For students aiming to study in the USA, as the university threshold approaches, choosing a school becomes increasingly essential. When selecting a school, there are many factors to consider such as: curriculum (majors), school culture, location, size, extracurricular opportunities, internship and work opportunities, costs, etc.

Just like the saying “Seeing is believing”, instead of searching for information widely on the internet, being able to visit the school, talk directly with current students and alumni, and explore the curriculum is always the best option to make a smart decision that truly fits one’s goals and preferences.

But at the same time, the United States is a vast land with 50 states and about 4500 colleges and universities, including both public and private schools, large and small schools, as well as various types of education. Therefore, experiencing all the schools and then choosing one single school to attend is an impossible task.

Understanding this issue, with many years of experience in researching and consulting for over 1000 students, NEEC would like to introduce a top university system in the USA located in California, known as the UC system (University of California).

1. Overview of the University of California system (UC system)

First, NEEC will explain why we introduce the UC system to Vietnamese students as follows:

• High quality and globally recognized education: The UC system consists of 9 University of California campuses, among which are the top public universities in the USA and the top 1% best universities in the world (according to US news).
• Diverse majors: With more than 150 majors and many departments ranked in the top 10 more than any other famous universities in the USA.
• Research and internship opportunities: To provide internship, research, and career development opportunities for students, the UC system frequently connects with many businesses and organizations such as: Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, CDC, Pfizer, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson, NASA, Tesla, Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and many other research organizations both within and outside the country. The UC system has many internship opportunities thanks to its extensive and strong alumni network consisting of many successful UC alumni who often want to support new students.
• Location: Located in California – the third largest state in the USA (after Alaska and Texas), the most populous state in the USA, and also home to more than 2 million Vietnamese living for study and long-term settlement purposes.
• Climate: Being adjacent to the ocean, California’s climate is warm and pleasant, the winters here are not as harsh as those in the Northern Midwest states (Northern Midwest) or New England.

In addition, there are many other reasons that you will realize the more you understand about these 9 universities. Now, let’s explore the details:

The UC system includes 9 universities: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced.  The UC schools are large public research universities and are considered top-tier in the public school system of the country. With over 280,000 students and 227,000 faculty and staff, most UC schools have more than 20,000 undergraduate students.  Among them, UCLA has the largest number (about 30,000 students) and the smallest is UC Merced (about 8,000 students). Although each school has its own characteristics, they are all highly regarded and have strengths in STEM, humanities, and social sciences majors.

2. Comparison of UC schools in terms of ranking and admission criteria:

Rankings are meaningful in terms of statistics, measuring the reputation of universities. Based on this, we can divide into 4 groups:

• Group 1 (UCLA and UC Berkeley): These are the two most difficult schools to get into and are often the highest-rated among the UC schools.

=> Similar schools: University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, USC, and University of Virginia.

• Group 2 (UCSD, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCSB): The average GPA, standardized test scores, and acceptance rates of these schools are relatively similar.

=> Similar schools: Boston University, Tulane University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Group 3 (UC Riverside and UCSC): These two schools are quite similar in test scores and acceptance rates.

=> Similar schools: University of Colorado-Boulder, University of San Diego, Florida State University, and University of San Francisco

• Group 4 (UC Merced): This is a newly established school since 2005, so it’s no surprise that the numbers are lower than other UC campuses.

3. Detailed review of each UC school:

3.1 UCLA

UCLA is located in Westwood, a beautiful area of West Los Angeles, just about 20 minutes by car from Hollywood. Surrounding the university are many restaurants, bars, and suburban apartments for students, giving it the feel of a college town within the city. From 2019-2023, UCLA has been ranked 20th nationwide, and this year UCLA has risen to the top 15 national universities.

More than 90% of first-year students live in dormitories, creating a bustling and vibrant atmosphere on campus. UCLA is also famous for its FBS soccer and Bruins basketball teams, with the mascot being the brown bear. This is the school that has won the most NCAA basketball championships.

