Overview of Concordia University-Irvine CA

The people are nice and they have great athletic programs.

Incoming freshman and transfer students arrive at the campus a week early for orientation. Great experience for those who are away from home for the first time. Freshmen and transfer students also reside in separate male or female dorm buildings. The dorm room actually consists of two separate living areas with a bathroom in between for the four students to share. Way back when there was a kitchen area for the students to also share. Currently that has been altered and freshmen now have a meal plan provided by the University to sustain nourishment. Upper class men have apartment type housing down the path from the dorms. Four students share an apartment complete with living room, two bedroom spacious bathroom, kitchen and dining area. All furniture and appliances are provided, but microwaves, TV's, bookcases and the like make great additions. The apartments all face inward toward an outdoor courtyard. Outside the apartments are little balconies where you can barbecue or just hang out. With both the dorm and apartments, there are resident counselors and resident advisers who help enforce campus rules, give guidance in course planning and are there for whatever the student needs. Extracurricular activities abound on campus. Intramural sports, dramas, musicals, Greek games and so much more give students plenty of down time from studying. Whether you want to study at the library, eat at the cafe, hack into the grade banks via the computer lab, hang out at the student union or start a pick up game, there is always something to do. Located between the Turtle Rock and Woodbridge areas in Irvine, you are right down the street from University of California Irvine. Within walking distance from the campus housing resides a shopping center complete with grocery store, video rental, gas station and a college hangout. Irvine is very bike friendly with bike lanes on most major streets. And yes the beach is within biking distance, if you like to bike. Newport and Balboa Beach sit about six miles from the campus. There is nothing better than studying for that philosophy exam on the soft sand with a cool breeze and ocean air to help you focus. If biking back to campus doesn't suit you, the 55 and 405 freeways will take you back in a jiffy. Movie theaters, comedy clubs, restaurants and dance clubs can be found for outside entertainment. South Coast Plaza is a couple exits down one freeway. Venture in the other direction and you hit Wild Rivers Water Park. Also because Irvine is an expanding city, employment is fairly easy to find. It might not be your dream job, but that's why you're going to college.

I am enjoying the best time of my life here at Concordia. The people are amazing, the sports are awesome, the fine arts are mind boggling, the food and dorms are wonderful. I'm happier, and more content here than I have been in a long time.

The campus is beautiful! It is a smaller campus so it is easy to get from one class to another without having to worry about being late, However it is very spacious. There is lots of grass and tress and open areas so you don't feel crowded like at some other schools.

For me personally I like the size of the campus as well the ability to flourish as a musician in the small orchestral setting Concordia has established.