Random questions about UCI from a prospective freshman

Class of '29 chemistry major from the Bay Area.

I’m probably headed to UCI (waiting to decide in a couple weeks). So thankful to have been accepted to Irvine.

  • I don’t have a car and strongly prefer to not own one (do have a driver’s license). How feasible is undergrad life using rideshare and Zipcars? The airport looks pretty close to campus for flights back to the Bay Area.

  • Do most upperclassmen live off campus? If so, owning a car would then be kind of obligatory?

  • Do most CHC students live in designated honors housing for all 4 years, or just 1st year?

  • Does CHC help improve on-campus housing choices including apartment options after your 1st year? Not sure if CHC guaranteed on-campus housing is a huge benefit if most students live off-campus after 1st year?

  • Davis and Santa Barbara student culture seems laid-back and supportive… Berkeley is cut-throat… how abut Irvine’s culture?