East Coast students at UCLA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be wary of the budget crisis in California and the major funding issues of the UCs. The system is very financially unstable which can lead to major difficulties in stuff like getting classes, majoring in the subject you want, etc.

I do agree with the pitfalls of going to a college in CA (long plane rides, etc). And UC does have funding issues, but adequately funding higher education is a problem for many state budgets. The budget crisis is long over; in part because of the cuts to higher education, as well as other cuts. Brown is starting to approve more funding, although not to the level administrators have requested.

As for UCLA - it's a wonderful college, truly difficult to get into. Congrats to your son. If he is adventurous and up for challenges, I think he'll like it. (sorry mom!)

[Anonymous]

UCLA is an amazing school. I've been to all three (UVA, UM, UCLA), and the latter stands out for being the most beautiful public school I've seen in such a nice part of the city. All the science buildings there, research facilities, and medical complex is immaculate. Very close to Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Great dining halls. As close to a perfect university as one exists.

Congratulations on this auspicious acceptance. Let him go with full enthusiasm. UCLA will not hurt his chances. It is held to a lot of regard nationwide. And as mentioned, he could still be in touch with classmates going to UVA if he comes home for break/summers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following: My DS in 10th grade now really wants to attend UCLA. Keep the comments coming!

To PP: (I'm the former Californian who [and children agreed] say "nay nay") Watch carefully about admissions policies. My understanding from a UC Regent is that all OOS students, including internationals, will be capped at 20% in the future - the Californians are furious that their tax dollars can't get their kids into UCLA and Berkeley. I believe the Regents have already ordered this but could be mistaken. In other words, it may become much more difficult to get into UCLA in the future, compared with other state systems, like UVA which is around 58% instate and the rest OSS and internationals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following: My DS in 10th grade now really wants to attend UCLA. Keep the comments coming!

To PP: (I'm the former Californian who [and children agreed] say "nay nay") Watch carefully about admissions policies. My understanding from a UC Regent is that all OOS students, including internationals, will be capped at 20% in the future - the Californians are furious that their tax dollars can't get their kids into UCLA and Berkeley. I believe the Regents have already ordered this but could be mistaken. In other words, it may become much more difficult to get into UCLA in the future, compared with other state systems, like UVA which is around 58% instate and the rest OSS and internationals.

This is what Virginia should be doing. But the slicktards in Richmond are too deep in the University systems' pockets to make that happen..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP - I'm a former Californian now in D.C. I know UCLA well and, frankly, would go to UVA over UCLA because of the size Kids just get lost at UCLA. Your child may disagree and really want California but mine didn't. We flew out and did the tours - also SLACs and LACs but my kids hated LAX, the driving, the smoky fog, the sheer number of cars. So they never applied to any CA schools. IMHO students at UVA get far more attention from the profs. My second year at UVA has sterling letters of recommendation already from two famous profs and is using them to get an internship here in D.C. The cost and unpleasantness of travel would be for me a deal breaker. I know some UCLA and Berkeley moms from this area (also Pomona, and Scripps) who really hate the hassle and cost of flying out to set-up their kids, the flights back and forth for vacations and then graduation. At first, they were excited but it became wearing. Also, you must have a car in LA. and that adds significant expense. For UVA DC uses the train or HomeRide buses. This also may not mean anything to your child, but because we have kids in Virginia universities, we were able to continue our family life on into college years. The kids come home (different spring breaks) and we go on vacation. Or we pick them up and go on vacation. It's much more difficult to do anything like that if your student is at UCLA or Berkeley. I understand the lure of So. Cal for an east coast kid but it is not what it was 30 years ago. Also, if you think you can get to the beach easily from UCLA you are mistaken. You couldn't pay me to drive on the Santa Monica freeway. It's madness out there now. But, as they say, your results may vary. Good luck.

Grew up in Santa Monica, went to UCLA. Only an idiot would take the Santa Monica Freeway as a route between the two. Just sayin.

[Anonymous]

I am just speaking on the topic of moving from East to West Coast and making friends, not on the specific school:

My son went to Stanford and daughter went to Berkeley. My son is the type to have two or three best friends and feel socially fulfilled. He made a lot more friends in college than he'd had in high school. Coming home from breaks was no big deal - he just hung out with his high school friends. DD did the same, but on a bigger level (more outgoing). Neither had a problem settling in or making friends.

