University of California - Irvine Reviews

  • 158 Reviews
  • Irvine (CA)
  • Annual Tuition: $44,011
94% of 158 students said this degree improved their career prospects
97% of 158 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Haowei Tang
  • Reviewed: 2/17/2014
  • Degree: Chemical Engineering
"Good place to do research, but not a good party city."
Elizabeth Erickson
  • Reviewed: 2/11/2014
  • Degree: Music
"My particular program seeks to be a platform for innovative contemporary music. The UCI Music department has a strong academic foundation for both classical and jazz musics, and this graduate program in Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology pushes us as composers to be always learning, adapting, and innovating with the times. Our strong emphasis in technology means that we work much with the latest developments in audio software and equipment, and are encouraged to make developments of our own. We have the opportunity for much interdisciplinary work, both in collaborating with engineers and mathematicians on the technological aspects of our work, but with artists of other mediums, such as dance or visual art. I feel the only con I have encountered here at UCI is the cost of living in Orange County, and the industrial business center that is Irvine. A small price to pay for an excellent education."
Mohamed Abdelgany
  • Reviewed: 12/17/2013
  • Degree: Electrical Engineering
"Some good classes but not a very comprehensive program. Also very little emphasis on practical tools lfor digital engineers like RTL."
cara heller
  • Reviewed: 11/6/2013
  • Degree: MBA
"I love the intimate class size and the willingness of students to help their fellow classmates. They have amazing connections to the best local companies. I'm 100% satisfied with my choice of MBA program and would recommend it to anyone."
michael minihan
  • Reviewed: 11/6/2013
  • Degree: Marketing
"great program, very competitive among the students, a considerable amount of international students but lack of verbal/oral skills equates to less communication of their background and work experience to others, and thus, less value to the overall group experience."
Alexander Stipe
  • Reviewed: 10/9/2013
  • Degree: MBA
"Great faculty, competitive classmates who are accomplished in their current fields. There's a great mix of undergraduate studies and a higher level of technical backgrounds than many other MBA programs I looked into. Very nice facilities and yet they have enough funding to build a brand new state of the art building that will open next year."
QT Pai
  • Reviewed: 9/25/2013
  • Degree: Liberal Studies
"Its a public school, so if you are independent and able to self-initiate to guide yourself through the college process. California state schools are a good way to get a degree without the financial burden."
Laura Zlotowski
  • Reviewed: 9/17/2013
  • Degree: Criminal Justice
"can't speak for value/cost because PhD program is paid for but top notch faculty and leading program...whether the return is there outside of the PhD is hard to speak to however"
Shannon Reid
  • Reviewed: 9/15/2013
  • Degree: Criminal Justice
"This program has been a huge positive in my educational experience. The financial aid is amazing and I was funded for my entire Ph.D. They have great faculty and support staff. The only con is that California is expensive. Living costs are high."
Nolan Phillips
  • Reviewed: 9/12/2013
  • Degree: Sociology
"I believe that there is excellent support from professors and a great environment to collaborate with peers. I think the overall cost of living is detrimental to the development of the program and that the rising cost of transportation (parking) is only getting worse. Overall, I think it is a fantastic program that could be improved if UCI better controlled the cost of student-housing and parking; however, the program itself is exceptional!"
Liseli Lopez
  • Reviewed: 8/21/2013
  • Degree: Secondary Education
"My graduate program is led by a caring, empathic faculty that keeps you informed of local job opportunities, workshops and provides plenty of academic and emotional support for students. The enthusiasm of the faculty for education is obvious and their passion transfers into class discussions and activities. The university provides many options for students who use public transportation, ranging from bike rentals to shuttle bus that takes you around campus. For commuters, the cost of parking can be pretty steep. The city of Irvine is the safest in the county and the school has a safety network that alerts students of any potentially threatening happenings on campus. There is are many places to eat and hang out, including a theater within walking distance. The area is very nice and although I do not live in it, I believe the cost of living may be higher than other places. The program is relatively small and requires a lot of group work which leaves you with a great network and lifelong friends. The program does take up a great deal of time towards the middle and end, making it very difficult to focus on much else. All in all, this program will leave you feeling with a great sense of accomplishment."
Carmynn Crites
  • Reviewed: 8/16/2013
  • Degree: Teaching
"I feel that after using this rating system it has helped me to really think about this program and what I am going to get out of it. This program truly prepares its future teachers for the complexity of the world they are getting into, and the people that they will meet and interact with. The workload, while intense, is needed, reflective, and collaborative, the type of work that is representative of the life of an effective teacher. The programs cons are its lack of financial support being a grad program and being an intensive one, compacted into a short amount of time, it is difficult for its students to work while completing it and so loans are usually the option and debt a fear for many of its students. A pro on that side however, is also the length of the program!"
