All About the University of California Riverside
The University of California- Riverside is one of the ten campuses in the University of California System. UCR started in 1907 as the UC Citrus Experiment Station. Since then, it has continued to pioneer scientific research in the nation, as well as also having a strong emphasis on the arts and humanities. UCR is lauded for having one of the most diverse campuses in the USA, giving university students a holistic tertiary education.
Degrees offered
UCR is divided into three colleges. The Bourns College of Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Business Informatics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The college also offers BS + MS degrees in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
The College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences has the following departments focusing on different areas of scientific research and study: Biochemistry, Biology, Botany and Plant Sciences, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Nematology, Physics and Astronomy, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, and Statistics.
The College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences offers numerous majors, minors, and interdisciplinary programs. These programs are conducted under the auspices of the following departments: Anthropology, Art, Art History, Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages, Creative Writing, Dance, Economics, English, Ethnic Studies, Hispanic Studies, History, Media and Cultural Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Theatre, and Women’s Studies.
Alumni
UCR boasts several alumni who have won distinctions in the fields of science, art, literature, and sports. Dr. Richard R. Schrock was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Steve Breen is a Pulitzer Prize winner. U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins also hails from UCR. Many major league baseball players, such as Eric Show and John Lowenstein, are UCR alumni.
Rankings and reviews
UCR was ranked 96th among all national universities by the 2010 US News and World Report, with a rating of more selective, as well as being one of the most diverse universities nationwide.
The Princeton Review’s America’s Best Value Colleges cited UCR as one of America’s Best Value Colleges. Forbes Magazine rated UCR as the 25th best college buy in the USA.
Admission tips
The most important factors for a successful application to UCR are the student’s SAT and ACT scores and high school grades. The minimum high school GPA for successful applicants is 3.0. UCR also looks at applicants’ class rankings and admission essays.
To be considered eligible for admission into UCR, applicants should have completed 2 years of History, 4 years of English, 3 years of Mathematics (although 4 years are strongly recommended), 2 years of Laboratory Science (although 3 years are strongly recommended), 2 years of a language other than English (although 3 years are recommended), 1 year of Visual and Performing Arts, and 1 year of College Preparatory Electives. Other requirements and recommendations can be found at UCR’s admissions website, http://my.ucr.edu/Pages/default_old.aspx.
Admission facts
Admissions Data (2007):
Percent of Applicants Admitted: 86.7%
Test Scores — 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 450 / 560
SAT Math: 470 / 610
SAT Writing: 450 / 560
ACT Composite: 18 / 23
ACT English: 17 / 23
ACT Math: 18 / 25
Contact info
Mailing Address:
University of California, Riverside
900 University Ave.
Riverside, CA 92521
Telephone Number: (951) 827-1012
Students may apply online at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html. More helpful information may be found at http://my.ucr.edu/Pages/default.aspx.