University of California, Irvine

I am a graduate student at this institution. I was so happy to go back to school that my favorable ratings were highly inflated at the beginning, but now they are beginning to drop as I adapt to life here. A list of some of the pros and cons of the school from my perspective:
Pros:
Campus is quite pretty and well maintained. I find myself sitting down on a bench in the afternoon and taking in the California sun. There are plenty of trees, way more than in other cities in the OC, and Irvine is dedicated to nature preservation. It’s quite serene here. There is enough variety of architecture to keep things interesting and even the older buildings have aged gracefully.
The design of the campus definitely helps you build connections. I am in Social Ecology and all the buildings are clustered together. There are labs just for the school. This has helped me greatly because I started to see familiar faces daily and that led to connections and friendships. That being said, there is an enormous amount of the campus that I simply haven’t explored. I am rarely in Aldrich Park, but it’s beautiful and I’m glad it’s there.
There are bike lanes all around campus so it’s fairly bike friendly.
Less red tape than at other universities. I’ve waited in the financial aid office and the line moves swiftly. My money is deposited as promised without a hitch. I utilize the health center and gym and both are top notch. It’s easy to take care of paperwork. The adviser for my program knows my name and is easy to reach.
The sheer diversity is amazing. It’s not just a buzzword. If you overhear a snippet of conversation in an elevator, there’s no guarantee it will be in English. It’s impressive to see so many different people coming together. The ‘campus bro’ doesn’t seem to exist here.
Student workers are friendly and genuinely nice — I’m referring to the people working at the snack shops and libraries.
There are tons of symposiums, colloquiums, and talks going on — way too many to keep up. It’s definitely evident that this is a strong research school.
Cons:
Ugh, the parking is terrible. They gouge you price-​wise, it’s hard to find a spot, they are Orwellian in nature. It’s not a commuter-​friendly campus at all. Things are spaced-​out. If I parked in Zone 1, it would be a 40 minute walk to my classes. The ticket trolls and meter maids are there waiting to pounce. The burden is on the student to shell out a fortune because there is really no easy way to get to campus by bus.
Along with parking, I get the sense that I’m being nickel-​and-​dimed for everything here. Irvine is already super expensive, so why do they make it so hard for students? Some of the labs charge you for printing, they all lack staplers and paper clips, there are miscellaneous fees for applications and blue books. They even charge you to park in the gym which is not that close to the rest of campus.
There’s nowhere cheap and quick to eat on campus. Most of the dining options have been whored out to the man so you’re stuck with a $ 6 corporate fruit salad with sad looking honeydew or $ 3 for a Starbucks coffee. Plenty of other schools have zoning for food trucks or carts where you can get coffee for $ 1 or a meal for $ 4. That is to say, they understand that students enjoy variety and need cheap options.
This place is a ghost town on the weekends. They lock everything up tight and don’t want you to be on campus — where’s the school spirit? Interesting and spontaneous cultural events are few and far between. They should keep things open and try to create a sense of community.
Some of the classes I’m taking don’t seem to relate to my field, yet are still required. It’s strange.

Well, this trip was kinda of a nice break after an argument in the car regarding going to pick up some bakery stuff in Westminster. Anyways, my wife had applied here for undergrad and got in but never got a chance to visit it. So, we decided to take a quick stroll through Engineering buildings on campus. Well, there are parking meters a plenty here and found one where we could just do an hour. We walked around the central ring of buildings and found respite inside for bathroom and water. Well, the campus is certainly impressive and nice to know that there are some Nobel prize laureates here. We made our way to the older part of the campus to see the Chemical Engineering dept. It was a huge dept with a bulletin board lined with graduate student photos. Well, it was a nice stroll but I enjoyed UC Irvine campus much better.

If you’re an engineering student, go to a school where the professors actually care about their students. If you are going to subject yourself to the brutal levels of the UC system, at least do it with a reputable engineering program. This school looks great, but it’s used to cover up the mess of an engineering program they have. Make sure you do your research before committing to a place like this.
I’ve NEVER SEEN SO MANY TAKE ADEROL TO PASS CLASSES! Those that don’t know what Aderol is. It is an amphetamine that is a mental enhancement. Yes, your kids are popping illegal drugs to pass classes. Stay away from this place.
—Quarter 2—
The engineering department has a total of 1 tutor. They have no company partnerships or programs to provide students with mentors and internships and possibly employment after graduating. Although, the physics department has partnerships with aerospace companies. But the mech/​aero engineering department does not. Ironic isn’t it? They have counselors that have no experience in engineering so they don’t have any idea on how to set up a student with a proper and successful schedule. I wanted to give this place another chance but this is an endless cycle. UC Irvine is NOT an engineering school. Go visit the physical sciences and business areas then go to engineering. You will see a huge difference in motivation from students, study spaces, partnerships plastered all over the walls. If this is the only you get into for engineering go to a csu. Bet you that you will get a job before most UCI engineering students do. They just decided to put in study rooms for engineering students.
UCI experience: take aderol to pass classes, no social life, pathetic career fairs, zero camaraderie, and the hippest thing to do is join a frat or sorority which you will not have time for. I cannot emphasize it enough. Think very very hard before accepting admission to this joke of an engineering program. Oh, forgot to add, the counselor messed up schedules for a lot of people. She listed a class that is not even offered next quarter on our plans. Guess who has to take summer school now? I placed a lot of effort in this review. Don’t be fooled by the «it’s a great school» post by the music major…

