Whether you’re from California or not, chances are you’ve heard of the UC schools. These schools fall under the University of California (UC) system, which encompasses nine large public schools that offer both undergraduate and graduate education. The nine universities are UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced.
While each school differs in both overall ranking and their specialties, UC schools are generally considered to be some of the best in the United States. They have strong departments in STEM, humanities, and social sciences, and all tend to offer similar advantages and disadvantages.
While each school differs in both overall ranking and their specialties, UC schools are generally considered to be some of the best in the United States. They have strong departments in STEM, humanities, and social sciences, and all tend to offer similar advantages and disadvantages.
Some things to consider:
Before making a decision about where to apply or attend college, it’s important to look at the schools on a holistic basis. Here, we’ll dive into some basic aspects of the UC schools that may help you decide whether or not they are a good fit for you.
Large public university: UC schools are fairly large, with over 20,000 undergraduate students, but this can widely vary. For example, while UC Merced has around 8,000 undergrad students, UCLA and UC Berkeley have around 31,000.
Cost: The cost of attending a UC school drastically differs depending on the residency status of the student. For those who are residents of California, the tuition and fees were around $14k for the 2019-2020 school year, but $44k for out-of-state students. Take into consideration this disparity, and weigh it against the benefits of attending a public school if you’re not applying in-state.
Specialty: While all UC schools provide a great education, their rankings vary in different areas. While one school may be more suitable for political science or nursing, another may have a greater reputation for biology or business. It’s crucial that you look not only at the rankings, but also the opportunities that come along, such as internship availability, volunteer positions, and more. Think about this step holistically to strive for a more well-rounded experience.
Location & social life: With so many different UC schools, you have the opportunity to search for one that will not only provide you with a high-quality education, but also enable you to thrive as an individual. Students in the UC system can attest that each school genuinely has different vibes both in and out of the classroom setting. Do you enjoy living in a city or beach area? Do you prefer a more outgoing scene? What about safety? While stereotypes may play into this, there is still a decent difference between the campuses that is worth looking into.
All in all…
The UC system is a unique and innovative form of education at the collegiate level. Ultimately, college is a test of one’s ability to take advantage of their education, rather than letting their school or circumstances dictate their success. No matter what UC you decide upon (or not), you’ll be okay.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on Starry Scholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆
Before making a decision about where to apply or attend college, it’s important to look at the schools on a holistic basis. Here, we’ll dive into some basic aspects of the UC schools that may help you decide whether or not they are a good fit for you.
Large public university: UC schools are fairly large, with over 20,000 undergraduate students, but this can widely vary. For example, while UC Merced has around 8,000 undergrad students, UCLA and UC Berkeley have around 31,000.
Cost: The cost of attending a UC school drastically differs depending on the residency status of the student. For those who are residents of California, the tuition and fees were around $14k for the 2019-2020 school year, but $44k for out-of-state students. Take into consideration this disparity, and weigh it against the benefits of attending a public school if you’re not applying in-state.
Specialty: While all UC schools provide a great education, their rankings vary in different areas. While one school may be more suitable for political science or nursing, another may have a greater reputation for biology or business. It’s crucial that you look not only at the rankings, but also the opportunities that come along, such as internship availability, volunteer positions, and more. Think about this step holistically to strive for a more well-rounded experience.
Location & social life: With so many different UC schools, you have the opportunity to search for one that will not only provide you with a high-quality education, but also enable you to thrive as an individual. Students in the UC system can attest that each school genuinely has different vibes both in and out of the classroom setting. Do you enjoy living in a city or beach area? Do you prefer a more outgoing scene? What about safety? While stereotypes may play into this, there is still a decent difference between the campuses that is worth looking into.
All in all…
The UC system is a unique and innovative form of education at the collegiate level. Ultimately, college is a test of one’s ability to take advantage of their education, rather than letting their school or circumstances dictate their success. No matter what UC you decide upon (or not), you’ll be okay.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on Starry Scholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