Hey y’all!
It’s me, Ian, and this time, I would like to talk about my (almost) year here from the point of view of an upcoming freshman. That means if you are a high school senior, this one is for you. I’m going to go over a few questions that I think will be helpful, as well as share some of my defining experiences over the past few quarters.
So let’s get started, shall we?
Q: What should I expect from my first year at UCI?
A: Overall, I think going to UCI will give you the stereotypical “college experience” people talk about. As long as you make sure to balance work and fun, your first year will go smoothly. One thing to note, though—you will get sick. Living with four roommates and interacting with so many people daily, it is almost guaranteed that you will get sick. When you do, it is important to take that time off—buy some cold medicine, and take care of yourself. Even though you might miss events, remember that you are the number one priority. On a side note, try your best to stay healthy. The dining halls offer a plethora of desserts, and while they’re great, it is important also to eat fruits and vegetables to maintain your health.
Q: How hard is UCI academically?
A: This question varies, depending on what major you are taking (or trying to get into). As for me, I feel like my classes have been just hard enough—hard enough to challenge me but not too hard as to be impossible to do well in. However, certain classes are generally known to be hard classes, and others are known to be what I call “free classes.” If you are taking a hard class, such as Writing 60 or most chem classes, I would recommend taking a “free class” as well, such as Anthro2A (the online version). The easier class can help relieve stress from the harder class, as you don’t have to spend as much time learning the material for that class.
Q: How is UCI socially?
A: This also varies, depending on how much effort you put into socializing. UCI is often stereotyped as a less social school, but I would say that is only partially true. In my opinion, UCI is only socially dead if you put no effort into socializing back. My biggest recommendation for upcoming freshmen is to prioritize being social, especially in the first few weeks. During this time, everyone is more willing to meet new people, and as long as you actively socialize, people will be receptive. After the first quarter, people tend to fall into their own groups, but that doesn’t mean meeting new people is impossible. In fact, I’ve gotten to know so many new people this quarter, so if the first quarter doesn’t go well for you, not all hope is lost. As a whole, I wouldn’t put very social as one of UCI’s best traits, but there most definitely is a community for everyone here—you just have to look for them.
Now as an upcoming freshman, one of your first UCI experiences will be SPOP (The new student orientation in the summer). If you can go to SPOP, I would 100% recommend going, as not only do you meet your advisor and choose classes there, but you will also meet your fellow freshmen for the first time. As this is your first time, make the most of it! Talk to as many people as you can, and start practicing the introductory phrases that you will be saying countless times in the future:
What’s your name?
What’s your major?
Where are you from?
What dorm do you live in?
It may feel awkward to ask at first, but trust me, you’ll get used to it after the 100th time or so. But TLDR: have fun! The vibes at UCI are great, so make the most of it.
Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope this helped, at least a little bit. That’s all for this week, so see y’all next week!
Zot Zot Zot,
Ian