Prospective Student FAQ

Hello prospective UCI humanities students! We’re Andrew (B.A., history, ‘24), Ashley (B.A., English, ‘24) and Jordan (B.A., English and History, ‘25) and we’re here to try and help answer some of the questions you may have about attending UCI. Truthfully: these are the questions we each had when considering UCI, and figured you might have similar ones.

Have other questions for us? Join us on campus on Saturday, April 20th for Celebrate UCI! We’ll be joined by several other humanities majors on a panel answering all of your questions, and then hanging out with you and your family for lunch. (We’ll even have a mini humanities sticker drop just for you. Haven’t heard of a sticker drop? You have so much to look forward to!). For more info, check out the details at Celebrate UCI. And find out what’s happening on campus right now via our Instagram page.

How demanding is the quarter system?

Jordan: The quarter system is challenging at first, but it gets easier over time. As a Humanities major, reading and writing is the bulk of your time commitment, and it can get overwhelming as the quarter progresses. However, chunking out your assignments and setting due dates for yourself really helps! Asking your professors and TAs for advice is also beneficial because it gives you a better understanding of their expectations. A typical lecture is usually 50 minutes or 80 minutes long, and can range from less than twenty to over one hundred students in a lecture hall! Click here to learn more about our school's academics. 

What internship opportunities are available?

Jordan: There are many internship opportunities available for Humanities students. You can apply to programs such as the Internships for English Majors program, history majors internships, or UCDC, or you can connect with UCI’s Division of Career Pathways to learn more about different internships that suit your interests!

How accessible are professors?

Ashley: The professors respond quickly through email and offer office hours at least twice a week. At first I was scared to attend office hours, but the professors are so kind and helped me with my papers and any questions I had. The student-professor ratio depends on the class, but there are about 20 students for writing classes, so it is more intimate and easier to get to know the professors.

What is it like to transfer to UCI?

Ashley: Transitioning from community college to a university can sound very daunting, but UCI’s friendly and inviting environment makes the process easier. The quarter system may take some time to adjust to but its fast-paced nature allows for faster exposure to more interesting classes.

How much time will I spend on campus for classes?
Where should I hang out?

Andrew: For the traditional full-time student workload of 12-16 units you can expect to spend anywhere from 7-10 hours a week in class. There are plenty of places to study and pass time on campus in between classes, however, along with plenty of places for you to grab food. If you don’t want to stay on campus between classes, easily accessible public transportation allows you to get from campus to student housing easily.

Ashley: The university provides a variety of libraries, with Langson Library on the Humanities side standing out as my favorite. Equipped with computers and study rooms, it serves as an ideal study haven. Additionally, they provide many outdoor spaces with tables and seating around every building, including Aldrich Park, which offers diverse study environments.