UC Irvine is welcoming new students with a week’s worth of fun events and activities, including a midnight “back to school” shopping trip to Target, a chance to break the dodgeball world record, an evening concert in Aldrich Park and a rally in support of the men’s soccer team.
UC Irvine is welcoming new students with a week’s worth of fun events and activities, including a midnight “back to school” shopping trip to Target, a chance to break the dodgeball world record, an evening concert in Aldrich Park and a rally in support of the men’s soccer team. The festivities will give students a chance to make friends and explore the campus before the rigors of the academic quarter kick in.
It’s an impressive cohort of newcomers: There were a record 70,000-plus applicants to UCI for fall 2012. From this group, 5,175 freshmen and 1,810 transfer students were admitted. They come from all 50 states and 83 countries. Here, courtesy of the Office of Admissions & Relations with Schools, are a few facts and figures about them:
86 percent of freshmen are California residents.
14 percent are from out of state and around the globe, demonstrating a growing international interest in UCI as a campus of first choice. Times Higher Education’s recent ranking of UCI as fourth worldwide among universities less than 50 years old is further evidence of our global appeal.
91 percent of incoming transfer students are California residents.
The average freshman GPA is 3.89, compared with 3.87 last year.
Freshmen show strong interest in newer academic programs, including business administration, computer game science, public health and biology/education.
32 percent of in-state freshmen are from underrepresented minority groups: 3.6 percent are African American, compared with 2.9 percent last year; and 22.8 percent are Chicano, compared with 20.4 percent last year.
41 percent of freshmen are from low-income backgrounds, a testament to the University of California’s commitment to accessibility – as demonstrated by aid programs such as the Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan – and the availability of federal and state aid programs.
53 percent of freshmen are the first in their family to pursue a four-year degree.
The average GPA of incoming transfer students is 3.43, compared with 3.40 last year.
Transfer students show strong interest in newer academic programs, including business administration, public health and pharmaceutical sciences.
23.6 percent of transfer students are from underrepresented minority groups.
55 percent of transfer students are the first in their family to pursue a four-year degree.
UCI students attempt to recapture the Guinness world record for largest dodgeball game Tuesday, Sept. 25, on the Anteater Recreation Center fields. They succeeded, with 6,084 participants – wresting the title away from the University of Alberta. It’s the third time UCI has held the record; annual attempts to reclaim it have become a Welcome Week tradition.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsA student chips a golf ball by the pool at the ARC.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsStudents practicing martial arts at the ARC
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsUCI mascot Peter the Anteater gets acquainted with some newcomers. The incoming class has students from all 50 states and 83 countries.
Daniel A. Anderson / University CommunicationsThe full-size Peter the Anteater greets freshmen at the New Student Convocation.
Daniel A. Anderson / University CommunicationsStudents writing on T Shirts at the ARC during welcome week.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsJunior Colin Fitzgibbon, gripping a didgeridoo, pumps up the crowd before the start of the dodgeball match.A student throws a dodgeball during the world record attempt.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsBlue Team members toss dodgeballs at the opposing team.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsStudents dodging and throwing balls during the world record attempt.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsStudents battling during the world record dodgeball game.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsStudents cheer to performers during Aldrich Park After Dark.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsResidents of the Middle Earth student housing community compete Wednesday in a game of tug-of-war as part of the Battle of the Clusters.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsStudents cheer during judging of the resident adviser mummification competition Wednesday – part of the Mesa Court Olympics.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsA small-scale Peter the Anteater sits atop a trophy awarded to engineering dean Gregory Washington for leading the best ”Zot! Zot! Zot!” cheer during a previous ceremony.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsUniversity leaders welcome the incoming class at the New Student Convocation. For fall 2012, UCI admitted 5,175 freshmen and 1,810 transfer students.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsUCI students – many of them freshmen – line up for Late Night at the ARC, the Anteater Recreation Center’s annual open house. The Welcome Week event ran from 8 p.m. Monday till 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsStudents enjoy a demonstration of capoeira at Late Night at the ARC, which also included fencing, yoga, self-defense and dance exhibitions; table tennis, volleyball and dodgeball tournaments; rock wall climbing; sushi rolling; group exercise class samplers; swimming; games; and free T-shirts.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsA casually attired Chancellor Michael Drake (center) poses with freshmen at the Bren Events Center during the New Student Convocation, which kicked off Welcome Week festivities.
Daniel A. Anderson / University CommunicationsDean Gregory Washington (at lectern), Chancellor Michael Drake (center) and other UCI leaders demonstrate for new students the ”Zot! Zot! Zot!” cheer.A student moments after they threw a ball during the world record attempt.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsIn a Welcome Week event called ”Screen on the Green,” students watch a free movie on the ARC fields after the successful world record attempt.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsDodgeball players, holding their waivers, go through the turnstiles to be officially counted before the match.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsUCI mascot Peter the Anteater wishes the players well before the game begins.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsMass of students preparing for dodgeball game.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsStudent rushes to grab another dodgeball during the world record attempt.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsStay dodgeball from the world record dodgeball game.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsStudent throws a dodgeball at the opposing team.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsStudents exult upon learning that they’d set a new world record.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsPerformer sings at Aldrich Park After Dark during Welcome Week.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsA DJ performing during Aldrich Park After Dark.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsStudents enjoy the free Aldrich Park After Dark concert Wednesday featuring LA Riots.
Nicole Del Castillo / University CommunicationsMiddle Earth resident advisers compete in tug-of-war during the Battle of the Clusters.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsResident adviser Kyle Kim sports a sunny disposition during the Middle Earth Battle of the Clusters.
Steve Zylius / University CommunicationsFreshman Wilber Lai cheers on hallmates Wednesday during the Mesa Court Olympics.Peer academic advisers holding school banners await their entrance at the New Student Convocation.
Nicole Del Castillo / University Communications
