Reviews

I just completed my freshman year here so I have not taken many classes, however, every class I have taken has taught me quite a bit. My favorite part about the classes is the size; even introductory classes are never above 40 students. In fact, I was once in a chemistry class with only three other students. This allows the teacher to really help you when you have questions or need a concept to be explained in a different way. The teachers are able to meet your needs as a student because class sizes are small enough that they can actually get to know you.

I absolutely love this school, it has an amazing campus, some of the coolest people I've ever met and more opportunities than I know what to do with! During my second semester I ended up joining a sorority and its one of the highlights of my college life so far. I never thought I would be the sorority type, but all the girls are so welcoming and there was nothing pretentious or snobby about them. In fact, it has allowed me to meet so many different and unique people and bond with them incredibly quickly. In general the people here are the greatest, most down to earth people. They are involved in so many different things and come from all walks of life. This school was the only one I applied to that I truly felt had a real variety of students; politically, economically, racially and athletically. The atmosphere of this school is what I would refer to as laid back, everyone is very open and welcoming and it has a great balance of academics and fun.

While this school is fairly expensive they are very open to helping students with all sorts of financial aid. I am a recipient of two scholarships from the school as well as federal aid. The campus itself is absolutely beautiful and definitely worth the price. I would also consider the academic excellence on par with the price I pay for them.

Make sure you sign up for one of the new student outdoor retreats at the beginning of your first year. Although I was unable to attend one I have heard from many people it was one of their greatest experiences that year. It gives you a chance to meet a handful of new students like yourself, as well as several older students, before you even start school.
I would also advise that students make use of the great camping equipment available for rental, were so close to Joshua Tree National Park it would be criminal not to go!

Laid back students looking for a balanced experience, academically and socially.

The classes and professors are absolutely wonderful. The professors here like to encourage a challenge upon you. Although it may be challenging, they are excellent helpers. They sort of act like parents—they really care about you and they definitely show it. They are here to help you if you have any questions or problems regarding the classroom environment or workload. I absolutely love the classroom sizes here. I tried to imagine being in a big class where I was one out of 300 students and I was terrified. Luckily, University of Redlands’ classes are nothing like that. The biggest class I’m in has about 20 students. What’s great about the classes too are that there are unlimited amount of sources of help. There’s one-on-one tutoring with either the teacher (during class and their office hours which are most of the time flexible), the tutors on campus, and there’s actually a tutoring center here as well—so there’s services here for YOU literally everywhere. Also, the school offers a lot of opportunities such as work study, internships and I’ve heard that even if you graduate from the University of Redlands, the job services are still there to help you until you get the job you want.

To be honest, I was homesick, especially since I’m from Hawaii and currently a freshman. When I told my Orientation group how I felt, they immediately tried to make the mainland feel more like the Island of Paradise. The people are friendly and outgoing, and even though I am a minority here (I’m Asian), the students are more than welcome to be your friend. I love the small campus because it doesn’t make me feel as if I’m one person lost in the shadows. It’s good to know that you’re not a lost face in the crow and that people actually know who you are and you’re able to see everybody around campus, not only in classes. I did feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but the students and staff here are so nice. They are here for you with open arms to listen and help you adjust to the change, or help you feel as comfortable as you want to be. College is stressful enough and at the University of Redlands, they try to make it as less stressful as they possibly can.
When I first visited this college, I absolutely fell in love with it. The campus was so beautiful and clean—it was the closest thing to Hawaii so I felt relieved. I loved the fact that I didn’t feel the need to buy a bike to get from one class to the other because everything is so close to each other. Nothing is too far from you.

Paying for college was the most important thing for me to consider when choosing a college. University of Redlands is pretty expensive but they offer so many opportunities for students so that they are able to attend here. Besides from loans, they offer a great financial package such as scholarships for your academics and talents you may have. I got several scholarships for my academics, and grants. University of Redlands definitely shows you that they want you as a Bulldog and to be part of their community. Whatever questions you have academically or financially, they definitely have answers. I asked a ton of questions regarding financial aid and they gave me options and advice on what I should do.
And with the services they offer, it is definitely worth every penny. It seems as if the university wants to show their students that every penny counts and they want you to feel like you’ve invested well in your education by coming to University of Redlands. So far, they’ve showed me!

