Hello!
This week I will provide you with information regarding community and campus life. I also want to remind you to register for the new graduate student orientation events on September 17 and 18. I look forward to meeting you there. Click here to register.
Irvine
Located 40 miles south of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego, UC Irvine is minutes from the ocean and borders the majestic beach cities of Laguna and Newport Beach. Ranked by Money magazine as one of the Top 25 cities to live in the United States, Irvine features more than 40,000 acres of open space open to hikers, joggers and bikers alike. Irvine also is repeatedly ranked as the nation’s safest large city. There are plenty of local shopping and entertainment opportunities, so I recommend that you make your own list of things you want to see of experience while you are here.
The City of Irvine website (http://legacy.cityofirvine.org/default.asp) provides information on city services, the history of the city, and resources for those who are new to the area. Irvine is home to the Orange County Great Park which host many of the city’s events to attend (http://www.ocgp.org/).
Taste of America Program
Beginning in October, you will have an opportunity to connect with families in the Irvine area with a group of 2-5 international students and a GIC Peer Mentor. If you are interested in having dinner at local host family’s home, please submit your application online through this link: http://goo.gl/forms/gqwmFhlllw. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about American culture.
Life at UCI
UCI graduate students hail from all 50 states and from 65 countries. UCI is \a diverse community with many things to do outside of the classroom that can impact your graduate experience. When not in the classroom, library or lab, graduate students can …
- Work out at theAnteater Recreation Center or join an intramural sports team (http://www.campusrec.uci.edu/arc/index.asp)
- Attend a talk by world-renownedspeakers (http://today.uci.edu/?all=1)
- Attend concerts like Shocktoberfest (http://www.asuci.uci.edu/shocktoberfest/) and Summerlands (http://www.asuci.uci.edu/summerlands/), plays, and danceperformances (http://www.arts.uci.edu/calendar)
- Watch UC Irvine’s nationally ranked Division Isports teams (http://www.ucirvinesports.com/landing/index)
- Attend workshops or participate in certificate series offered at Graduate Resource Center (http://www.grad.uci.edu/services/grc/index.html)
- Get involved in the local community
- Mingle with fellow students and postdoctoral scholars at the Anthill Pub & Grille
- Or enjoy the sunshine at Aldrich Park
Getting Involved
Graduate students play an active role in campus life by getting involved in clubs and organizations (http://www.campusorgs.uci.edu/), including the Associated Graduate Students (http://www.ags.uci.edu/) — UC Irvine’s officially recognized graduate student government.
Your school or program may also offer student groups related to your field of study. You will learn more about these in your school/program specific orientations in September.
If you live in graduate housing communities on campus, you can get involved with Residents’ Council or can attend events in the communities to meet your fellow residents (http://housing.uci.edu/grad/index.html).
Graduate InterConnect Blog
Read the blog (https://ucirvinegradinterconnect.wordpress.com/) for more information to help your arrival preparation and to get to know the Graduate InterConnect Mentors. We will post different topics each week that include our personal experiences and tips.
Graduate Student Orientation
Your schedule of orientation events is as follows:
- Thursday, September 17 (12:00pm–5:00pm)
- International New Graduate Student Orientation
- International Master’s and Ph.D. students only
- Friday, September 18 (8:30am–6:00pm)
- Campuswide New Graduate Student Orientation
- All incoming Master’s and Ph.D. students
Register now for both events: https://ucigrad.hobsonsradius.com/ssc/eform/N6703IM0868Ex6700kx826.ssc.
I hope you found this information useful in your preparation to come to UCI. Let me know if you have other questions.
Sincerely,
Your Peer Mentor
Graduate InterConnect Peer Mentor
Graduate Resource Center (GRC)
3100 Gateway Study Center
Graduate Division
UC Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697