UCLA--thoughts?
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Anonymous
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What are your experiences for UCLA as a grad or as someone who has experience with the institution?
Undecided major. I appreciate your thoughts. |
Anonymous
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It's a massive university that will have less personal attention, less readily available resources, and more bureaucracy than small and private colleges. It rewards students with initiative and hustle, but may not be a great fit for more passive kids. D1 sports are fun but play a lesser role than in schools in the Midwest and South. Housing is more complicated than rural and semi-rural schools, and most non-affluent kids will probably have to share a room all four years, whether they live on campus or off. I'm sure most alumni are willing to help UCLA grads, but it doesn't exactly have a rabid alumni network.
Nonetheless, UCLA rates extremely well in student satisfaction, retention, and outcomes. For all the online cavils from concerned parents, Bruins tend to love their school and experience. Some UCLA students may be find themselves lost in the masses, but most find their community fairly quickly. This is subjective, but I think the campus has a a more vibrant energy than the vast majority of colleges. Among the T20, it is more social and work-hard/play-hard than most of its peers. Its international reputation exceeds its domestic reputation, if that matters to you. FWIW, I'm a UCLA grad from the late 90's. I am definitely not an LA person, but I still loved my time there! Whatever criticisms I may have of Los Angeles, it was a great place to spend four years (minus the year I studied abroad). I can't advise on whether it's better than this or that university, but I have no complaints. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
| But I will add that unlike DD I was at a SLAC. Loved getting to know my professors well. Little bureaucracy. Could get classes I wanted. But DD is learning in different ways. Went to a rigorous private school that was small. So been there done that. |
Anonymous
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UCLA receives more applications than any other college or university in the world.
Great location--safe & beautiful. Lots of very attractive students. Outstanding reputation here & abroad. Boredom is prohibited. |
Anonymous
Agree. I went to UCLA and DS is now at Pomona. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but they are each great schools and represent two separate routes to the same destination. |
Anonymous
Just on our visit - a lot of homeless on the benches. |
Anonymous
Huh? Where? Westwood? Not on campus |
Anonymous
On Campus - not saying on every bench but towards the entrances. USC to contrast in a bad neighborhood but walled with guards at every entrance. |
Anonymous
Never seen a homeless person on campus ever |
Anonymous
| UCLA is much better for graduate studies. The undergrad experience leaves a lot to be desired, including impacted majors, crappy TAs, brutal competition for club admission and crowded housing (think 3 or 4 kids in rooms meant for 2). DC transferred out after one year. In that year, DC never met with a professor, only TAs. Having a much better experience at a private school. |
Anonymous
My DD graduated last year from UCLA. My thought, since you asked 
Pros: DD says it is the absolute BEST college experience she could have had. Westwood is a great college town in the middle of a world class city. DD was in a sorority so she had a VERY active social life. A PP said there is a great balance of work hard and play hard, and that is absolutely true. While she had great social experiences, she also studied hard and got a great education. I got to spend a LOT of time in LA and met many many of DDs friends and roommates. The students are wicked smart, go-getters, self-starters and all-around great people. It is a truly diverse campus in every sense - racially, socio-economically, etc. DD double majored and graduated on time, even after studying abroad for a quarter. All of her friends also graduated on time (contrary to the constant posters here who like to say it takes 5 to 6 years to graduate from a UC), and they all got great jobs even during a very tough job market. DD is working for a tech company (on the business side - not a tech major) making six figures. She minored in Entrepreneurship and had amazing professors who were actual entrepreneurs and brought real-world experience to their students. Cons: This school is NOT for the faint at heart. DD had NO advising until her sophmore year. Freshman advisors are all senior students and it's hit or miss. You have to navigate a maze of classes and the first two weeks of every quarter is dog eat dog. They end up getting the classes they need but they have to be assertive and advocate for themselves. DD would show up at a class every day the first week of the quarter until the proessor let her in! There are strikes and protests and her senior year was tough with all the Gaza/Isreal encampments and general campus strife. Would she do it all over again - in a heartbeat. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| It’s impossible to get into UCLA. It’s like writing a message pondering about Harvard. |
Anonymous
It’s easier to get into than Harvard. Come on. And you don’t need any testing. And I have a DC there. |
Anonymous
The cons listed here and in the post above this reply are fair. Those were too much for my DC and they transferred out. |