Like I said, whatever questions you may have, ask, and I guarantee that the staff or students here are more than happy to help you. I would say do a little research about the university. I was glad to hear that the professors actually help you find internship opportunities especially since I am a Business major. Visiting the college also gave me a better idea and “feel” of how the campus environment would be like for me. It also helped me decide which college to choose as well. If you know anybody that attends at the University of Redlands, take the time to either meet up with them to ask about their perspective or just give them an e-mail. This will definitely make it very helpful to see if you could imagine yourself being a potential Bulldog here at University of Redlands.

University of Redlands will be great for anybody that wants to have that one-on-one opportunity with the professors, hands-on activies, and love a small beautiful campus. It is also great for those that want to stress less about their academics and figuring out how to finance their education.

This University is fun, Environmentally conscious, and full of a diverse amount of people. If you are looking for a school that balances a liberal, experiential education with the traditional classroom and book scenario, then this is the school for you. Be sure to bring plenty of shorts, because it gets -hot- here!

- Get to know your College advisor, once you are accepted they will call you around once a month to help get you ready for college until around July, when they will hand you off to your Orientation mentor (an upperclassman that applied and went through training to help you through your first few months!)

- Make sure to read through the housing opportunities. In addition to the normal communities, there are 'themed' communities open to Freshmen as well. Some of these include the Wellness, Catalyst, and Environmentally Conscious communities.

-Don't let the price get to you, they offer a lot of financial aid and if you are eligible for work study they will make sure you get ten hours of work a week.

- -DEFINITELY- get involved with Outdoor programs. It's a program on campus that offers cheap outdoor workshops and adventures. These can go from backpacking to rockclimbing, beach bumming, and more. I personally didn't do a First Year Journey, but those are run by the same people that run Outdoor Programs.

-This isn't a place you'd want to bike around. San Bernardino nearby gets a lot of crime, and you don't really want to be off campus alone if you are a young female. Driving and shopping at stores is perfectly safe, you just want to be smart and not walk alone down non busy streets.

All of the classes here you will genuinely learn something in. That is not to say that some are not more laid back than others.

A lot of emphasis is put on 'experiential learning'. If you are learning about injustice, you will be expected to volunteer to make a difference. If you are learning about plants, you'll have field trips to go collect plants. If you are learning about adventure, you'll go out hiking, camping, and backpacking. There is the traditional textbook studying and tests as well, but be prepared to get some real life experience in as well.

There's an interesting balance of new, young teachers that are very technology savvy and older folks who are more the traditional textbook and printed report type. It varies by major, but in general a science major can expect to be taking notes on a laptop and electronically turning in work. Humanities majors can expect to spend a lot of time around a printer.

Dorm life is mixed. Your freshman year you can expect to room with someone, unless you have a disability, then they will usually work with you to get a single. The dorms are broke down into the following:

Fairmont:
-On the quad.
-Inclusivity based!
-Lots of opportunities to talk about social issues and volunteer.
-Has a giant rock that they defend with squirt guns and other people try to tag!

Cortner, Founders, and California:
-Upper classmen dorms.
-Generally bigger and with A/C!

Grossmont:
-You'll see a LOT of reviews saying this is the worst dorm on campus. As of 2018, it's been newly remodeled and is now one of the BEST. Large rooms, lots of triples, A/C, new furniture, and gender inclusive.

Bekins/Holt:
-Home to the Johnston program.
-Lots of cool programs and events exclusively for Johnston students.
-Recommended to only open minded students. They have a lot of events like drag nights and kissmass that some more conservative people might not enjoy, but unless you live in these buildings you'll never hear about them.

North Hall:
-Wellness based!
-Closest to the gym, pool, and athletic facilities.
-Has A/C and a nice patio.

Merriam:
-Environmental based.
-Lots of environmental programs and emphasis on conservation.
-Nice patio
-Great for a freshman, but not the best.

