Why I Love Pursuing A Humanities Major At UC Irvine
Hi there! My name is Rehana, and I am one of the newest writers and co-editors for the student admissions blog! I can’t wait to write more blog posts and share the reasons why UC Irvine might be the perfect place for you to complete your undergraduate degree.
Now that we are in another season of submitting college applications, I wanted to share a little bit about why I chose to attend UCI for my undergraduate career. If you are currently preparing to submit your UC applications and are interested in learning more about what it's like to be a student in the UCI School of Humanities, please continue reading!
It’s hard to believe that I completed my UC applications almost three years ago, but I definitely remember how nervous and stressed out I was about the entire application process. I was hesitant at first to apply to UCI because I was aware that most of its students pursued STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) degrees and programs. It is a known fact that UCI is a campus with a majority of STEM students, but we also have a big number of Business and Social Science students as well. Even though the population of students pursuing Humanities majors might be one of the smallest on campus, I personally like it that way. The Humanities students at UCI end up knowing each other from similar social circles. It is such a supportive community and everyone I’ve met so far are really kind and are passionate about the field they’re pursuing.
I am currently in my third/junior year double majoring in Film & Media Studies and Asian American Studies. The School of Humanities has been a wonderful place for me to explore my passion for digital storytelling, and to gain important skills taught by my amazing and supportive professors. From Korean Cinema, History of Modern African American Art, to Native American Feminist Literature, the humanities courses taught by professors at UCI are beyond interesting, and I always have such thought-provoking discussions in class with fellow classmates. There is this misconception that humanities degrees are “useless” or do not teach valuable skills for the real world. I have to completely disagree with this belief because from my own experience, I’ve gained so much knowledge and skills that no other field would be able to teach me. Because all the humanities programs at UCI are embedded with the practice of using race, gender, sexuality, and other aspects of the intersectional experience to view the world around us, I’ve become a more empathetic person, and feel empowered as a first-gen immigrant and woman of color.
Aside from the life-long friendships I’ve made through taking these classes, my participation in student organizations and on-campus opportunities added so much value to my college experience. My current role as Editor-in-Chief for Her Campus at UCI (HCUCI), a digital magazine and media site for college journalists, opened so many doors for me in my professional career. In addition, pursuing a year-long, multimedia storytelling internship at the UCI Humanities Center was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made as a first-gen college student. This academic year, I am participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program where I received funding to self-produce and host a podcast that aims to analyze Asian American media and pop culture. There are endless opportunities for humanities majors at UCI such as study abroad programs, research fellowships and academic scholarships. The faculty and staff are also really helpful in supporting you to get access to those resources.
If you’re interested in learning more about the majors, minors, and the types of classes that are offered by the School of Humanities, please check out their website here.
Thank you for taking the time to read my experience, and good luck with your UC applications!
