There tends to be a fair amount of skepticism about UC Merced, due to its young age. Because the school is located in a fairly small town and only opened its doors a little more than six years ago, there are plenty of students who come to UCM concerned about how established the University actually is and how boring life might be on or off campus. However, students tend to be surprised at what UCM has to offer. It definitely lives up to the UC standard, providing students with research opportunities and leadership positions. Students tend to not only adjust, but eventually come to love the cozy, neighborly atmosphere of the school. Those very accustomed to the busy city lifestyle might be shocked at the smallness of the place, but the general consensus is that there is plenty to do, both on and off campus, and that it is just a matter of exploring.
Ultimately, the University is like any other college in the sense that there will be parties. However, the party scene is not so big on campus, due to its size and the fact that there are not any fraternity or sorority houses. But there is a fair share of off-campus parties. For students more interested in extracurricular activities, UCM provides awesome opportunities, especially since students will have a chance to be at the forefront of many organizations, or even start a new organization or sports team, and create more school traditions. Students agree that by attending UCM, they have the opportunity to lay the foundation for a University with great potential. Plus, the brand-new facilities—including the labs, classrooms, and even the new, clean dorms and restrooms—are an asset to being a young school. Thus, while UCM might not provide one with a typical college experience, due to its smallness and newness, it's definitely possible for a student to have a worthwhile experience here if he or she is willing to get involved with campus life.
UC Merced Student ReviewsWhat's This?
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Majors at University of California - Merced
B+
Psychology Classes
I am happy with the psychology classes offered at UCM but I am very unsatisfied with the limited options we have. I have had trouble getting the upper division psychology classes I need because the classes get filled very quickly. Although getting the classes required is difficult I would do it again because all the psychology classes I've taken are very interesting and informative. In the near future I would like to become a social worker or a counselor for high school students. I am not too concerned with being able to find a job in my field because I know psychology is a very flexible major that can be applied to many jobs.
May 22, 2012
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Majors at University of California - Merced
B+
Psychology
The only challenge that I encountered while trying to declare psychology as one of my majors was that I was told I could not declare a major both in Psychology and Sociology because they conflicted. All I had to do to declare my major was fill out the form that stated I wanted psychology as my major; I also had to get signatures from my SSHA advisers.
May 22, 2012
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Majors at University of California - Merced
mderuso
Environmental Engineering '13
3.5
B
Not So Many Choices
There are not that many choices to major in here at UC Merced. I would say that there's probably less than 20 majors here. But the majors that are offered are in my opinion the best in the world! We have professors from all around who are very dedicated to providing students with the tools to succeed in the real world
May 22, 2012
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User rating for University of California - Merced is
3.5 out of 5
based on 395 user reviews.
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- Harini Kompella
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- Santa Clarita, California
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- Human Biology
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