East/Williams:
-These are considered the 'freshman dorms' and are the worst on campus. They kind of feel like a prison, and have long hallways that are like mazes full of ugly white bricks. Try not to live here!

Bon Appetit on Campus is a pretty amazing food provider. The Commons, our main cafeteria, always provides a vegan/vegetarian option, with gluten free options available at request. Lunch includes a sushi bar, while every meal contains a desert bar.

Open until around midnight is the Plaza Cafe, where you can buy fast food, pizza, sandwiches, frozen yogurt, and then market goods. These include gluten and dairy free breads, milks, cookies, egg substitutes and such, as well as drinks, hummus, icecream and other market goods.

The Bulldog Cafe is the student operated cafe for coffee and tea. It's centrally located to most classes!

The University Club is the fancy restaurant on campus, offering steak, salads, entrees, deserts, and the like. Not many students frequent it except for special occasions, so it is likely you and a special someone can have a romantic, quiet date here.

Outdoor programs offers weekend and break trips to do various outdoor activities. In the winter these include hiking, backpacking, camping, snowboarding, skiing, and beach bumming. In the spring and fall these include rock climbing, stargazing, camping, and more. They also provide on campus activities where you can learn about wilderness survival, fire making, water purification, and other basic necessities.

Also, the campus shuttle runs 3-9pm nightly to locations around Redlands for shopping, partying, and more. It's free of cost.

The party scene here is MINIMAL but that's perfectly okay. It's a lot more fun to get out and about the local area.

Food:
-A la minute: Icecream made with liquid nitrogen to order!
-Crepes of wrath: Crepes!
-Pieology: Handmade pizzas to order with unlimitted toppings for only $9!
-Bahama Bucks: Shaved Ice! (Snow cones!)
-The Crumb: Gourmet donuts.
-Chaca Tea bar: Bubble tea bar located just a couple miles from campus.

Parks:
Joshua Tree
Oak Glen
Big Bear
Whitewater Preserve
Forest Falls

Los Angeles:
-Aquarium of the Pacific
-Natural History Museum
-LA and San Diego Zoo!
-California Sience Center
-Beaches!

The school helps a lot with financial aid and getting student work programs going. You will likely have to take out a loan, but I would always choose Redlands if I had the option.

The school is extremely dedicated to wellness. There is a free health center, free counseling centers, and free psychiatrists. There's also guided mediation and yoga sessions every week.

During finals there are a lot of programs put on by students for students including coloring, cookie decorating, professional massages, and bounce houses.

Finally, they are extremely caring about emotional and physical disabilities. This includes giving you alternative assignments for classes, allowing you to have a support animal, hiring another student to take notes anonymously for you etc.

With that said, the worst thing you can do at this school is move off campus. The school is extremely caring, but a lot of the people in California are assholes. It is absolutely not worth the stress to try and live off campus, and living on campus brings a lot more safety, security, and happiness to your life here.

There's a zen meditation circle behind the chapel. You stand at the beginning and close your eyes, thinking of everything bothering you. Then you open your eyes and walk through the maze, feeling at peace as you go. When you reach the center of the circle you let go of everything that bothered you and walk out when you are ready. It's pretty cool!

Environmentally Conscious
Business and Environmental Majors
People who want to make their own Major (Johnston program allows this)
People who want to be active in their community!

There is an awesome radio station run by students called KDAWG. In the Hunsaker building there's club rooms for Multicultural, Safe Space (LGBTQ), Womens rights, and more. Outside of that there is a club for Students for Environmental Actions, Animal rights, and more. Residence Halls all have little sports teams that they play other halls with, and halls team up to host bbqs and activities on sunny days.

You have to be a sophomore to rush here, Greek houses are pretty far from the rest of campus, but are nice if you like to party. There are no traditional Greek Houses, all of them here are dedicated to a specific volunteering project.

When you are rushing, you rush for all houses rather than just one. After you get accepted if you are in a sorority, your sisters will drive around campus with you and blare their horns so everyone on campus knows you got accepted.

Public Safety Vans constantly monitor campus, and during the first week they grill into your mind the phone number for Public Safety.

