UC Irvine: Off the Record - College Prowler (Off the Record)

Introduction from the Author

Portrayed in various motion pictures and television shows as an idyllic paradise located in a wealthy, harbor-front community where everyone and everything appears to be perfect, the infamous Orange County, or “OC,” has certainly made a name for itself. The University of California at Irvine, although not quite as embedded in popular culture, is also gaining nationwide recognition. One little-known fact that the major television shows fail to note is that UCI serves as a major economic powerhouse of the county, bringing in over three billion dollars annually. Also, UCI was ranked in a prestigious 2003 nationwide survey as one of the top 50 public universities in the nation. All stats and figures aside, UCI is blossoming into a reputable university that students actually desire to attend upon graduating high school. A good percentage of recent graduates even overlooked offers from prestigious schools—like the University of California at San Diego or the University of California at Santa Barbara—in order to become part of the OC’s best kept secret.

Despite being far from a social powerhouse, UCI still boasts a unique mix of cultural heritages, all in its own community. With nearly a 60 percent majority of Asians, and another 10 percent eclectic mix of other minorities, UCI is a tossed salad of ethnicities that inverts the usual white majority at other colleges and universities. This, perhaps, serves as a golden opportunity for prospective minority students (both in-state and out-of-state) to go somewhere where they can feel particularly comfortable. Even for those native to the OC (99 percent white), a walk around campus might still take a bit of adjusting. One benefit of the diversity is that there are some pretty good international food fairs and barbeques, including everything from Vietnamese to soul food, that occur on a regular basis. For the open-minded individual, UCI might be the perfect place to learn and to expand his or her cultural parameters.

With plans of expanding the student center and student facilities at hand, UCI remains focused on progress and growth, making it even more of a desirable option for applying undergraduate and graduate students.

Jennifer Truong
UC Irvine