University of California schools

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06/05/2023 03:47

Subject: University of California schools

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to my DD’s school (in state) admission results for UCs, it was very difficult.
Kids with 3.8-4.0 (not UC GPA, unweighted) only handful total got into UCLA, UCB, UCSD,UCSB.
These kids were top kids with very strong EC and also got into some Ivies and other T25 schools.
Can’t imagine how hard it’ll be for out-of- state.

There’s some things you need to know about UC schools. Perhaps many state flagship shares same problem but class registration is a battle ground.
Many kids who is majoring popular subjects end up change their major or delay graduation because they could not take desired classes on time.

My friend told me UCLA requires freshman to sign up 10 back-up classes for each class they register.
10 back ups?
I don’t know what kind of research opportunities there could be if you can’t even register for undergraduate classes. Research opportunities are mainly for graduate school students and PHDs.

School reputations are great, but with huge class sizes and registration war, I don’t know if it’s worth out-of -state tuition.
Better go to smaller private colleges if you want to really research as undergrad. Like Liberal Art Colleges.

"My friend told me." Every time there is a thread on UCs, someone (usually from CA) pipes up about how nobody can graduate on time. As a parent who actually has a child who currently attends UCLA, this is an exaggeration. Have TEN BACK UP CLASSES!!?? They can't even do that. My DC will graduate next year, on time, with a double major and a minor. All of DCs friends are graduating in four years as well. Yes, sometimes they can't get the classes they want in popular majors right away, but in the end, they always do. Because the first two weeks of every quarter, there is a lot of movement with students dropping classes and wait lists moving quickly so DC has always gotten into the classes they needed. These kids are very smart and figure out how to work through whatever hurdles come their way. And there are plenty of research opportunities for undergrads. As an OOS family, UCLA has been totally worth it. DC has had amazing internship opportunities as well, as UCLA opens a lot of doors.

My sister is a professor in a popular major at Stanford and she has told me that she has had to advise students to take required courses over the summer because they are oversubscribed there as well. This happens at a lot of universities.

OP - talk to people who actually have students at the schools your DC is interested in. Don't listen to the noise.

+100%. Kids learn to work the system and get classes they want or need. 4 year graduate rate similar to other similar flagship state schools and higher than USC. Lots of reasons not to go to large research universities but the idea that need 10 backup classes is ridiculous.