Julia Keplinger
  • Reviewed: 8/14/2013
  • Degree: Elementary Education
"The staff is incredible. The quality of professors and administrators is very high and you will receive a lot of support. The school is in a very safe, but not that exciting of an area. The cost of living is pretty high, but comparable to West Los Angeles where I went to undergrad. Using a car is very expensive and parking is very difficult; it is even more difficult to find street parking than LA! UC's offer such a high quality program and I am glad I chose UCI."
William Wang
  • Reviewed: 7/25/2013
  • Degree: MBA
"alumni database is smaller than other schools, but the size of the program is great because you actually get to know all your classmates unlike other schools. the career center is great and very helpful. the school is currently constructing a new building which should look and feel amazing upon completion. students are generally nice to each and not cut-throat."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 7/20/2013
  • Degree: Liberal Studies
"Tell us about your college experience.My college experience was great. I think looking back I could have enjoyed it more. But overall it was still great. I think now in hindsight I value college more as an experience than getting a degree. Getting a degree is actually very important but I think the experience of a young 17-18 year old ventuirng out into the world without parents really teaches you a lot and prepares yourself for the future. It's an important time for becoming who you are. My school was a good fit at the time. Looking back I wish I had gone to an out of state school but at the time it was a great fit. I also wish I knew more about how student loan debt would affect me. It seems that most students just accept student loans without really understanding how it would affect one's future life.Would you get the same degree if you could start over?I would not choose the same degree. At the time I was young and unsure. I would choose a different degree that was more related to a skill and not so generic.What advice can you offer other students?I would say go to college knowing what you are going to do. If you're wavering between majors or have no idea what you want to do, I honestly would recommend taking the year off and travel or go to a community college to learn more about yourself. That way when you enter university, you won't be wasting money and know exactly what you want to do and your degree will work for you. I would also advise to talk to someone who would honestly tell them about the implications of accepting student loans. And fully understand how much will be borrowed and how that will affect later on in the future."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 7/19/2013
  • Degree: Environmental Engineering
"Tell us about your college experience.I really enjoyed my time at UCI. The campus itself was absolutely beautiful, and one could not ask for a more premiere location than Southern California, and in particular, Orange County. The resources on campus were fantastic. Computer access was very easy and plentiful. Libraries were spacious and always had quiet areas available for study.Would you get the same degree if you could start over?I would go back to school for the same degree, as it provided me an absolutely fantastic opportunity to start a career in a fairly lucrative and in-demand field. I am confident that my degree from a prestigious university will continue to pay dividends down the road.What advice can you offer other students?Get into Science, Technology, Engineering or Medicine. Do not max out on loans. If you need to go to community college for financial reasons, by all means do it, as your resume will only show that you graduated from a 4 year university. Take advantage of internship opportunities during the summer between semesters, and utilize all campus career resources as much as possible during your time in school, as they are available to you for free and will not be the day after you get handed your degree."
Richard Kong
  • Reviewed: 7/15/2013
  • Degree: MBA
"The pros about this program is the fact that the facilities are very updated and accommodating to the modern business life. However, the only disadvantage would be the fact that there are no online options, making in class attendance mandatory."
Beth Sonne
  • Reviewed: 7/5/2013
  • Degree: Elementary Education
"I was nervous about returning to school after running a bible camp for over 30 years. I wanted a school that would appreciate the life experience I am bringing to the table and one that would challenge me. Since I have only recently started back to school to pursue my Masters in Education, I have not yet found any "cons" in my program. I could not be happier that I was accepted, and subsequently chose, the UCI program. The campus is beautiful and easy to get around, there are a lot of entertainment and recreation opportunities, and the other students have been friendly and helpful. I would say the thing I like best about this school is the faculty. In my department, they have all had practical experience in the real world and are very willing to take time to give advice and guidance. Additionally they are good instructors and I feel I have been getting a lot out my classes. The other thing I really like about the UCI program is the amount of student teaching you get in the Graduate program. With this program I feel I will be well prepared to be an engaging and impactful teacher when I leave school next year. I have not found any other programs in the area to make the grade in the way that UCI does."
David-Anthony Gordon
  • Reviewed: 6/29/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"The faculty are extremely supportive and always available. Even before you start your first quarter, they interested in your academic future and the relevant professors get in contact with you to discuss how they can assist you both academically and professionally."
Eulalie Laschever
  • Reviewed: 5/25/2013
  • Degree: Sociology
"This program has incredible academics and mentor-ship. Irvine is not a very nice place to live."