UC Irvine Admission
UC Irvine Undergraduate Program
UC Irvine Application

The Facts

University of California Irvine is a traditional large research center known for its prominence in the fields of engineering and biology. However, they also have pioneered some innovative new programs recently, such as one of the first departments of Asian-American Studies, and a program called ArtsBridge, which grants college students scholarships to teach art in K-12 classrooms.

Like all schools in the University of California system, admission is rather competitive, and last year over 34,400 students applied and 18,517 were admitted, but only 4,043 actually enrolled for the coming year. The university is made up of around 19,200 undergraduates as well as 4,900 graduate students, and there is a student to faculty ratio of approximately 18:1. Most of the classes are quite large, and students do complain about feeling like just another number, however, they also remark that professors are readily available during office hours, but you have to actively seek them out if you have questions or concerns.

The university is located in the town of Irvine, California, which is known to be one of the safest cities in the country. However, it is also a “planned community,” with every entity regulated, so most students complain that it’s boring and really sterile.  

The Social Scene

There really are no places in Irvine for students to hang out, except for a couple of movie theaters and shopping malls. However, the famous Laguna and Newport beaches are a ten minute bike ride away, and mountains are nearby as well, so students are not without ample weekend entertainment. There is also an on-campus pub, however, they are no nonsense about the legal drinking age, and all drinks must be consumed in the pub. UCI is not a party school at all, its much more professionally oriented, and most of the students prefer to keep their minds on studying, as many are pre-med.

The campus itself is gorgeous, built in a circuitous pattern with lovely buildings and even lovelier surroundings. The dorms are some of the best and largest in the country, however, most students actually commute, which also attributes to the lack of social life. There are fraternities and sororities, but there is no official “Greek Row,” so they do not have a major influence on campus. The university does have many student organizations, such as the Society for Creative Anachronism which holds a yearly medieval fair.

Sports are not exceptionally popular, and the university is notorious for a major lack of school spirit. However, the basketball program was resurrected in 2000, and now games attendance is slowly increasing.

The guys and girls are nice enough, but if its style and individuality you’re looking for, you probably won’t find it at UC Irvine.

What’s Good

“The biology program is fantastic and helps when you are applying for medical school because all grad schools throughout the country know UC Irvine.”

“The dorms are rockin’ and the campus is pimpin’.”

“Everyone is really chill here, there’s no pressure to rush to the finish line.”

What’s Bad

“I am interminably bored by Irvine. It’s like Pleasantville.”

“Everyone here is from a really rich family and it shows in their attitudes.”

“All the students are basically people who didn’t get accepted to UC Berkeley.”

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