As a tribute to my 100^th review, why not review the school I go to?
UC Irvine is a great school. Is it the best? Far from it. In terms of rankings, there are tons and tons of universities and colleges that are far superior. But, that doesn’t mean UCI is a terrible school. Heck no, it’s a great school. It’s honestly «what you make out of it» that truly, genuinely determines your viewpoint of it.
Get involved. There are tons of different types of clubs and organizations, sports, greek life, and so much more you can get involved. Because UCI consists of tens of thousands of students, I highly recommend getting involved into something you’re truly interested in. Don’t be «scared» and join something your «friends» enjoy. Try to take the time and find out what interests you, and join something related to it. We have tons of choreography and freestyle dance teams, multi cultural clubs, religious and spiritual clubs, community service based clubs, special interest fraternities and sororities, different club sports, and so much more. You’re bound to find something you’re interested in. We have the most randomest and specific organizations out there! Do some research online, or find out during welcome week. This is one of the reasons why I believe UCI deserves a lot of recognition: for its vast variety of different «families» you can be in. And by family, I mean a group where you feel the most comfort.
Aside from that, it IS a University of California. It’s research based. Are you expected small class sizes and highly ranked professors? Of course not. Before accusing UCI of it, know what you’re getting into. It’s a research-​based university. The professors are extremely intelligent in terms of research. They may not be the best professors, but they do try their best (most of them). Go to office hours, the many free tutoring centers we have for different subjects, ask your peers, go to a counselor, set up an appointment, get involved in your education and take advantage of the many things UCI has to offer that is «free» or «complimentary.» I’ve learned a lot about myself and my choice of major by going to the career center, talking to different counselors and peer advisors, students, tutors, and so much more. They’re all so helpful! Thanks UCI!
The ARC is farther from campus, but it’s pretty nice. It gets pretty packed because it’s a huge university and the gym isn’t huge, but it works.
I love Aldrich Park. It is my FAVORITE part of campus. Aside from all the buildings that are aesthetically pleasing (Engineering Hall, BioSci area, Ayala Science Library, etc), Aldrich Park is located in the middle of campus and is absolutely breathtaking. I love nature, trees, grass, benches, forests, and anything related to it. I always make an excuse to somehow walk across Aldrich Park to go to campus. Lying on the grass taking a nap in between classes is so comfortable, or even sitting on a bench reading a book and writing in journal. Whatever you do, Aldrich Park is the best place to do it. Whether it’s studying, or napping, or relaxing, or conversing with friends, catching up, meeting with other folks, or just going on a small, short stroll or even a vigorous exercise, Aldrich Park is the perfect park to do so!
UCI is great. Enough said. Thanks for the 1.4 years. I have 2.6 years more to go! (-:

UCI is a wonderful university. I studied biomedical engineering, made the most out of it, and had a good time. I’m glad that I chose to go to UCI, and I’m now in a PhD program.

Biggest regret. So much shit going on behind the scenes it’s despicable that so few people know about it.
I don’t recommend any of the UCs for that matter, considering they make millions, if not over a billion dollars in profit, but it absolutely kills them to provide necessary financial aid to their neediest students just so they can attend this «prestigious» university. Most of the professors are mediocre, AT BEST.
Also, check out UCI Parking and Transportation’s Unilocal page. The school pretty much runs like that. Enjoy getting shaken down by the government mafia!

