Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The purpose of this column is to support you. First-Gen Life will offer tips, stories and guidance to help first generation students not just survive, but thrive here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).  Sometimes, a quarter isn’t defined by the big moments. Not the midterms, not the grades, not the nights we spent convincing ourselves we were definitely...
Studying for finals can be mentally draining, but here are some cool snacks Highlanders can enjoy to fuel their brains.  Gum and mints  Dozing off while rewatching lectures is inevitable. While technically not something you can eat, chewing a stick of spearmint gum can help wake you up with the added benefit of leaving one’s breath smelling fresh. If you don't...
Dear Slate,  I hope this letter finds you well – actually, no. I hope this letter finds you exactly the way you find us: confused, exhausted and clicking the same button 14 times hoping something – anything – will load.  You were introduced to University of California, Riverside (UCR) as our shiny new “streamlined advising experience.” Adorable. Precious. Because logging into...
So you're now at the point in your rigorous job, internship, lab or organization application process where you’ve actually gotten an interview – congratulations! Your hard work has paid off – but now, you might be worrying about how to ace it. Interviews are selective, situational and require some social skills, so here’s a brief guide on how to...
The purpose of this column is to support you. First-Gen Life will offer tips, stories and guidance to help first generation students not just survive, but thrive here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).  Many first-gen students grow up in homes where life rarely pauses. There’s always someone waking up before the sun, someone coming home late or someone,...
It's that time of the quarter again – coffee cups are piling up in Orbach and the campus buzzes with the midterm panic. Here’s a guide to help you through it.  Space it out - Plan ahead and stay organized  Take the time to make a study plan. Make a list of all your exams along with their respective dates and...
As a transfer student who just arrived at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), navigating the social scene and finding new connections has been a challenge. When I first arrived on campus, I wasn’t sure where to start or what to do. There are over 20,000 students here at the university, so how would I be able to connect...
There’s a chill in the air. Ghouls and goblins are coming out of hiding and the witches’ cauldrons are bubbling. The spooky season has arrived, and we could not be more excited, especially with Halloween finally falling on a Friday this year. That means it is truly a Halloweekend, with festivities continuing all the way through to Sunday, as...
Spooky season is here, and the time to prepare is now! With Halloween rapidly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about costumes assuming you haven’t already. However, buying a new costume each year isn’t good for your wallet or the environment.  Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this: making your own costume! By using clothing items you can wear...
The purpose of this column is to support you. First-Gen Life will offer tips, stories and guidance to help first generation students not just survive, but thrive here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).  Week four is when reality settles in. The excitement of syllabus week has faded, group chats have gone quiet and the rush of being the...