Pay attention to American Education, pay attention to American Immigration: Recently, a series of nicknames for the University of California have become very popular online, and I can clearly feel that the powerful netizens have thoroughly roasted their alma mater.
University of Southern California (USC) ------ University of Spoiled Children
The University of Southern California (USC) is often referred to as the University of Spoiled Children due to its history of having many wealthy students. In recent years, with the increasing proportion of Chinese students, some have changed the nickname to University of Spoiled Chinese.
The Vice President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at USC believes that the widely circulated nickname actually originated over a decade ago, but does not fully reflect the current atmosphere of the school. He stated that the vast majority of Chinese students are diligent and often the last group to leave the library. Professor Qin Sizhao, the Chinese Vice Dean of the College of Engineering, noted that not all students who attend USC come from wealthy families; similar to other prestigious private universities, there are many students from ordinary backgrounds who excel and rely on substantial scholarships to study. Furthermore, the student body at USC is highly internationalized, with Chinese students making up less than ten percent, making both nicknames somewhat biased.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) ------ University of California Little Asia
UCLA's nickname is not as well-known as USC's, but two common versions are related to Asian ethnicity: University of Caucasians Lost among Asians or University of California Little Asia. Alumni and Chinese-American city council member Laura Chiu stated that UCLA is known for its high admission standards and fierce competition, with a large number of Asian students on campus, which is closely tied to the tradition of Asian parents emphasizing education for their children. From another perspective, these two nicknames can actually be seen as a compliment to the academic competitiveness of Asian students, rather than stemming from prejudice or discrimination.
University of California, Irvine (UCI) ------ University of Chinese Immigrants
UCI has several nicknames that directly reference Chinese ethnicity, including University of Chinese Immigrants, Under Chinese Invasion, and University of Chinese and Indians. A Chinese engineer from the California Department of Transportation, who graduated with a degree in engineering from UCI, revealed that the nicknames have evolved over time. In the early 1990s when he attended the school, there was ongoing construction of academic buildings, and at that time, the number of Chinese students was still low, so students referred to the school as Under Construction Indefinitely. Now that the proportion of Asian students exceeds half, it is no wonder that the nickname has changed.
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) ------ University of Chinese Bookworms
UC Berkeley, the flagship of the University of California system located in Northern California, also has a nickname that references Chinese ethnicity: University of Chinese Bookworms, or University of Competitive Bastards.
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) ------ University of Chinese Second Decision
One version of UCSD's nickname, University of Chinese Second Decision, is also related to Chinese ethnicity. A Chinese student who graduated from the school last year stated that whether UCSD is a second choice for Chinese students depends on the major. Programs such as electrical engineering, biology, and chemistry, which are highly ranked nationally, are usually the first choice for Chinese students, while majors like economics and communications are indeed seen as second choices. Many Chinese students who were unsuccessful in applying to UCLA will settle for UCSD, as it still holds a relatively high overall ranking.
Some also refer to UCSD as the University of California of the Socially Dead, believing that UCSD lacks a football team and has few parties, resulting in a college life that is less fun than it should be.
University of California, Riverside (UCR) ------ University of California Reject
Some believe this name reflects the idea that everyone rejects going there, as UCR is perceived to have lower recognition and reputation compared to UCLA and UCB, and its geographical location is not particularly favorable.
However, many also believe that this name actually reflects UCR's excellence, as not everyone can be casually admitted to UCR.