University of California—Davis (UC Davis)

The University of California—Davis is “a prestigious research university with great professors and brilliant students.” With a longtime “focus on agriculture and biological science,” Davis has cultivated a “strong science-based education.” Students also praise its “other great programs such as engineering and political science,” as well as the “large variety of majors” offered. “Davis does have a fast-paced quarter system,” but the “resources available to assist students” help them “feel at ease.” Beyond the “abundant research, internship, and job opportunities,” Davis students rave about the support they receive from “tutoring and advising resources, opportunities to have a focus within each major, study abroad opportunities,” and “all the counselors who can answer every question.” As for professors, these “true experts” and “top researchers” lead classes that “are full of challenging, hands-on experiences.” Students benefit from these “passionate and devoted” scholars who “have their own research projects going on, and apply what they are teaching to their work,” though some point out that “research skills do not translate into teaching skills.” But even when professors “seem to be more focused on research,” students say that the teaching assistants “are also really great and amazing people” who “have a HUGE impact on classes.” Overall, UC Davis students agree that most professors care “very deeply about teaching” and provide a “challenging but rewarding and successful academic experience.”

Davis is a “pretty diverse community” where most students are “very friendly and thoughtful” and “few are quick to judge.” As one undergrad notes, “Most students spend their days biking furiously from class to class,” but “everyone is very nice and welcoming.” “Anyone can ask any student for directions and the student will gladly stop biking to help out.” While Davis “is a top university, you don’t feel like everyone is competing against you” and “help from your peers” is easy to find. And while Davis students “are academically rigorous,” they are “quirky and [creative]” too, creating “the perfect mixture of serious about studying and down to earth and fun.” In general, “most are also very open to making new friends or trying something new.”

UC Davis students boast about belonging to a “green school” that “promotes sustainability.” Many students gravitate toward “outdoor activities to fill their time,” like “pick-up soccer,” visiting the local farmers market or “reading at the arboretum.” Students report that “even if you don’t have a car,” the “bike paths make it really easy to get around the city and campus” and the “free convenient bus systems” ensure there are “plenty of transportation options” available to students. And with “700+ clubs on campus including [many] Greek organizations,” and a variety of identity and cultural-based centers and programming, students have many opportunities to connect. The downtown Davis nightlife is “mostly low-key,” but students can enjoy “good food, open mic night, trivia night,” “local shows, line dancing, and just about everything in between.” And because it is near “Tahoe, San Francisco, [and] Napa,” Davis is “a great location for day trips or weekend trips.” Students say they maintain a good “balance between school life and their social life because of all the opportunities and activities.”

Without a doubt, UC Davis provides students with “numerous career and internship resources.” Undergrads have easy access to an outstanding Internship and Career Center that assists with all aspects of career planning. Students can use the office to explore career paths associated with various majors, find opportunities for job shadowing, and connect with various professional associations. Students can receive individual counseling on everything from how to conduct a job search to interview techniques and salary negotiation. UC Davis also does a tremendous job of attracting top companies to recruit on campus. The university hosts multiple career fairs throughout the year allowing undergrads to network with hundreds of employers.