In addition to this, blue lights all over campus mark emergency public safety phone booths that allow you to call Psafe to your location. You can also call them to pick you up and take you places at night if you don't feel safe walking.

San Bernadino is right up the road from us, and because of that we do see some issues on the edge of campus. Public Safety immediately reports through the email system any safety worries and patrols the edge of campus especially for suspicious persons, and every dorm is locked at all times (Both room doors and outside doors). Only the students of the dorm have the keys, and the locks are changed during winter and summer breaks.

It's essential to not walk alone at night. There have been some incidents where people have been robbed in the back parkinglots of buildings on the edge of campus, or by walking off campus at night. The shuttle is your best bet to stay safe.

Off campus you are safe during the day time, but don't engage in the community. Once my sophomore year I was offered a drink by someone in an off campus location and it was drugged. Another time I was going to a job interview for a cleaning position and it turned out to be a scam trying to get be to become a prostitute and I was extremely lucky my fiance was in the car and was able to get me out of the situation. When trying to live off campus, I tried three different roommates and every one of them dealt drugs and used them. All of these can be avoided if you stay on campus, which is extremely safe.

The classes here are amazing. The professor really encourage their students to actively participate in class and offer their point of view. It is also really helpful that the class sizes for each class don't usually go past 20 people. This means that I've gotten a lot of one on one time with the professor when I needed help with the course. The classes are enjoyable which makes learning the material easier.

I feel so comfortable at this university. It really is a small community placed in the center of Redlands, CA. The students here are also very kind, outgoing and are willing to offer a hand to anyone who is lost or confused. I also like the fact that the University is also involved with the Redlands community. The city of Redlands is also a quaint little place, and although at first it seems there is nothing to do here, there are a lot of events going on in the city throughout the year.

This school offers up many services to students such as general medicine if you get sick, guest speakers, themed dinners and more for 10 dollars or less. This school is a great school for the amount spent on attending it. I would recommend looking up what you can do for free (free monthly movie night at the Krikorian) or for almost little money.

Make sure you read the UR notes that you receive by e-mail. They keep you tapped into what is going on in campus. I would also recommend that the new incoming students try to get themselves involved in many clubs and organizations in order to meet the older students.

Students who enjoy having free time and willing to put themselves out there.

The University of Redlands is one of the best decisions of my life because it is full of the friendliest, most dedicated and most amazing people I've ever met. My professors know who I am and actually care about me. The groups on campus will be the people I will keep in touch with forever.

Be careful not to become over involved. There is something for everyone and if you can't find something, you can always start clubs with friends.

Professors will take care of you, and they are there to help you. Classes do get very difficult so take advantage of all of the free services that the school offers.

The school does miracles with room placement. I met my best friend here. Having themed living communities is also very great because you get to interact with people who are as passionate as you.

Bon Appetit is a wonderful catering company who really does their job to keep student healthy. Sometimes I do get tired of their food but that is normal.

There is fun for every student. If you enjoy going out on the weekends down on greek row or staying in and watching a movie in your hall with the community. There is also Dawgs till dawn that put on great events that are not parties.

The best unusual cheer! Och Tamale!!!
Och Tamale gazolly gazump
Dayump dayadee yahoo
Ink damink dayadee gazink
Dayump, deray, yahoo
Wing wang trickey trackey poo foo
Joozy woozy skizzle wazzle
Wang tang orkey porkey dominorky
Redlands! â?? Rah, Rah, Redlands!

There is a home for everyone! Dare to be different, you'll fit right in.

There is a club for everyone. There is never a dull week, clubs put on such fun activities like green week which has a concert at the end. Medditation groups for those who want to relax.

Best decision of my life! We are local groups, meaning that we are only found on this campus. Makes up 20% of our campus and if going greek isn't your thing, there is also non-greek organizations that focus on social justice.

As a Johnston Center student I have been given the unique opportunity to craft my own undergraduate experience by creating my own major. Instead of grades, we receive evaluations for every class - a system that allows for students to reflect on their weaknesses and strengths. The U of R has a bit everything for everyone and here you can truly make your college experience what you want to make of it - it's all up to you the student.