Psych major.
This school is literally my worst regret. Multiple professors have complained that they were assigned a class one week before the lectures began. As such the bookstore didn’t even have the books until day of, or even weeks into the lectures, and much of the content was haphazardly thrown together. We couldn’t contact them about any preparations because there literally was no professor in the school system until the day the lectures started.
My stats teacher showed up every lecture with bags around her eyes from sleeplessness and only lectured 50 – 80 minutes on avg. of a 3 hour class. She couldn’t solve her own sample questions and frequently (and I’m not exaggerating) took breaks to Google how to do the sample problems. When asked what chapters in the book to read she responded «just browse through and find what’s relevant.»
She gave us ONE homework assignment, and it was riddled with unsolvable questions and typos. She spent until 11:30PM, the DAY BEFORE IT WAS DUE, emailing us corrections… and then didn’t give partial credit to students who filled in as much information as they could with her typos.
Her supervisor ENSURED that he would speak with her IMMEDIATELY. He ended up speaking with her a WEEK AFTER FINALS. Way too late for it to have any impact on her performance.
The worst part is that these professors can opt out of their reviews being accessible to students (something only a negatively reviewed teacher would do…). Coupled with the fact that classes are notoriously difficult to get into and fill before most people’s registration windows open, this means you won’t be able to tell which professors are good, and if you DO manage to find one that’s bad, you won’t have any other choice because they are the only one teaching your mandatory classes.
Most of the classes in my graduation requirement are never offered, so the long list of possible courses we «could» take to fulfill requirements realistically dwindles down to 1, and unless you’re a senior, that class is probably full.

Love this school! Such a pretty campus, located right in the heart of irvine. Fashion island, south coast plaza, and a bunch of other shopping centers are nearby. Academics and staff are great! Tuition is more on the expensive side, but it is totally worth it. Anteater for life!

Some of the best years of my life were spent at this university. I just wish they had a football team

Proud Anteater
As an alumni of this prestigious institution, I have nothing but wonderful claims to make. I majored in Political Science, International Studies, and Social Policy & Public Service. I was an over-​involved anteater and I don’t regret it one bit!
I spent the best 4 yours of my life at UCI and Orange County. I grew so much and met incredible people that will stay in my life for many years to come. I experienced boba on ring road, ASUCI concerts, vendor fairs, UTC development, late night arc sessions, food trucks, greeklife, and working for multiple departments at school.
UCI continues to make wonderful marks in education and individual’s lives. I am so happy and blessed to be part of this institution and will always rep my school!
ZOT ZOT ZOT

Majored in Mathematics with minors in Educational Studies, Digital Arts, and Information and Computer Science.
Some of my favorite classes included:
Cryptology (try to get Margulies — she is utterly fantastic!)
Number Theory
History of Mathematics
History of Ballet
Ballet
One of the best features of campus is Aldrich Park.
I used to love seeing bunnies gently loping down the grass on my way to the computer science labs. Great way to lower your stress!
As a commuter, I also loved the science library. Excellent place to study between classes and the upper floors are a beautiful location to watch the sun set before hopping on the freeway after rush hour has dwindled.
Have returned multiple times to buy new UCI clothing to represent!
Love my soft Hurley Anteater zip front sweatshirt.
There’s a Starbucks now? Maybe it’s a good thing this was not on campus when I attended because I didn’t start drinking coffee until after I graduated ;)
Overall a fantastic university.
Loved it so much I returned for grad school. ZOT ZOT ZOT!

My Alma Mater.
The place has definitely changed A LOT since I graduated many many moons ago, but the place has only grown in prestige and beauty.
I still come by and reminisce with friends and family here; in fact, I proposed to my wife in Aldrich Park (we’re both Anteaters… ZOT ZOT!).
But as a school, I have to say I loved my experience… the entire campus was easily accessible, people were always friendly and it was always easy to find a place tucked away somewhere where you could just rest easy and chill.
I got a great education and made many lifelong friends here; which I’m sure would have happened had I gone elsewhere, but I don’t know where I’d be without the people who affected my life here at UCI (see proposal, above). I have grown to be successful and grounded, and I have to say, UCI had a LOT to do with that! In fact, my UCI network is quite far-​reaching and has helped me out a lot more than I would have thought it would.
UCI has grown to be a very good school and has gained a lot of prominence over the years, so I’m proud to be a part of all that!
I only wish they still had SPOP! :)

Great school. Great professors. Great curriculum for everyone at school is a little expensive but the dorms are very clean and organized my sister goes here and she loves it! Go anteaters!

It keeps on upgrading and improving ever since I left more than 10 years ago! Glad to see some of the upgrades to the Athletics program and their successes in conference competition. Keep it up anteaters! Crawford Hall looks so much better compared to what we had back when I was there. Enjoy swimming with the Masters group everyday at noon!