My son has stayed in CA for med school. DD came back for law school but lives near, not with, us.

[Anonymous]

My oldest is determined to go to college in California (grandparents live there, we visit once a year), even it's for grad school.

The admission requirements are getting insane, however. We know of one in-state applicant who had a 4.10 with all the bells and whistles (clubs, student government, volunteer work, etc.) and was turned down at UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD and UCSB. It's amazingly tough to get in even at the public state universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be wary of the budget crisis in California and the major funding issues of the UCs. The system is very financially unstable which can lead to major difficulties in stuff like getting classes, majoring in the subject you want, etc.

This. I am from California and the reason I did not encourage my children to apply to any UC school.

Ditto. In figuring the cost, plan on UCLA taking 5 years simply from difficulty getting in the classes you need.

[Anonymous]

UCLA is more racially diverse - it's a way better school than UM or UVA.

Your son is smart in having it his top choice over UM or UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be wary of the budget crisis in California and the major funding issues of the UCs. The system is very financially unstable which can lead to major difficulties in stuff like getting classes, majoring in the subject you want, etc.

This. I am from California and the reason I did not encourage my children to apply to any UC school.

Ditto. In figuring the cost, plan on UCLA taking 5 years simply from difficulty getting in the classes you need.

Yup, especially in the sciences. I got my PhD there and TA'd lab classes. Lots of 5th years were taking sophomore labs because it had taken them 4 years to get in. We also didn't have enough supplied so some kids with labs scheduled late in the week didn't get to do the experiment. The professors also had zero interest in interacting with undergrads. I'd never send my kid there. Never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be wary of the budget crisis in California and the major funding issues of the UCs. The system is very financially unstable which can lead to major difficulties in stuff like getting classes, majoring in the subject you want, etc.

This. I am from California and the reason I did not encourage my children to apply to any UC school.

Ditto. In figuring the cost, plan on UCLA taking 5 years simply from difficulty getting in the classes you need.

Yup, especially in the sciences. I got my PhD there and TA'd lab classes. Lots of 5th years were taking sophomore labs because it had taken them 4 years to get in. We also didn't have enough supplied so some kids with labs scheduled late in the week didn't get to do the experiment. The professors also had zero interest in interacting with undergrads. I'd never send my kid there. Never.

The public university structure in CA explicitly makes this the situation at UCs. The focus of UCs is graduate education/research. The focus of Cal States is undergraduate education. I turned down UCLA and Berkeley to go to Cal Poly because I felt it would be a lot better for me as an undergrad The UCs felt too big and impersonal. Had a great experience at Cal Poly -- mostly small classes, good relationships with faculty. Although it does have the same 5-yr plan problem that the UCs do. Certainly, you can get a good undergrad education at the UCs but you have to work for it and hope you get good TAs.

[Anonymous]

I think UCLA is a great school. The biggest negative are impacted majors- which are most majors. English, Economics, Communications, Biology- almost every major is a competition to even be able to declare. That adds stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCLA is more racially diverse - it's a way better school than UM or UVA.

Your son is smart in having it his top choice over UM or UVA.

It depends on what you mean by racially diverse. UVA is 35% URM. From Google: "UCLA has only 4% black students: UCLA is an ethnically diverse campus, but the small number of African American undergraduates continues to be an issue. Among the nearly 25,300 U.S undergraduates there, about 39% are Asian American or Pacific Islander, 31% are white, 20% are Latino and 4% are black, according to last fall's statistics". There are many more black students at UVA.

[Anonymous]

Here's UVA's commitment to black students: https://alumni.virginia.edu/african-american-admission-enrollment-by-the-numbers/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is his major? If I were him, I'd get a job in CA after he graduates. It's the best time to be in CA - young and single. He can come back when he is ready to settle down.

When he comes back for summer, why can't he hang out with his former HS friends?

-signed a former CA resident of 40 years now live in DC

Mudslides, earthquakes, droughts, uncontrollable fires, over populated illegal alien population. What’s not to love??