The University of California, Irvine is a great public research university located in Orange County CA. UCI is one of 10 universities in the University of California system and is actually the youngest university in the system. As Orange County has experienced massive growth over the last few decades, the Southern California university system has growth comparatively as UCI now is the home to more than 30,000 eager students. The University offers 80 undergraduate degrees spanning from aerospace engineering to sociology and 98 graduate and professional degrees. Whether you want to be an engineer or major in education, UCI may have a degree program for you.

 

Some of the large schools within UCI include:

  • Paul Merage School of Business
  • Sue and Bill Gross School of Engineering (new in 2017!)
  • School of Social Sciences
  • School of Education
  • Henry Samueli School of Engineering

While many more schools exist within the university, those outlined above are some of the more honorable (and new) schools within the University. In 2016, nearly 78,000 individuals applied to become an Anteater and only about 32,000 were accepted. With this 41% acceptance rate coupled with an average high school GPA of 3.97 for incoming freshman, it is safe to say that this is a very competitive California University. Don’t let to competition sway you though – after all, a little competition makes the experience more enjoyable. Below are a few tips that may increase your chances of acceptance into this prestigious University:

  • Provide honest results while completing the application. UCI will consider your personal situation when granting admission.
  • Get involved in the community. Volunteering always looks good on a college application. Aside from the application process, community involvement will make you feel better as an individual and expose you more to your surrounding area. A little help goes a long way.
  • Get involved in extracurricular activities. Whether that is piano, underwater basket weaving or soccer, any extracurricular activities may teach you valuable life skills that extend beyond the specific activity.
  • Maintain a solid high school record. As stated above, the average GPA in 2016 was 3.97. Keep in mind this is the average, so striving for a nearly perfect GPA may increase your odds of admission.
  • Something to always keep in mind when deciding on a college is the in-state vs. out-of-state admission. This is usually a huge difference and definitely something to consider when choosing on a University.

The tips above are not an all-inclusive list but may assist you in the college preparation phase of your life.

Besides the academic front, the university also boasts a whopping 18 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I sports team in the Big West Conference and has enjoyed 28 team National Championships. Some of the most competitive Anteater teams include the basketball team, baseball, volleyball and soccer teams. Aside from the team national championships, the Anteaters have 64 individual national championships and have been the home of 53 Olympians! It is safe to say that if you are looking for a Division I scholarship, University of California Irvine might be the place for you.

As you progress through your college search, keep in mind some of the facts above. University of California, Irvine is a fantastic school, centrally located and has stellar sports teams. If you want to learn more about UCI, visit their website here.