University of California - Riverside Reviews

UC Riverside has one of the best...

UC Riverside has one of the best wireless networks in the country.

Campus police are always on top of...

Campus police are always on top of this, but it is hard to catch every offense. On housing grounds. however, there is a zero-tolerance policy that is strictly enforced.

Greek life is okay. We do not have...

Greek life is okay. We do not have Greek houses, so it is not that strong, per se. You do somewhat miss that experience of living in a Greek house, but it's all good. Greek parties, whether at a house or club party, are a good time to socialize and hang out.

The teachers here are definitely...

The teachers here are definitely serious about their teaching. They are not as lenient on workload as those who teach at a community college. Of course, in a class of about 300 students, a teacher's mindset is "survival of the fittest." But, that is not to say that they do not care about their students because teachers here are very encouraging. UCR consists of its challenges and its rewards.

The party scene here in Riverside...

The party scene here in Riverside is not as lively as, say, that of Los Angeles. Most people I know drive down to LA or downtown Fullerton to party. Although, the other day someone mentioned that Club Sevilla off the 91 is a lively spot on the weekends.

Parties on campus are for all...

Parties on campus are for all ages, and they are mostly organized through either the Greek community or athletic teams. Bars and clubs are easier to get in when you're 21 and over. Students 18 and under have to wait in line for over an hour at times. The good spots vary day to day.

The places on campus are pretty...

The places on campus are pretty decent. The dining halls could be better, but you will find things that you like, and you wont starve. In our Commons, we have Panda Express, which is pretty popular, and places to get sandwiches and pizza—the usual.

At UC Riverside, the teachers are...

At UC Riverside, the teachers are amazing. It is so refreshing and reassuring that my professors are well known on a national and global scale for all of the work they have done or are currently involved with. Despite their own hectic schedules, they make themselves available for questions and discussions. I feel like my teachers want the students to gain necessary knowledge but still understand that we are in college and have work from other classes, as well. Being on a quarter system with 10-week courses can be extremely stressful at times, but I think that the teachers do the best they can in allotting work for the students. UC Riverside has a pretty good science department and a pre-med program.

I think it is getting better with...

I think it is getting better with the new Commons. It's a nice place to kick back or wait for your classes. I'm not big on the campus food, but I have had worse. I tend to drive southbound on the 91 freeway for good food.

UCR has a tram system that comes...

UCR has a tram system that comes every hour! It's really helpful when trying to get around campus because it stops everywhere. It even goes locally around town, so getting to grocery stores and other places is pretty easy.

In the dorms, we are not allowed...

In the dorms, we are not allowed to drink, and if caught, it is strictly enforced. However, it is very easy to not get caught,therefor causing students to take the rules less seriously.

The parties are the best. UCR is...

The parties are the best. UCR is known as being a party school. The clubs around here aren't that great. Whenever there is a frat or sorority event going on at the clubs, they usually suck.

It's alright. I wish there was...

It's alright. I wish there was more selection and better quality. The most decent spot is Panda Express, and that's not even that great. The dining halls in the dorm suck. The food is very bad.

I came to UC Riverside because I...

I came to UC Riverside because I was offered a full scholarship to go into their psychology department. Since I've been here I've found all of the professors to be very smart, approachable, and to have expertise in their fields. UC Riverside is a research-based school, and there is plenty of research to jump into to gain experience. They have an extensive psychology department with famous professors. It seems to be an up-and-coming school.

It plays a huge role, and so many...

It plays a huge role, and so many people are Greek. For the most part, they throw the parties and some of the community service events, but there's definitely no pressure to partake. However, if you decide to try to be a part of one, then change your mind, you're still perfectly fine socially, but as far as Greek life goes, you're blacklisted.

On-campus parties are okay, I...

On-campus parties are okay, I guess. Off-campus parties are usually pretty good. I don't go to any of the bars or clubs off campus, but there are plenty of really good hangout spots and restaurants in downtown Riverside.

The food on campus sucks. The best...

The food on campus sucks. The best thing is probably Panda Express and that's not very good. There are no simple burger joints or Subways or anything.

Riverside might be the one of the...

Riverside might be the one of the very most diverse campuses in the nation, although sometimes I feel a little left out being white!

The weather is excellent. People...

The weather is excellent. People think Riverside is all smoggy and hot, but it's rarely smoggy and the temperature is very nice in the winter.

Varsity sports are not too huge,...

Varsity sports are not too huge, other than basketball—that's the sport we're known for. We have no football team, but basketball is really fun to watch here, but not too many people get into it. It's not like UCLA, where they're really known for their sports. You'll really only hear about intramurals if you go to the gym. If I didn't go to the gym, I wouldn't even know we had them.

Greek life is actually pretty big....

Greek life is actually pretty big. They always set up their tents in the very center of campus, so you can't miss them. It's hard to have a social life if you're not in a frat or sorority. They throw pretty much all the parties and fundraisers, which can actually be kind of boring. A lot of people can be seen wearing their letters around campus, so it's good to be in a sorority if you really want to make friends fast and have a good social life, though it's possible to have a social life without them—it just makes it easier if you're a Greek.

Parking is alright, but it's all...

Parking is alright, but it's all in one corner of campus. If you have any visitors, tough luck—there is no free parking on campus.

If you have a car, you can eat at...

If you have a car, you can eat at really good places. Rancho has a lot of restaurants and so does Moreno Valley, but the drive can be a bit far. If you are walking around campus, your choices are really limited to fast food.

Parking isn't that bad if you live...

Parking isn't that bad if you live on campus. If you commute, the parking lots are sort of out of the way.

I didn't rush, but it looks pretty...

I didn't rush, but it looks pretty lame. They make giant re-creations of their Greek symbols and place them in the Quad by the Bell Tower, probably in some feeble attempt to advertise their club. The members are creepy, and more than 50 percent of UCR students commute anyway. I'm a commuter.