Not only strong in sports, UCLA is also highly regarded academically. Most students are very satisfied with the professors and the quality of courses and feel they receive many opportunities for in-depth research and internships. Besides classroom opportunities, the school also creates many opportunities for students to work on campus and many job opportunities in Los Angeles.

Students also acknowledge that UCLA is very easy to make friends and has a variety of clubs to support each other in learning and personal & group development.

The diverse and delicious food is also one of the big plus points of UCLA.

Although UCLA is a large school that creates many opportunities for students, it also has a fairly high competition rate due to the large number of students. Therefore, having a good study strategy at UCLA to maximize your potential is very necessary.

#Featured majors: Biotechnology, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Aerospace, Nursing

(UCLA – Dailybruin)

3.2 UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, 15 miles (about 24 km) to San Francisco Bay. Unlike the dynamic atmosphere at UCLA, UC Berkeley is quieter and more serene. Most of the people here are middle-class with high knowledge and prefer to live independently.

UC Berkeley is the oldest university in the UC system and is known for its academically gifted students and renowned professors. Berkeley has been ranked as the top public university in the USA by US News for 20 consecutive years and this year the school also rose to the top 15 national universities.

Compared to UCLA, UC Berkeley is not as strong in sports but excels much more in academics. The oldest and most famous school (founded in 1868), it recruits renowned professors and trains outstanding gifted students. As such, studying at Berkeley is also considered quite inspiring and competitive. This is a suitable school for students with good academic abilities and high self-reliance.

#Featured majors: Computer Science, Business Program, Engineering Program

(UC Berkeley – Flickr)

3.3 UC San Diego – UCSD

UCSD is located in La Jolla, a wealthy community in the north of San Diego. La Jolla is a very beautiful area with an average daily temperature of 70.5 degrees F (about 21 degrees C). UCSD is also very close to the Pacific Ocean. This is the headquarters of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the first centers for research and education in oceanography, earth, and atmospheric sciences. The school is organized into six student residential campuses, giving it the feel of a small college within a large university.

UCSD is known for its less dynamic and integrated school culture compared to other UC schools such as UCSB, UCLA, or Berkeley. However, students here particularly praise the STEM classes and research conducted at the school. Nature magazine ranked UCSD first in the USA for earth and environmental research. It also leads all UC schools in the number of active inventions and patents in the USA.

Another downside that some students mention is the large and complex campus. One student said, “The biggest drawback is the campus is VERY LARGE, making it difficult to go from one class to another. This means you often have to walk a lot, which can make the school lack cohesion.“

#Featured majors: Biotechnology, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Business Program

(UCSD – UCSDtritons)

3.4 UC Davis

UC Davis is located in Davis, a rural town in Northern California. Davis is 11 miles (about 18 km) from Sacramento and 70 miles (about 113 km) from San Francisco.

The town of Davis is known for its friendly community and peaceful feeling. The campus is surrounded by nature, which attracts many students. Although the campus is somewhat remote, the school culture at UC Davis is quite vibrant, and students seem to participate in social activities more than students at UCSD, UC Irvine, or UC Riverside.

The school is also known for its high-quality research, especially in the biological sciences. US News ranks UC Davis’ veterinary school as the top veterinary school in the USA.

However, students who are not used to or do not like rural life often find it difficult to settle at UC Davis. Some students say “the smell of cows can be too strong.” UC Davis is also mainly a bike campus, many students recommend that having a bike is very necessary for getting around the campus.

#Featured majors: Biological, Agricultural, Environmental Health, Computer Science

( UC Davis)

3.5 UC Irvine

UC Irvine is located in Irvine, a wealthy city in Orange County, California. Irvine is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the USA and has some of the best public schools for children from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Students at UC Irvine often mention the supportive community, especially professors who are always willing to help students succeed. A current student said, “The students, faculty, and staff are very welcoming and eager to help me discover who I am and my goals for the future.” Many students also feel that UC Irvine provides many opportunities to gain practical experience outside of the classroom, such as research and internship opportunities.

The only drawback here is that some dynamic students find it difficult to adapt to the peace and tranquility here, and consider it quite “boring”.

