And yet there are so many other UCLA alum and current students who absolutely loved their experiences & heartily recommend it! All flagships have large lower level classes. This isn’t specific to UCs. You’re crazy to say it isn’t vibrant? And there are religious and racial overtones? I’m not sure what you even mean? It’s a stunning campus, in a fantastic location, with guaranteed housing. |
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Applied as sociology major but may change to wildlife/animal rehabilitation, whatever that looks like. She would really need to up her school game to do the pre-vet track, IMO. She’s capable but doesn’t always apply herself, hence her grades. We will see. Oftentimes kids “find it” in college. |
It's a basketball school located in the one of the most expensive real estate areas in the country. On campus was never going to happening even 1960s when they could have done it. |
+1000 |
You go with that. But for other people, they may want to know that several of the UCs (including Cal and UCLA) look at three types gpas even though they mostly report on the capped. All of it is based on summer after 9th through summer after 11th grades and identified courses (a-g). UW, weighted capped and weighted uncapped. It may be useful to know this going in. AP test scores are also valuable. And they look at rigor. I have reviewed the UC data site extensively, attend two UCs (undergrad and grad degrees) and also peruse college confidential. |
DC is a junior at UCLA. I'll take these one by one: Professors: PP has presented a very broad generalization. DC has had some very engaging, incredible professors. Others not so much. (typical of most schools) Impacted classes: True - but there is a ton of movement in the first two weeks of the quarter with students dropping classes, that DC almost always ends up getting the class they need Little advising: True! Until one gets into their major (for DC it was end of sophmore year), you're on your own baby. Kids figure it out and rely on each other a lot. Major advising is good though. Local students: There are students from literally every state in the US and the rest of the world. Yes, there are a ton of Bay Area and Orange County kids - but my DC has friends from everywhere. Campus not vibrant: My DC started in 2020, so yes, for the first year, the campus was dead and nothing happening because of Covid. But now - my goodness I don't know how you an say the campus and area is not vibrant. The campus is stunning and there's something happening all the time. We've gone for parents weekend and it was a blast with so much happening on campus. DC has an incredibly active social life! Is UCLA for everyone? Of course not. But there are so many stereotypes of large vs. small colleges and UCLA has so much to offer academiclly, socially, career-wise, etc. My DC is having a great experience and will graduate on time with a major and two minors. DC is surrounded by a cohort of super smart, go-getter types and has a great group of friends. UCLA also opens up a lot of doors. DC had an excellent internship last summer with a major tech company and was invited back this summer as well. DC may take another internship at a Fintech start-up - hasn't decided yet. DC's friends also have a wide-variety of great internships. Another benefit of being in LA - DC has caught the healthy living bug. DC has never been healthier! Everyone in their group of friends is outside and active all the time - biking, hiking, surfing, skiing, running, you name it. DC exercises regularly and eats super healthy now. Good luck to everyone with their decisions. |
It's definitley for basic white girls who take 8-9 AP classes, and have a weighted GPA under 4.0. (And, test score under 1200). |
Thanks so much for this. Anyone have a similar amount of detail on UCSD? UCSB? |
Not as much school sprit at either UCSD and UCSB. They have D1 sports team but not to the level of UCLA. UCSD heavy STEM emphasis and much bigger campus in terms of area. They also are unique in having different colleges within the university (e.g., Muir or Sixth college). You have to research it. Each has different requirements for graduation. They call UCSD, UC Socially Dead. I am not sure if it deserved or not but definitely heavy on engineering and pre-med. UCSB seems to have a housing problem. Much worst then Westwood. Both of these schools have higher percentage of in-state students but California is such a diverse and large state the background of the in-state students are very different. |
Thanks - but we are specifically asking for a parent with a current student at the school to share specific feedback. We have been to all of these schools - we know the campuses - we know the housing options - we know about the colleges at UCSD (and varying course requirement) - almost anyone would clearly know UCLA is a big D1 powerhouse that others aren't. |
DP. I am often here with this perspective but unfortunately you cannot stop all the wind-bags from coming out and trumpeting all the things they like repeating over and over, however unoriginal or unhelpful they are to do so. |
UCSD = Heaven on Earth. Gorgeous. UCSB pretty much the same thing - Heaven-- but a tad less ultra competitive to get into. |
| UCLA gets more applications that any other school in the world. Getting in is harder that IVYs. |
this is 100% true but the DCUMommies don't like it when someone says it. |