Tell me about UCLA

[Anonymous]

DC will likely be headed there this fall. If your child attended UCLA what was his/her experience? Did the student body feel too big or were they able to make friends? Did they have a hard time getting into popular classes (that sounds like a real concern as kids have to "apply" into majors). Did they have an opportunity to find internships in L.A. And most importantly, are they now gainfully employed or in a good grad school program Looking for the good, bad and the ugly.

[Anonymous]

UCLA is a top school in a great and safe location. Yes, it is a big school (beautiful campus) but your child will find his/her niche like in any other school. Yes, your freshman is not going to get into the popular upper-class electives. But isn't that true everywhere?

UCLA is a nationally top ranked school. DS had no trouble getting into medical school from UCLA and all of his friends are well employed or in good graduate programs. My niece went to UCLA for theater and did great (and loved it) and is struggling to find acting jobs along with every other young actor in Los Angeles.

[Anonymous]

UCLA is a nationally top-ranked university. Beautiful campus, perfect weather, friendly kids and a great education - the grads are well-respected. You kid's experience at UCLA will be about what your kid does. UCLA will give him everything he needs to succeed. If he/she fails, it will be his/her own doing.

[Anonymous]

There's no hand holding at UCLA or any school with a large student population. If your kid can advocate for him/herself and has the initiative to ook for opportunities, then s/he will be fine.

[Anonymous]

2nd best CA public school. Far behind Cal but not bad at all.

[Anonymous]

UCLA is an excellent school highly respected by employers and grad schools alike. I am a proud alum. The problem is the terrible fiscal condition of California/the system makes for difficulties in class selection, graduating on time, getting into a chosen major, etc. It is the very reason that I did not allow my children to apply to any UC school.

Also, the very mission of the UCs is NOT undergraduate education, it is graduate education and research. So keep that in mind.

[Anonymous]

Are you a California resident, OP?

[Anonymous]

Great school in a great location. But it is big and filled with equally smart kids. Your child's experience is what he makes it.

[Anonymous]

UCLA is an excellent school highly respected by employers and grad schools alike. I am a proud alum. The problem is the terrible fiscal condition of California/the system makes for difficulties in class selection, graduating on time, getting into a chosen major, etc. It is the very reason that I did not allow my children to apply to any UC school.

Also, the very mission of the UCs is NOT undergraduate education, it is graduate education and research. So keep that in mind.

This could be said of all of the better state flagships-- Michigan, Wisconsin, UMD, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

UCLA is an excellent school highly respected by employers and grad schools alike. I am a proud alum. The problem is the terrible fiscal condition of California/the system makes for difficulties in class selection, graduating on time, getting into a chosen major, etc. It is the very reason that I did not allow my children to apply to any UC school.

Also, the very mission of the UCs is NOT undergraduate education, it is graduate education and research. So keep that in mind.

This could be said of all of the better state flagships-- Michigan, Wisconsin, UMD, etc.

Actually, it’s true of virtually every research university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

UCLA is an excellent school highly respected by employers and grad schools alike. I am a proud alum. The problem is the terrible fiscal condition of California/the system makes for difficulties in class selection, graduating on time, getting into a chosen major, etc. It is the very reason that I did not allow my children to apply to any UC school.

Also, the very mission of the UCs is NOT undergraduate education, it is graduate education and research. So keep that in mind.

This could be said of all of the better state flagships-- Michigan, Wisconsin, UMD, etc.

Actually, it’s true of virtually every research university.

NP. Yes, but there is something about the UC system that is extra brutal for undergrads IMO. I went to grad school at Berkeley, and it was very tough for students to graduate in four years due to over-subscription of core classes - across all majors. TA'd one of the engineering weeder courses - when kids dropped out it was like "good, room for someone else". I've spoken to parents who have kids at Berkeley, and they report it is still just as competitive, unsupportive, and tough if you can't advocate strongly for yourself. I loved the school, loved the area, didn't love some of the internal culture and internal politicking. Don't regret going to engineering grad school there, but wouldn't ever send a kid for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Make sure your student try to get all the required courses out of the way. UC is famous for not offering enough courses for students to graduate on time. Extra semester or year can be costly. I sent my D out of state. Otherwise, it's a beautiful campus in a beautiful area of Los Angeles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

UCLA is an excellent school highly respected by employers and grad schools alike. I am a proud alum. The problem is the terrible fiscal condition of California/the system makes for difficulties in class selection, graduating on time, getting into a chosen major, etc. It is the very reason that I did not allow my children to apply to any UC school.

Also, the very mission of the UCs is NOT undergraduate education, it is graduate education and research. So keep that in mind.

This could be said of all of the better state flagships-- Michigan, Wisconsin, UMD, etc.

Way to work UMD in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2nd best CA public school. Far behind Cal but not bad at all.

UCLA is a great school. This kind of comment is unnecessary. Try to add something OP doesn't already know.

[Anonymous]

UCLA is a good school, but prepare to pay for an extra semester or year and warn your child he/she might not be able to major in what they want to major in.