Uc Riverside (Off the Record)

Introduction from the Author

When people ask me where I’m going to college, I’ll timidly reply, “the University of California, Riverside.” It’s with a look of confusion that people usually smile and nod, having heard of UCLA and UC Berkeley, but not much about UC Riverside, if anything at all. Those few individuals who happen to know anything at all about it typically think of it as the school located way out there in the boonies. To most, UCR is just another university. Many also look at UCR as a part of their “back-up” plans—the school they will go to if no other UC wants them. Some even confuse UCR with private colleges, junior colleges, or as being a part of the California State University system instead of the UC system. However, UCR has been quickly building a reputation of its own. Recent budget cuts, which have caused major cutbacks across the board, including the cap on enrollment, have forced UCR to become more selective. Word-of-mouth about what UCR has to offer students is traveling fast. Those who are familiar with the University and more directly tied to it realize the specialties it has to offer. The home of the Highlanders, UCR is a smaller UC campus known for its personal touch and incredible scientific research. It is also the only UC campus to put forward a creative writing major. When given the chance, UCR shines.

UC Riverside is growing and improving so rapidly, that its name recognition hasn’t caught up with it yet. There is constant construction and plans for expansion. In the last few years, UC Riverside has grown from a student body population of about 11,000 to one of approximately 14,000. A major emphasis that the school continues to strive to hold onto is its personal touch and attention for each and every student. As the University expands its size and academic programs, the school’s students continue to grow with it.

Honestly, I’d never thought of attending UC Riverside until it was time for me to look into the higher education realm and make a choice. It’s hard to paint an accurate portrait of the school with just facts and statistics. UCR has a unique cultural dynamic that defines the University in the eyes of its students, faculty, and staff. It has been called the third most diverse university across the nation. Students have an opportunity to interact with a wide variety of students from different backgrounds. When you have students from around the world participating in a campus environment where diversity is embraced and treasured, you’re guaranteed a certain level of perspective. With professors that are internationally known for their research accomplishments and publications, you’re guaranteed a certain level of intellectualism, as long as you take advantage of the knowledge available to you.

If you’re interested in UCR, you probably already know all that it can offer you in terms of academics and professionalism; just be prepared to ask yourself a larger question—do you want to spend the next four years of your life there? This is far from an easy question to answer. Hopefully, this book can provide you with some insight into what life is really like at the University of California, Riverside, located in sunny Southern California.

Cynthia Wald, Author
UC Riverside