University of California - Irvine - Overall Experience

College Prowler Take

Many students here will admit that UCI wasn’t their first choice or even their second. While UCI still doesn’t live up to the prestige of UCLA or UC Berkeley—leading to some serious inferiority complexes among some students—it’s increasingly gaining respect. It may not have a football team, an infinite number of majors, a true college town atmosphere, an abundance of parking spots, or even a reputable mascot, but the administration is still growing and expanding the campus with the public funds and donations that it gains.

Despite being strong in academics and fair in athletics, there are still some heavy skeptics in a group of would-be happy, shiny people. No university, no matter how good, can please everyone. Whether you enjoy UCI will be based on what you make of it through your own perceptions. With enough imagination, you should never be bored, and there is no pressure to do anything you don’t want to. The minimum courseload is light, and most people take at least one class beyond the minimum required for full-time status. This leaves plenty of time to socialize, hang out in the beautifully maintained park at the center of the campus, or do whatever else suits you best. UCI and the community of Irvine eventually become like a second home to many students here. While it’s not perfect, it’s hard for anyone to resist falling in love with the beach on a Southern California day. The University of California at Irvine is the perfect school to mix work and play.

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Students Speak Out

UCIsl says: University of California - Irvine 2015 Law and Legal Studies

I would come here again, but I... I would come here again, but I also wouldn't mind going to a different college. 12345 Overall Experience: April 29, 2009 Report

UCIWW8 says: University of California - Irvine 2015 Engineering

Learning at UCI has been a good... Learning at UCI has been a good experience so far. I feel like I am able to study and learn effectively here. I like the classes I'm taking. In one class, we learned things about the general areas of civil engineering that I really liked. In another class we tested the strength of concrete—very interesting. 12345 Overall Experience: April 10, 2009 Report

UCIDY says: University of California - Irvine 2015 Business

Living in the dorms was my... Living in the dorms was my favorite experience. I miss it so much—the convenience, the people, the convenience, and, oh yeah, the convenience. Food was around, friends were just outside the door, and classes were walking distance away. 12345 Overall Experience: April 06, 2009 Report

UCIJE says: University of California - Irvine 2015 Engineering

Irvine is an awesome school. It... Irvine is an awesome school. It can be hard to find where you belong, like at any college, but when you do, you will realize that there's no where else you'd feel more comfortable. 12345 Overall Experience: April 05, 2009 Report

UCIHO says: University of California - Irvine 2015 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

I absolutely love UCI. I think... I absolutely love UCI. I think it's absolutely essential to dorm your first year because of personal experience. I know that I am not alone when I say this, but the people you meet your first year are the people you will know for a long time and will share countless memories with in college. 12345 Overall Experience: April 05, 2009 Report

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Tracey Xuan Nguyen
Hometown: Hawthorne, CA
Major: Business Economics

The first time Tracey went rock climbing on a real rock she was able to climb all the way to the top, but not before scraping her whole left arm along the jagged wall and swearing like a sailor every time her foot slipped!

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.