<p>I'm wondering, is the only reason why everyone thinks that UCR is a bad school because they accept almost everyone?</p>
<p>Certainly there must be a better reason...</p>
<p>Actually, that <em>is</em> the only reason.</p>
<p>Kids are idiots.</p>
<p>If UCR suddenly decided to be as selective as UCB and UCLA, people would think its a great school…</p>
<p>Some say it’s because of the city, others say it’s because they admit people easily. I think UCR IS gradually becoming as selective as UCLA and UCB, but is going really slowly. I’m pretty sure that once UCR completes their medical facility in 2012, more people would want to go to UCR, therefore making UCR raise their standards to be like UCLA or UCB. By then, people would think UCR is a great school.</p>
<p>at least in my opinion. </p>
<p>Even my college counselor back in highschool didn’t want me to come here compared to other UC’s, Wisconsin, and Hawaii universities i got into. The only reason UCR has a bad rap in the realm of high school (high school is so “w/e” once youre in college") is because… well because it just turned out that way. since it had a bad rap in the past when the “rap” started, it still has a bad rap at the high school level. Yes we admit a lot of students, but we are becoming selective. This year the UC Regents held their meetings here at UCR. It wasnt that big of a deal for students, but at out department we were excited! We are slowly moving away from playing the role of “the university that the UC sends its overflow students to.” We have been growing by 1000 students every year for the past few years, and with that so is our campus, and also our ranks! </p>
<p>Going back to the city part, if you put an UC in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles, HELL that university would have one BADD rap. (im from LA) Almost the same applies here. However, efforts have been put in to remove much of the “bad” down University Ave which stretches from UCR to Downtown Riverside. There are some “ghetto” parts of the city there, but its nothing unexpected of any regular city. However go south of camps and bam! You have a very nice and safe affluent neighborhood with upscale shopping and all the jazz. So pretty much the area UCR is surrounded by is diverse as its student body. However, human mentality seeks out the juicy bad rather than the simple goods, so for the sake of there being a campus with a bad rap, we unfortunately are that campus.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, we are after all an UC! which should be enough in it self to motivate students to consider it over a CC. To save everyone time, ill save my words about CC experience vs. University experience for another post =D
goodnight!</p>
<p>Let me give my 2 cents. </p>
<p>The bad rap really comes from the admission rate and the location of the school. Also, the students whose first choice wasn’t UCR but attended anyway. They bad mouthed UCR after their experiences, that only makes matter worse.</p>
<p>UCR and UCM are the referral campus, meaning if applicants meet UC eligibility but rejected at other UCs, they will be admitted at UCR or UCM. The referral campus used to be UCR and UCSC but that has changed now. Until UCR moves away from being a referral campus, the admission rate problem will likely continue. </p>
<p>The location of the school. Well, the surrounding area has improved dramatically in the past 6, 7 years but still ghetto at some places. There needs more off-campus activity, business or partnership to make it an engaging surrounding for students. </p>
<p>College is what you make it to be. If you go to UCR thinking you should be at a better place, then please don’t go to UCR. If you do, don’t bad mouth the school just because it’s not your first choice. </p>
<p>Congrats to all admitted students!</p>
<p>Wow. Ditto to UCRUCR and MehediMD. :)</p>
<p>High school really does not matter in the very least once you’re in college.</p>
<p>There is really nothing “bad” about UCR. People just give UCR a bad rep because it’s less selective because of the less competitive applicant pool and because of the city.</p>
<p>UCR is also ranked #6 in the Top 10 Schools with the Least Happy Students
[Top</a> 10 Schools with the Least Happy Students - MSN Encarta](<a href=“http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/Features/encnet_Departments_College_default_article_Top10LeastHappyStudents09.html?GT1=27004]Top”>http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/Features/encnet_Departments_College_default_article_Top10LeastHappyStudents09.html?GT1=27004)</p>
<p>Its cuz alot of students there are students that were aiming for “higher” UCs but failed, and are depressed and “forced” to end up going to UCR.</p>
<p>The acceptance rate and the fact that yes people who are ellegible for a UC but do not have anything else to make it to the other ones are “redirected” to UCR.</p>
<p>The school itself is a commuter, people go home in the weekends because there is nothing to do; since when is the last time you saw someone wearing UCR gear and displaying school pride?</p>
<p>To some, making it to UCR is an accomplishment. For some, including my friends, it is a sign of failure to fulfill your azn duties. <lol jk=“”></lol></p>
<p>Think of it as a consolation prize. “Hey you fail to win a prize, but hey, take this home with you.”</p>
<p>I think this economic downturn will help UCR becoming more reputable. Private schools is very expensive but the family income level is generally down. Makes sense to send sons and daughters to a public university. </p>
<p>UCR better capitalize on this opportunity. And hopefully UCM can grow fast enough to retire UCR from being a referral campus.</p>
<p>Honestly, it actually doesn’t matter which college/university you go right after high school; what matters is what you make of after getting that 4 year degree from college. I mean there are plenty of people who get into those top colleges and end up dropping out because of the immense amount of work those colleges give. As long as you’re even able to graduate from college and land a stable job after that, is what REALLY MATTERS. </p>
