Feb. 1 is a big deal because it marks the date that UCR begins welcoming students into the Highlander family. Incoming students nationwide have been celebrating the good news all morning (seriously, check the #UCR tag on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr) and we, the writers of Life at UCR, would like to extend a warm welcome to our incoming Highlanders. You are all fantastic and we can't wait to meet you!
Below, you'll find our experiences and advice about being admitted to the beautiful, proud and exciting world of UC Riverside.
Rubi:
Our hike to the C before finals week. We forgot to kiss it for luck, though!
I remember the exact moment when I decided UC Riverside was the place for me. During Highlander Day, I was touring campus with my mom when I realized my search for a school was over. From what I had seen, UC Riverside was a diverse place with a small campus feel, yet it had all the opportunities of a top-tier university. At Highlander Orientation, I heard a speaker say that they believed UCR to be the "best kept secret in the University of California system." If I had followed my friends and gone to a UC closer to home, I wouldn't be where I am today: England! With the help of the amazing staff at the International Education Center, I am spending the next 6 months studying in England. If you are interested in spending a semester abroad, UC Riverside has developed countless relationships with universities all around the world. With the help of the staff at IEC, you can travel anywhere from Costa Rica to Australia.
I recommend UC Riverside to every graduating senior I meet because, with the hundreds of organizations and academic opportunities Riverside has, by the end of your first quarter here it will feel like your second home.
Cecilia:
Being admitted is kind of like surfing. Surfing on a wild shark that delivers you safely to land where a crowd of people await to shake your hand, high-five, chest-bump and offer you a lifetime supply full of sandwiches. Except for the shark and sandwiches, that was exactly how my family and I celebrated my acceptance to UC Riverside. It was incredibly exciting! I had done research prior to applying but this - the transition to being admitted - was different.
I brewed a cup of coffee in my favorite Batman cup, placed the light glare of my computer close to my face and Googled everything about UC Riverside as if I was going to be a student. It was SO COOL. All of a sudden pictures of everything became possibilities. The Orbach Library? Yeah, I could study there. Latitude 55? Yep, that's where I would play pool. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf? That's where I was going to live. If you've been admitted to UCR, the hard part is over. You've ridden the shark. You're basically Chuck Norris now. Congrats! Now it's up to you to make the most of your future college experience. Don't take it lightly!
Stephanie:
Congratulations! Prepare yourself: these next 4 years are going to be the best and most terrifying years of your life. Not only will they shape the kind of person you ought to become, they will show you where your ultimate passions lie and what it truly means to be part of the UCR family. With that said, welcome to UCR...your life officially starts now.
Tina:
“Mom, is the envelope big or little? If it’s little, just throw it away! No, don’t tell me what size it is. I’ll be home after sixth period!” That was the first time my mom EVER called me during school hours. Woah, sixth period? That feels like decades ago. Congratulations to you, future Highlander! You either opened a life changing email or felt a surge of UC Riverside pride and glory when a big envelope appeared on your kitchen counter. You did it! You made it! You're one of us! You can experience the beauty of our campus, our family, our spirit, our diversity, our history, and our heart.
I know what you’re thinking: “Okay, one down, three to go!” We all have a top choice, but trust me, UCR should be your top choice. You will never find a university like UCR. It’s here where I have made my dreams a reality and made friends that have turned into family. It’s here where I have discovered who I am and what I want to achieve. The opportunities are endless at UC Riverside. Be a part of the magic. Whose side? RSIDE!
Xavier:
UCR wasn’t just my first choice; it was my only choice. Somewhere between growing up nearby, attending on-campus conferences and competitions, and my aversion to weather below 60 degrees, I fell in love with UCR before I even graduated high school. I knew UCR was right for me, but was I right for UCR? Opening my admissions packet with pop-up pictures and oranges all over was the gratifying “YES” that marked the end of my high school experience. It really sunk in that the past 12 years of school really culminated in this very moment. I was happy, but more than that, I was proud. Being nervous and scared and naive would have to come later, because now it was my turn to make UCR proud.
Chloe:
To be honest, I didn’t even consider Riverside until I visited the campus for my scholarship audition. I had discounted this amazing school for so long for no reason in particular, but everything changed when I got to campus. The feel here is what made my decision easy; the students at UCR are ambitious, but friendly, and the faculty seemed amazing. Before I even left my audition, I knew this was the place for me. Everyone at here at UCR is fully invested in bettering themselves and those around them, which makes for a truly amazing experience. Congratulations! Come on over to R’side and see what we have to offer!