#Featured majors: Computer Science, Business Program, Nursing

(Trường UC Irvine – EdSurge)

3.6 UCSB

UCSB is located in Isla Vista, a beach town about an hour and a half from Los Angeles. The school is near the Pacific Ocean, students love UCSB’s campus and its location in Santa Barbara. Because of its proximity to the beach, the learning atmosphere here is much more relaxed and comfortable compared to other universities in the California cluster, and it is not uncommon to see students studying on the beach.

UCSB has also gained attention with its reputation as a school famous for its party culture. At the same time, the school is also highly regarded for its research. An example is the Koegel Autism Center at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, which has been ranked as one of the top research centers for autism in the USA.

Although the school’s campus is beautiful, some students find the dormitories small and outdated. Additionally, many dorms have triple occupancy, which can feel cramped for some students.

#Featured majors: Computer Science, Engineering Program

(UCSB – Flickr)

3.7 UC Merced

UC Merced is located in Merced, a small city in the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California. Merced is less than two hours east of Yosemite National Park and less than two hours west of Monterey Bay, and it brings a peaceful rural atmosphere.

UC Merced opened in 2005 and has a significantly lower undergraduate population compared to other UC schools. According to the school’s website, UC Merced is the only university in the USA where every building on campus is environmentally certified. The school is committed to the “Triple Zero” standard, a plan to achieve zero net energy consumption, zero waste production, and zero net emissions on campus.

Many students believe that UC Merced’s small and developing nature is one of its greatest strengths. This small school creates a strong sense of community among students, and because the school is new, many students feel they play an important role in shaping what the school will be like for future students. Unlike many other UC schools, many students are also satisfied with the amount of financial aid they receive.

Although students love the community atmosphere at UC Merced, many have highlighted that the campus can feel a bit boring. As one student said, “UC Merced is a great university, but its remote location makes weekends boring.” This can be especially challenging for freshmen, as they are not allowed to bring cars to campus. Additionally, as a fairly small and new school, UC Merced does not offer a wide variety of majors and classes like many other UC schools. However, this is expected to change soon with the school’s future prospects.

#Featured majors: Engineering Program

(UC Merced – Flickr)

3.8 UC Riverside

UC Riverside is located in Riverside, about 60 miles (96.5 km) east of Los Angeles. Riverside is the largest city in what is known as the Inland Empire of Southern California.

Initially, UC Riverside was a small liberal arts college when it opened in 1954, but later became a comprehensive university in 1959. The UC Riverside School of Medicine enrolled its first class in 2013.

One of the most frequently mentioned strengths of UC Riverside is the supportive environment for students. Students feel that everyone, from professors to staff and other students, is willing to help and wants them to succeed. One student said: “There is a lot of support for students here. From academic, personal to financial, they almost have it all here.” UC Riverside is also known for being a very welcoming diverse school. “From an African American perspective, UC Riverside really feels like a home away from home because I can meet and connect with people like me.”

#Featured majors: Computer Science, Business Program

(UC Riverside – Flickr)

3.9  UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, a coastal city about 32 miles (about 51 km) south of San Jose and 75 miles (about 121 km) south of San Francisco. Santa Cruz is known for its coastline, redwood forests, and liberal ideology, and it is home to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

The campus of UC Santa Cruz is full of greenery and students here favor a hippie lifestyle. UC Santa Cruz is considered one of the most vegetarian-friendly universities. About 25% of the products served in the school’s dining halls are organic, with most coming from local suppliers, such as the Farm and Garden managed by the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

 UC Santa Cruz is smaller compared to most other UC schools so students here receive more attention compared to schools with large student populations.

#Featured majors: Computer Science, Teaching, Engineering Program

(UC Santa Cruz – Lookout)

Above is a review of the University of California group that NEEC has compiled, which school do you prefer among the 9 UC schools? Call NEEC (Hotline: 0932 09 09 27 or message us on NEEC’s fanpage to get detailed advice on how to apply to the UC schools and top universities in the USA.