UCLA v Berkeley?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding homeless at UCLA campus, my child is a student and I've spent considerable time on campus: there are a few homeless people I've seen and heard about on campus, and I think one incident this fall with one breaking a window or door, but not that many that it is rampant (maybe the hills deter them!), but enough that I warned my child about walking alone at night. The school and security is aware of them and I have been there day and night, and literally have seen less than 1 or 2 in a given day. Westwood is awesome as a college "town" but it does have some homeless. Parents seem divided between those who defend right to be on public campus and those who prioritize safer campus. As to UCLA v Cal, I've never been to Cal, but given what I know, both are highly respected schools with smart and motivated students. I think Cal has a business program if I am not mistaken.

My kid is there too and this matches what I've seen around homeless on campus/in Westwood. Fwiw, when we toured public schools in other states we saw homeless people on campus and were consistently told that public schools are exactly that, open to the public. I think what gets confused in those FB parent groups are parents who don't understand that there really isn't such a thing as trespassing on public school ground and they get annoyed with parents who try to point that out as if the parents explaining the law are somehow not worried about student safety.

UCLA is on the quarter system which can be a blessing or a curse depending on personal preference. Classes are hard to get, and forget about professor or time of day preferences until you have earlier registration status. Four years of on campus housing is guaranteed but it's tight. Freshman, and maybe sophmore, status quo is three roommates in rooms obviously built for two. The food is incredible per my DC. Many clubs are competitive. It's a big school and I think you need a certain amount of tenacity and the ability to seek out and use resources to get what you need there. This is a week spot for my DC but they're learning.

[Anonymous]

*weak

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Los Angeles and have 2 high schoolers. The consensus amongst their peers is that UCLA is the preferred location. I don't think there's a lot of logic behind this other than it's here, in the city rather than what they perceive to be "out in the sticks".

Otherwise they're pretty much on a par.

I'm from LA with a HS junior and I've never heard anyone describe Berkeley as "the sticks." What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Berkeley's the better school, UCLA has the better quality of life and is just a notch below Berkeley academically.
Both are extremely difficult to get into, even for very high stats CA kids: UCLA a bit harder to get into.

I tend to think UCLA would be a more healthy environment for undergrad, Berkeley the better school for grad programs.

These are generalizations. I know both schools well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://100.ucla.edu/impact/out-of-the-classroom-onto-the-streets

“ In Los Angeles, the sight of homelessness is all too common.

The problem is present in virtually every neighborhood, from Skid Row to Bel Air. For many Angelenos, to step over the homeless on the sidewalk — or look away from an encampment under an overpass — is an everyday occurrence.”

I'm from SoCal and this is now true. Most UCLA students have to go through LAX, too, which is a nightmare

[Anonymous]

“UCLA has the edge in humanities and communication/arts programs. Berkeley is stronger in Environmental Studies.”

Cal has the edge in the humanities as well. Head to head where both schools offer the same majors, Berkeley leads the vast majority of times. This is true with all but a maybe a handful of schools in this country public or private.

[Anonymous]

Both are great. The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“UCLA has the edge in humanities and communication/arts programs. Berkeley is stronger in Environmental Studies.”

Cal has the edge in the humanities as well. Head to head where both schools offer the same majors, Berkeley leads the vast majority of times. This is true with all but a maybe a handful of schools in this country public or private.

Berkeley is higher ranked in English, Econ, Engineering, CS, Data Science. UCLA is notably stronger in the arts like their film program. Each have stronger recruiting in their surrounding areas - Berkeley for SF/Silicon Valley and UCLA for socal.

[Anonymous]

UCLA has been the preferred choice among applicants admitted to both schools for several years now, as well as having a notably lower admission rate overall. I've been surprised by how many DCUM posters seem to hold the impression that Berkeley is the superior school in this day and age; on the west coast, they are clearly considered peer schools.

One key difference not previously mentioned, I believe, is that UCLA has a medical school on campus. This leads to an even broader array of research opportunities for students in the biomedical sciences. Additionally, UCLA has a four-year housing guarantee. Berkeley's is only one year. The off campus housing market for both areas is very expensive, so guaranteed housing has a real effect on quality of life. That said, more similarities than differences between them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCLA has been the preferred choice among applicants admitted to both schools for several years now, as well as having a notably lower admission rate overall. I've been surprised by how many DCUM posters seem to hold the impression that Berkeley is the superior school in this day and age; on the west coast, they are clearly considered peer schools.

One key difference not previously mentioned, I believe, is that UCLA has a medical school on campus. This leads to an even broader array of research opportunities for students in the biomedical sciences. Additionally, UCLA has a four-year housing guarantee. Berkeley's is only one year. The off campus housing market for both areas is very expensive, so guaranteed housing has a real effect on quality of life. That said, more similarities than differences between them.

I was wheeled out of my hospital room at UC Ronald Reagan a few months ago by a new UCLA undergrad who was working p/t at the hospital while studying. They have HUGE advantages there with that kind of access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCLA has been the preferred choice among applicants admitted to both schools for several years now, as well as having a notably lower admission rate overall. I've been surprised by how many DCUM posters seem to hold the impression that Berkeley is the superior school in this day and age; on the west coast, they are clearly considered peer schools.

One key difference not previously mentioned, I believe, is that UCLA has a medical school on campus. This leads to an even broader array of research opportunities for students in the biomedical sciences. Additionally, UCLA has a four-year housing guarantee. Berkeley's is only one year. The off campus housing market for both areas is very expensive, so guaranteed housing has a real effect on quality of life. That said, more similarities than differences between them.

This is correct. Southern CA high school parent here. UCLA is the more difficult admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA has been the preferred choice among applicants admitted to both schools for several years now, as well as having a notably lower admission rate overall. I've been surprised by how many DCUM posters seem to hold the impression that Berkeley is the superior school in this day and age; on the west coast, they are clearly considered peer schools.

One key difference not previously mentioned, I believe, is that UCLA has a medical school on campus. This leads to an even broader array of research opportunities for students in the biomedical sciences. Additionally, UCLA has a four-year housing guarantee. Berkeley's is only one year. The off campus housing market for both areas is very expensive, so guaranteed housing has a real effect on quality of life. That said, more similarities than differences between them.

This is correct. Southern CA high school parent here. UCLA is the more difficult admit.

+1 things have shifted

[Anonymous]

UCLA is the harder admit but this is due, I think, to perceived livability of Westwood/UCLA relative to Berkeley. The housing situation in Berkeley is a particular concern for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCLA is the harder admit but this is due, I think, to perceived livability of Westwood/UCLA relative to Berkeley. The housing situation in Berkeley is a particular concern for my kid.

yeah, 21% of students offered housing in Berkeley versus 100% at UCLA is something to affect these choices.

[Anonymous]

Not cool deleting a large swath of posts, Mods. There were some actual helpful posts there.

Anyhow, UCLA and Berkeley are the two most similar colleges in the T20 and maybe the T50. They are much more alike than different. So quibbling over which is the overall superior school is mostly unproductive hairsplitting. They're both very, very good.