Great place for its wonderful resources and diverse opportunities from community service to on-campus services. Sports and Music facilities are great and accessible. Food options are pretty good from two midnight cafes apart from the general cafeteria. Dorm life really depends on your dorm and who you dorm with. Study abroad is definitely encouraged here unlike other schools.

Financial Aid aside from FAFSA is available, merit scholarships as well!

Like most colleges, try to purchase your textbooks on ebay or through other online resources. Roommate draw is just a matter of luck, otherwise you can pay a bit more for a single. If you have a car, you'll find being on campus more bearable since Redlands is small and limited as a town with a few good restaurants and fewer entertainment options (dance clubs, bars, etc.). There's a shuttle to take you around Redlands for free, use it! Take advantage of the OP (Outdoor Program) Trips

From students who want a planned out 4 years in undergrad to those who want the opportunity to be creative with their education. Business school and Communicative Disorders are strengths of the U. of Redlands.

I am currently in the MBA program at the Burbank campus. I am finishing my fourth class and I have gained a great deal of knowledge from each class taken in my program. All of my professors have been very dedicated to the students and take any steps available to help them succeed.

Redlands has a family feel and even thought I am not taking classes at the main campus, the administration at my campus is extremely helpful and can answer any questions I have. I also enjoy my cohort and the diversity it brings with each individual.

While the tuition is not cheap, it is pretty comparable to MBA programs in the area (Pepperdine, UCLA, CSUN, etc.) For the money I pay, I feel there is a great return on investment. I just returned from a study abroad trip in Sweden/Denmark and I am very pleased with the instructors and the overall experience. I encourage any student who has the opportunity to study abroad. It is very important to see different perspectives, especially for business students.

Attend one of the informational sessions and ask any questions you may have. Most times you also have the opportunity to sit in on classes to see what the program will be like.

Working Full time. Traditional

Attending the University of Redlands was the best choice I could have ever made. Here, I can pursue all my interests, build a community of friends, and dare to be different. That Good Ol' U of R is the absolute best and I could not be more happy and appreciative to be here.

If you're looking for small class sizes, great financial-aid packages, and a great all-around place, Redlands is for you!
Here at the U of R, we have a 12 student to 1 professor ratio. That's a small class size! Small class sizes allow students to have a name in the class, and builds good relationships with professors so that they can help you do your best and succeed!
Also at Redlands, if you weren't aware about 90% of our entire campus receives financial-aid from the school itself or government funding of some sort. That's one of the perks of going to a private liberal arts college: more money to help fund a great education!
Aside from class sizes and financial-aid packages, Redlands is just awesome in general. Everyone here is so friendly! All your professors sincerely care about you, they want you to succeed! There are nothing but smiles exchanged from student to student all day, everyday!

The workload here is challenging yes, but not so much where you have migraines everyday. Redlands likes to create very well-rounded citizens so, they don't bombard you with coursework so that you can become a leader and an involved member of the school.

Love the dorms! Fosters such a great sense of community and really does become your family! Staying up late watching movies, playing video games, homework sessions, climbing trees, building forts, anything, you name it!

The food here is pretty awesome for cafeteria food! We have special catering from Bon Appetit who employ professional chefs to make our yummy meals! You won't go hungry here!

At Redlands, there are many activities you can do for fun.
The best way to have fun however is getting involved in clubs or organizations here on campus.
We have something called A.S.U.R. Social Affairs which does a great job of providing fun activities for students to do on campus.
They've creating a homecoming event, host line-dancing, Krikorian night where students go to our local movie theatre and get to see a movie...FOR FREE.
A.S.U.R. has got it goin' on!

The school is sooooo affordable! When someone looks at the actual price of the school, some may think it's a lot but really, the school gives us awesome financial-aid packages and most students don't have to pay as much as the tuition requires.

At the U of R, we have a tradition called, The Chapel Run. When someone does a chapel run, they run NAKED from the school's chapel all the way up to the administration building and back! Must be completed before you graduate!

There is so much stuff to do here at this school! There will never be a time where you're not laughing or smiling from all the fun you're having!

P-SAFE is our on campus police. They've always got our backs!