<p>You can go to Stanford or UC Berkeley your first two years of college but end up transferring to UC Riverside or UC Merced (or even a community college!) and graduate from there. [[trust me, this is true; a son of my mom’s friend went through this and guess what? He loved going to UC Riverside a lot more than going to UC Berkeley. He’s now earning over $300,000 a year…even in this economy.]] OR you could go to UC Riverside for two years and end up transferring to Standford or UC Berkeley and graduate from there. [this is true too; one of my close friends went through this] There are those who get into everything (UCB, UCLA, Stanford) and end up choosing UC Riverside, not because those other colleges are expensive, but because they know Riverside is just the same as any other colleges. In short, UC Riverside or UC Merced is just as great a university as UC Berkeley or Stanford. </p>
<p>Where you end up after college is what really counts, not where you go right after high school. UC Riverside has such a reputation mainly because of what UCRUCR and MehediMD explained. </p>
<p>@Lawcha: UC Riverside is not a “consolation prize.” Just because they accept more people does not make them a consolation prize. I’m pretty sure that in the year 2012, a lot more people will end up WANTING to go to UC Riverside. Why? Their medical facility will be finished by then, as well as (I think) their law school. By then, their acceptance rate will most likely go down. (I’m not trying to argue with you LawCha, btw. Just saying. :])</p>
<p>Why am I posting on CC at 2 AM? Don’t ask. Loll.</p>
<p>Forevermore, I admire your enthusiasm for UCR. </p>
<p>I am not aware of new facility for the medical school. The law school is still pending. From what I understand, they will be using the exisiting facility to provide the services, at least at the initial stage.</p>
<p>UCRUCR, thanks. Before I was one of those who thought Riverside was bad merely because everyone else said it was. Now, after actually visiting the campus, my views of the school changed completely. You can call me a hypocrite or whatever (not really but it’s similar haha)…I don’t really care. People just need to stop being so judgmental (coming from me it’s probably not as effective) towards things and places they never really went to or interacted with, and actually go and experience it before talking bad about it. (hopefully that made sense haha)</p>
<p>And about the medical school/facility, my campus tour guide said it would be finished by 2012 for sure. I don’t know if he was just saying what he heard, but it seems definite, since I asked another student and they said it would be done by 2012. (:</p>
<p>It is a consolation prize. Even the UC system make it one, as they defer people who do not qualify for more competitive schools.</p>
<p>Trust me, I’m willing to believe that 75% of the freshman class did not have UCR as their first choice. Heck, I’m willing to bet that 65% of the students never wanted to go there in the first place but end up being the only school they got accepted into. They have no choice to go there and try to have a positive attitude about it.</p>
<p>And yes, if you try and work hard, have a positive attitude, you will probably succeed. Heck, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard and look where he is now. The problem with those people are that it is a rare case. Yes, you hear some people working their asses off at UCR and make a ton of money. Well, talking is easy, its if you actually go through with it. The magnitude of people succeeding at top UCs is no surprise and happens all the time. A degree from a school like UCB and UCLA will look ALOT better than one from UCR, so obviously there are the advantages. The quality of education you get from those schools are alot better too. There is a reason why UCB is top 2 in the nation in terms of student salaries.</p>
<p>^You are coming up with facts out of your a$$. You have no idea what percent of UCR undergrads are so called ‘rejects’ from everywhere else. Contrarily to your belief, you actually need decent stats to get into UCR. It might not be that hard compared to the schools CC members apply to, but a 3.0+ with 1600+ SAT and extra curriculars filter out more than half of high school graduating classes. </p>
<p>Getting a degree from UCR is just fine. Yeah the degree is not ‘quite’ as amazing as one from UCB, but you are acting like a degree from UCR is equivalent to a degree from Community college. Certainly high achievers can succeed at UCR and get a top job if they really work for it. </p>
<p>Also, on what basis is the education better at UCLA compared to UCR? The professors at ALL UCs have phds, most at top Universities. It can actually be argued that UCR professors do less research than those professors at UCLA, and therefore spend more time learning how to teach and become excellent lecturers.</p>
<p>In terms of what you learn in the classroom, it’s the same. UCR, UCB, UCD…you name it. Principle of Accounting is principle of accounting, the difference in quality of public education is negligible. </p>
<p>What others (especially employers) make of the diploma is what sets everyone apart. Prestige, reputation, perception…etc. You are comparing UCR to two world-class institutions (UCB, UCLA). There aren’t that many public univerisities can hold their own against those two. </p>
<p>The important thing is to recognize that you control your own destiny. No diploma can make or break your career.</p>
<p>I just found this board, and it has really been extremely helpful. I’ve been curious myslef as to why UCR had a bad reputation. I actually am an older student attending a CC with transfer plans in future. UCR is the closest to my house, so it’s on my list, though not my 1st choice mainly due to the fact that I hate the city of Riverside. I will still be living out in Palm Springs area if I do go there (own home, and probably not going to be able to sell anytime real soon).
For anyone who has went to UCR, how was the campus itself? Were the Professors highly rated in their field?
Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>professors are good.</p>
<p>Curriculum is good</p>
<p>UCR mainly has a bad rep because its admissions standards are too lax</p>
<p>which may also explain why the average GPA is 2.0 …</p>
<p>The average GPA is not 2.0 at UCR. [UC</a> Riverside](<a href=“http://gradeinflation.com/UCriverside.html]UC”>http://gradeinflation.com/UCriverside.html)</p>
<p>Although it doesn’t have the stats past 2000, there’s absolutely no reason to assume the average is now at 2.00. Unless you have some actual proof of that?</p>
<p>Sorry, i thought I heard it from someone, but I guess not</p>