Never been here as a student (Titans all day), but I do come here often to drop and pick up my brother (sadly he has chosen the Anteater lifestyle and looks the same for my sister sighhh, but I digress). The campus is nice, really nice actually. I’ve had the chance of running through a good part of the campus (5k run) and was able to take my time and see its glorious appeal (there was a lot of walking done in the 5k lol, plus free snow cones later… again I digress).
Not sure how parking is for students but the times I have been there I had to park near that del-​taco (hope cops don’t read this review and give me a ticket, I swear I was just getting a taco ;) but again again I digress).
PS Education is important kids
PPS Please bring back the 5k here so I can get that free snow cone again lol
PPPS «Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school»
PPPPS GURLS (see how education is important, just look at the way I spell that word lol)

Seriously, what other university has a park in the middle?
I spent 4 amazing years at UCI and, being the proud anteater that I am, I still visit the campus store once a year to purchase a new sweatshirt :)
You really get a private school experience and a great education here (I’m currently a grad student at Stanford). Add the benefit of living in OC for 4 years, polite service at any and all stores/​restaurants on campus and anywhere in OC really.
Did I mention that all the classes in the Computer Science school is amazing? And that there’s 3 boba places in the nearest vicinity? And UCI wifi at UTC?

Getting a degree at UCI saved me money on my car insurance. Now if my degree could somehow save me 100k then I’d break even.
Classes were okay. They make you take a ton of GEs. You get to learn about once upon a time people who revolved their lives around yams, I guess.
The lower division classes were all soul sucking. But you just gotta stick it out for the upper divs– that’s where the magic happens. You start feeling like «YEA I know my shit (or at least, yea I can Google my shit REALLY WELL), I could be a… insert jobs related to your study… etc, etc.» That is the best feeling in the world.
The quarter system caused me serious grief at times. It’s too much course material to cram into ten measly weeks. What’s worse is that all the core classes typically have two midterms and a final. The first midterm in my case, is scheduled as early as end of Week 2 and the second midterm sometimes is scheduled as late as Week 10. Often I end up either getting slammed with multiple midterms Week 4 and Week 8 or having to study for a different exam every week. Both cases suck. I highly recommend attending schools with semester systems instead unless you are a serious study bunny.
Normal everyday life was pretty dull.
There’s an awesome gym. They set up badminton courts there, which I love. But ever since that UCI Secrets page for the ARC went live, I pretty much stopped going. ‘Cause wow people have creepy secrets.
It’s great to bike around Irvine. The beach, as many reviews have mentioned, is only ten minutes away.
Everyone here is a serious foodie. Even at the dining commons people are gramming. You just gotta wait patiently for the picture taking to cease and then you can enjoy your meal.
Sometimes there are cray cray people who condemn hugging and yoga pants on Ring Road. And then sometimes the hummus man comes. Santa! You do exist!
Overall, my four years here at UCI was an incredibly… okay experience. I made some great friends. I met a few truly inspiring faculty. I took a handful of amazing, highly stimulating classes. But of course there will always be people who just suck (I’m talking about you, unknown douchebag who stole my math 3d midterm). There will always be classes as useless and as uninformed as Yahoo «news”(cough cough E8). You just gotta choose wisely. College is really the first time where the choice will be up to you. And even though this sounds super trite, it’s up to you to make the most of well, everything about it (still, study harder. Go to Berkeley).
Anyway, take your 3DS with you. ‘Cause StreetPass.
Oh yea. Also rabbits.
Rabbits everywhere!
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I have been waiting until I graduate until I write a review for UCI. I have to say though, UCI was not my first choice. It was the backup of my backup choice. However, due to a couple circumstances, I ended up going here. And honestly, I am glad I did.
A lot of people say UCI is boring, not a party school. But it’s what you make out of it! And I’m sure there are parties every weekend somewhere… Also, ASUCI does try its best to help with the social atmosphere around here, with Welcome Week, Shocktoberfest, Wayzgoose, Reggaefest (now called Summerlands), free movie screenings, vendor fairs, and much more. I have found myself complaining about ASUCI before (especially for Shocktoberfest artists), but I know they work hard to help the school out.
BOOKSTORE — The bookstore looks a lot nicer now, after all the construction. I walked in after not being there for 2 quarters and was like «DAMN. This place got an upgrade!» The bookstore is now called «The Hill,» but I’m sure everyone still just calls it the bookstore. The bookstore has sales every now and then (25% off merchandise during their Halloween Sale).
PARKING — UCI is notorious for parking. Oh. my. lawd. You need a permit ²⁴⁄₇ (unless there’s free parking for Wayzgoose or graduation or some other special event). No permit? TICKET. Make sure you pay attention to what stall you park in, and what time it is. I heard you can try to contest your ticket, but I haven’t heard of many people being too lucky in that department.
CLASSES — There are certain classes (within your major) that are «better» than others. But honestly, you get what you put in. A major tip I have for surviving and doing well in your classes is to start going over material for your early. Early, as in after your class ends that day. I know everyone says this, but it will help you out so, so much once midterms and finals come around. That way, you won’t be cramming in 9 lectures the day before a test.
PROFESSORS — There are some good and iffy professors here at UCI. But that’s what ratemyprofessors is for, right?
RESEARCH — UCI is known for its research. Well, in the Bio department, it is. Everyone is either going to medical, dental, pharmacy school, so everyone is doing/​wants to go into research because it looks good on applications and resumes. As for finding a research lab to go into, you’re gonna have to just email professors and hope for a reply. Or get to know a professor real well, and ask if you can join their lab. Also, getting to know a professor well can result in a pretty good recommendation letter!
ALDRICH PARK — Walking through Aldrich Park is such a nice change of scenery from Ring Road. I like walking through the park to get to class, but along the way, I do like looking at the trees and flowers. If you have the time, bring a blanket, relax, and enjoy the world. Take a nap, even! I’ve napped in the park before, and it’s definitely relaxing.
LIBRARIES — There’s the Science Library, and Langson Library. During midterms and finals seasons, wifi in the Science Library SUCKS the higher you go. Just keep that in mind. Other than that, the library is a great place to study. It’s quiet. And on the 4−6^th floors, there are study rooms you can get. They’re first come first serve, so if you’re lucky, you can get a room during a busy time. There are also computers and printers on all floors of the science library. However, if you don’t have printing money on your student ID, you can only add money on the 2^nd floor.
As for Langson Library, I can’t say much about it because I was never on this side of the school. It’s a great place to study as well, since there are tables and computers for you to study at.
STUDY CENTERS — Courtyard Study Lounge is great for group studying or self-​studying. There are study rooms that can fit 4 to 16 people (depending on the size of your group). It is super quiet in here, so you’ll get stuff done for sure. I have also heard of this place being a dead zone for cell phones. This has never happened to me, but I guess this is good in that you won’t get distracted? (I also have a separate Unilocal review on Courtyard Study Lounge!)
— Gateway is right across from Langson Library. The 4 years I was at UCI, I never went to Gateway to study. I know they’re open 24 hours during finals week. And during finals week, I hear it smells like piss. So I don’t want to experience that.
— Student center is also a good place to study. There are tables and chairs all around. Just find a place to sit, set up camp, and study. During finals week, there are free snack stations set up around the student center! They have unsweetened iced tea, granola bars, trail mix, nutrigrain bars, and more!
FOOD — There are a bunch of places to eat on campus, but I like the Pub (cash only!). I always get a burger and share a beer with someone (because my alcohol tolerance is beyond low).
Class of 2014! Hopefully I’ll be back for grad school.