The University of Redlands offers class sizes that are small and allow you to a have a great learning experience with the Professors. The Professors on campus truly are some of the best because of their enthusiasm, love for what they do, and they help students achieve nothing less than their best. The campus is a very welcoming environment and the town surrounding the campus is wonderful.

If planning to attend, I would highly recommend living on campus for the first year. If you will not be living on campus like I did, I would strongly suggest getting involved in clubs and spending a lot of time on campus.

Professors are great, the only thing I would suggest doing is staying at a Steady 16 credits or higher each semester to help out with your registration for classes each semester.

The Irvine Commons offers gourmet meals from Bon Appetite

Hang out on campus in the library, on the quad, or in the commons for simple things to do. The University has plenty of events and activities to get involved in like intramural sports, greek life, and outdoor programs! On top of that, Redlands is such an active community with a lot to offer. Its an hour away from the mountains, Disneyland and an hour and half away from the beach. It's location gives it a great advantage.

You pay for the experience when attending Redlands. The University of Redlands is all about getting students to think critically and analytically, at least for my intended major in Business it has been. You get a great amount of one on one help from Professors when it is needed and they are available for office hours and by appointment.

Och Tamale!
Hiking to the R' on the side of the San Bernardino National mountains
The chapel run.

Music Majors,
Business Majors,
students who are undecided,
Math Majors.

Due to its small population, Redlands has smaller classes, and therefore the teacher knows every student by name and is able to help them individually with office hours and no-cost tutoring. The school is very liberal, accepting and inclusive, with plenty of opportunities for minorities to express themselves without fear of discrimination. There are many opportunities for living on campus and off campus, and the community director and assistants at the residence halls are friendly, helpful and kind.

The school is not as academically challenging to get into as an Ivy League college, but the school is looking for students with open minds, positive attitudes and a desire to participate in community service, as well as firm discipline towards hard work and academic honesty.

A lot is expected from students academically and many of the majors are intense in terms of time and amount of units required. The leniency on test grading and the actual difficulty of the class varies from teacher to teacher.

In general, dorm life is great. There are some dorms that are less desirable simply because the people who live there (usually freshmen) are less respectful of others. The lack of air conditioning in some dorms is also a problem that should be fixed.

Most of the food is good but the same dishes get old after a while. I've heard some complaints about the quality of certain foods, and sometimes the dining rooms could use more staff during peak meal times. In addition, during the weekends the quality of the commons and the variety of food available goes down significantly.

There are numerous extra-curricular activities on campus. The town of Redlands itself does not have much to do (I think it does, since I come from an even smaller town), but we are nestled right between Los Angeles and Orange County, allowing a reasonable distance to most attractions in Southern California.

This is an expensive private school, but most classes have less than thirty students and are taught by faculty, not teaching assistants. The college is generous in its scholarships and financial aid is readily available.

The Och Tamale chant, which is memorized by all freshmen and used as our fight song. The Chapel Run, in which someone streaks about two hundred meters from the Memorial Chapel to the administration building. People often shout from the admin building to the Chapel because it produces a loud echo; there is another echo chamber at Appleton Hall.
The town of Redlands is notoriously haunted, and several places on campus have been known to be a home for previous students or professors.

Great for students who want small classes, community service opportunities and a liberal arts education. Almost everyone at the school is of a liberal mindset, so if you are looking for a place where you can be accepted for expressing yourself in a non-conformational way, Redlands is the place.

Redlands has an astounding number of clubs and organizations. There are clubs for nearly every discipline of science, and sports such as Ultimate Frisbee and Quiddich. There are several musical ensembles that fall outside of the typical classical norm, as well as many performance opportunities for theatre, comedy, dance, and circus.

Redlands has a large Greek system, all local fraternities and sororities. These people are great and each organization has something special to offer. There are also Greek-like organizations that focus on issues such as community service and social justice, as well as two for music students.

There is a shuttle available to take you around campus and call boxes everywhere if you run into difficulty. Public Safety officers are always willing to help and are very friendly and available. Redlands cares very much about the safety of its students and, for instance, has rules about sober companions at Greek parties.