Anonymous wrote:UCLA gets more applications that any other school in the world. Getting in is harder that IVYs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

Thanks so much for this.

Anyone have a similar amount of detail on UCSD? UCSB?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

Thanks so much for this.

Anyone have a similar amount of detail on UCSD? UCSB?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCs also will only weight 2 classes per year out of 10th & 11th grade for the assessment of GPA

Since the only count grades from 10th and 11th, weighting 4 classes counts.
If you take 6 classes per year (classes like drivers Ed/pe/athletics don’t count) and weight 2 then an all student has a GPA of 4.33 while an OOS student who has no AP’s will have a GPA of 4.0. Of a student takes 5 classes per year (not including a or class) then the straight A student has a gpa of 4.4 while the non weighted one has 4.0.

And what is not well known or publicized is ucla and Berkeley actually look at uncapped weighted gpa as well. So a 11th grader with all AP or IB or dual enrollment courses could have an uncapped weighted gpa of 5.0. Compare that to a private school student whose school dropped AP’s. That student has an uncapped gpa of 4.0.

No they limit to 2 per year. There is no such thing as "uncapped" weighted for the UCs. Elsewhere, sure, but not there.

Uncapped weighted is 100% real. You really are uninformed. Just read college confidential for 2 minutes on a UC string and you will hear all about uncapped weighted Gpa.

I've read the UC site, I think I'm actually much better informed than you, who is gathering "data" from talk boards

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who didn't get in, take heart. It's just an overcrowded and underfunded state school. Professors are more engaged with research than students. It can be very very hard to get classes you need. (See Impacted Courses https://sa.ucla.edu/ro/Public/SOC/Search/ImpactedCoursesMasterList). There's very little advising. Many students are also local, so campus life isn't vibrant and often has unfortunate religious and racial overtones. In short, there are many other better options for the OOS price.

Yes, I agree that the palm trees and weather are lovely. If that's what matters to you, have at it.

--UCLA alum

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In. Loudoun County.

I forgot to mention — 3.93 weighted, 1150 SAT. 8 or 9 APs. Basic white girl.

She won’t go — attending more affordable VT instead.

This was the last one. She did very well — in everywhere she applied except Tennessee where waitlisted.

I’m sure she isn’t. Be better.

I think this is the basic white girl who also got into UVA and other prestigious schools despite the uncompetitive stats.

It’s clearly a troll trying to show there isn’t actually a bias against white kids

I'm pp and there is not a bias against white kids, but that poster is definitely a troll hitting all the threads.

DP, but it's pretty astounding that just because *your* kids didn't get in, you assume anyone whose kids *did* get in is trolling - despite their "uncompetitive" stats. Perhaps this applicant had exactly what the schools were looking for - and perhaps your kid did not. Stats aren't the end-all be-all.

Sure you can believe this all you want. I have no dog in this fight. Kid never applied to UCLA and other won’t either. They love football and don’t want to ride a bus an hour way to games. But, c’mon those statistics are not competitive at all for UCLA for anyone. A weighted gpa under 4.0 WITH 8 or 9 APs, which means she would have to be getting Bs in all those classes, and didn’t break a 1200. Trolling, mistype, or leaving off pertinent info, but her own mom describes her as “basic,” which seems accurate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In. Loudoun County.

I forgot to mention — 3.93 weighted, 1150 SAT. 8 or 9 APs. Basic white girl.

She won’t go — attending more affordable VT instead.

This was the last one. She did very well — in everywhere she applied except Tennessee where waitlisted.

I’m sure she isn’t. Be better.

I think this is the basic white girl who also got into UVA and other prestigious schools despite the uncompetitive stats.

It’s clearly a troll trying to show there isn’t actually a bias against white kids

No, not trolling. And I never said UVA — she didn’t apply there.

In at:

Penn State
VT
Arizona State
UCLA
JMU
Miami University in Ohio
CNU
GMU
SUNY Geneseo

Waitlisted at Tennessee

VT, Penn State and UCLA were here reaches, obviously.

She will go VT because she got $14k in aid.

She must have had exceptional essays including the supplementals at VT because I know full well her stats aren’t top tier.

What is her intended major and congrats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In. Loudoun County.

I forgot to mention — 3.93 weighted, 1150 SAT. 8 or 9 APs. Basic white girl.

She won’t go — attending more affordable VT instead.

This was the last one. She did very well — in everywhere she applied except Tennessee where waitlisted.

I’m sure she isn’t. Be better.[/q

Be better about what? Niw a mother can’t even. Describe her kid without you racists attacking her descriptions?

I don't believe it either.