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was coming here for undergrad. I came on an academic scholarship but, to be completely honest, I probably would have still chose UCI even if I didn’t receive one. I’m in love with the campus, the people, and the environment!
During my time at UCI, I was a Bus. Admin major and I thoroughly enjoyed all my classes. Bus Admin. is a relatively new major at UCI so, in my experience, the class sizes were small and I ended up seeing lots of familiar faces! Some of the classes I enjoyed outside of my major include: gangs, sports coaching, and sustainability. If you do get a chance, take those!
The academic advising for my school was also top-​notch. They really looked out for their business students with weekly newsletters of job listings and club events to keep us in the loop. I’ve heard through the grapevine that recruitment at UCI doesn’t compare to that of UCLA or XYZ school. I don’t know how UCLA’s recruiting process works. But there are plenty of employers in OC so recruiters DO come here looking to hire (Big 4, Hyundai, Verizon, Boeing, etc.).
On that note, I would highly recommend students to take advantage of UCI’s Career Center and its resources while they still access because they’re gone when you graduate. I’m a little biased because I did work there. However, the Career Center is truly on your side and there to help you – whether it’s with a resume critique, mock interview, or one-​on-​one counseling!
Of course, academics is only one facet of the college experience. I enjoyed going to the basketball and volleyball games, Wayzgoose, and Welcome Week events. Join a club or two and build bridges and make friends. Go out of your comfort zone! College is really what you want it to be. I know that’s cliché, but it’s cliché for a reason.
Overall, I have many fond memories here. UCI has invested in me and I’m a happy alum.
P. S. How fitting that this is my 50^th review as it will be the 50 year anniversary of President Johnson coming to speak at UCI this year! Glad the POTUS is coming because he will put UCI even more on the map than before! Hooray, Anteaters!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZot zot zot zot zot.
I love you UC Irvine. You will always have a special place in my heart.