UCR and I believe UCM are heavy commuter campuses - that’s why it seems so empty all the time. If your D is coming from out of the country, she may feel more comfortable at UMass Amherst.
“UCR and I believe UCM are heavy commuter campuses - that’s why it seems so empty all the time. If your D is coming from out of the country, she may feel more comfortable at UMass Amherst.”
Op said that her daughter will be on the West Coast. There are commuters for sure…not sure about Merced, but when I attended Riverside, there was a solid number of Northern California students (and some OOS and internationals) in the dorms that were there all of the time although about half or so of the “locals” will go home on the weekends. If that is a main concern, then definitely go to UMass…bring some heavy parkas for those cold winters as well!! Best to check out ALL locations before you make the decision and choose the best FIT.
UCR and UCM have 68% and 79% frosh living in the dorms, so there is some commuter population (more at UCR than UCM), but most of the students are residential. UMass Amherst is nearly all residential, with 99% of frosh living in the dorms. Note that upper class residential students are more likely to live off campus nearby.
What is less easy to tell is if some of the residential students are “suitcase” students who frequently spend weekends elsewhere with their families.
thank you all for the insights.
While I love UMass very much for its quality of education, the campus, safety and the best food (#1 and I have tried it), don’t discount the freezing cold, long winter. Your child is from SEA. New England weather can be miserable for her. Also, flying extra 6 hours from west coast to east coast plus driving to UMass can be tiring.
Weather alone is why many SEA people prefer CA over any other colder regions of the US.
I highly recommend UMass, it has a great program and I’ve only heard good things from my friends that go there. The one thing you should pay attention to is the setting. UMass Amherst is a large school with a large campus situated in a small college town, if that is your D’s idea of college then go UMass, but if she is looking for being in a city, look at other schools.
I’ve got a pretty interesting perspective, since my wife graduated from UC-Riverside (Biology) a long time ago and our stepson graduated from UMass-Amherst (CS). UMass has a very good reputation as a school and amongst employers in the Boston area, and the wife definitely would recommend UMass rather than UCR for reputation.