Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

There was definitely a trend at my daughter’s private this year toward big state schools. Many were tired of the small private environment and looking for something bigger. As a parent, I think the big “cattle call” schools as you called them can provide invaluable real-life experience that some kids who’ve grown up in the private school bubble need.

If my private school child didn’t want to attend a small private college, I would suggest a large private university, not a ginormous state school with impacted majors, or a tiny SLAC. So, I would suggest anything from Ivies to T50 private universities, depending on grades. They will definitely get real-life experiences at larger private universities. No need for big cattle-call State U.

A larger private is still private—if you are trying to get away from the elite part of the private vibe which some are, an Ivy or larger private really doesn’t do the trick.

That’s where you lost me. Why would my child want to get away from anything elite? Elite is the best.
I guess some people don’t mind general population. To each his own…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

There was definitely a trend at my daughter’s private this year toward big state schools. Many were tired of the small private environment and looking for something bigger. As a parent, I think the big “cattle call” schools as you called them can provide invaluable real-life experience that some kids who’ve grown up in the private school bubble need.

If my private school child didn’t want to attend a small private college, I would suggest a large private university, not a ginormous state school with impacted majors, or a tiny SLAC. So, I would suggest anything from Ivies to T50 private universities, depending on grades. They will definitely get real-life experiences at larger private universities. No need for big cattle-call State U.

A larger private is still private—if you are trying to get away from the elite part of the private vibe which some are, an Ivy or larger private really doesn’t do the trick.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

There was definitely a trend at my daughter’s private this year toward big state schools. Many were tired of the small private environment and looking for something bigger. As a parent, I think the big “cattle call” schools as you called them can provide invaluable real-life experience that some kids who’ve grown up in the private school bubble need.

If my private school child didn’t want to attend a small private college, I would suggest a large private university, not a ginormous state school with impacted majors, or a tiny SLAC. So, I would suggest anything from Ivies to T50 private universities, depending on grades. They will definitely get real-life experiences at larger private universities. No need for big cattle-call State U.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

There was definitely a trend at my daughter’s private this year toward big state schools. Many were tired of the small private environment and looking for something bigger. As a parent, I think the big “cattle call” schools as you called them can provide invaluable real-life experience that some kids who’ve grown up in the private school bubble need.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UCs seemed to take a group of DMV private kids off the waitlist this year. Since remaining on the waitlist requires you submit a LOCI type statement and type in YTD senior grades, it’s an opportunity for DMV kids to really put it out there that they will attend if offered a spot and show that they’ve maintained strong academics.

Or as my kid read it, why would I do this if they didn't have interest in me already. Nothing has changed - I'm still the same good grades, participating in ECs person I was in the application.

Missed opportunity for your student if they wanted to attend. For others in the future, I will share, the UC waitlist LOCI is school specific and is an opportunity to write to them versus a personal statement. It can be a directly written brag sheet/sales pitch. Mine added recent accomplishments and a why UCLA explanation, what they would like to do there and got off the waitlist on the first day. Plus as a bunch of seniors let their grades drop senior year, this is a chance to show if your student kept theirs up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The UCs seemed to take a group of DMV private kids off the waitlist this year. Since remaining on the waitlist requires you submit a LOCI type statement and type in YTD senior grades, it’s an opportunity for DMV kids to really put it out there that they will attend if offered a spot and show that they’ve maintained strong academics.

Or as my kid read it, why would I do this if they didn't have interest in me already. Nothing has changed - I'm still the same good grades, participating in ECs person I was in the application.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

After many years (sometimes 13 years) in a small school environment, many kids are drawn to the big universities.

Depending on what you study, once you move beyond the freshman and sophomore courses, the class sizes can be quite small.

UC Santa Cruz uses a small college system.

The campuses are also beautiful and in great neighborhoods. I came east for an Ivy but a part of me wishes I’d gone to UCLA, minutes from Santa Monica and other beaches, a few hours away from skiing, and gorgeous national parks all over.

No one believes you. You had at least 2 years to try to transfer to UCLA, and you never did. 🙄

What an idiotic response. Could care less if you believe me or not. I did say a part of me but I know not everyone can read with subtlety.

A certain school in Boston beckoned, and I thought four seasons and a new milieu might be interesting. My parents would not have supported my transferring from what they believed to be an educational Shangri-La.

There’s still no way Boston can compete with SoCal for beauty, weather, and access to nature. The winters were #$&* cold and dreary. Outside a few historical areas, Boston is a fugly town.

I agree that living on the west side of LA is quite nice, but Westwood Village is a ghost town, the actual facilities at the UCs are kinda run down, most popular majors are impacted, housing is crowded, and student services, like advising, are poor. The reality doesn’t really match the dream, at least these days.

My DD just graduated from UCLA and I have spent a ton of time in Westwood over the past four years, including this past week. Westwood Village WAS a ghost town in the 2020-2021 school year when my DD started at UCLA and all classes were on line. But it is no longer a ghost town and is bustling with activity all the time. It's a great little "college town" in the best part of LA. There are two historic movie theatres there with lots of Hollywood premiers. DD graduated with a double major in four years (could've graduated in December), one of them being a popular major. Housing is crowded at many, many fine universities, but my DC never lived on campus because dorms were closed first year and once she lived in an apartment, she never wanted to live in a dorm. DD had the time of her life and has repeatedly said that UCLA was the perfect college experience. EXCEPT for (and I agree 100% with you on this one) advising. DD didn't have a real advisor until she was officially accepted into her first major at the end of sophmore year. They learn to figure it out on their own.

UCLA is NOT run down and is one of the prettiest campuses you'll find. The landscaping is beautiful and the campus is meticulously maintained.

After attending a small private from K-12, DD knew she wanted a large, public university and didn't apply to any privates. The UCs are definitely not for everyone. Students need to be self-starters, self-advocates, and go-getters who don't need any hand-holding because they won't get it there!

Some of the building exteriors on the main quad are very pretty, but the insides of all of them are not particularly impressive/ very institutional, even the Admissions Office is kind of dreary. The contrast with some of the Los Angeles private colleges is stark if visiting them at the same time. Westwood Village never recovered from the shooting there on the 1990s. I never understand why, with so many students right there, but outside of the strip closest to campus with In and Out, Whole Foods, and Lemonicas (which I agree is always busy with students), there are many empty storefronts.

Seriously. There are empty storefronts everywhere in the US now. Have you been downtown DC lately! Or anywhere else in the country!??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

After many years (sometimes 13 years) in a small school environment, many kids are drawn to the big universities.

Depending on what you study, once you move beyond the freshman and sophomore courses, the class sizes can be quite small.

UC Santa Cruz uses a small college system.

The campuses are also beautiful and in great neighborhoods. I came east for an Ivy but a part of me wishes I’d gone to UCLA, minutes from Santa Monica and other beaches, a few hours away from skiing, and gorgeous national parks all over.

No one believes you. You had at least 2 years to try to transfer to UCLA, and you never did. 🙄

What an idiotic response. Could care less if you believe me or not. I did say a part of me but I know not everyone can read with subtlety.

A certain school in Boston beckoned, and I thought four seasons and a new milieu might be interesting. My parents would not have supported my transferring from what they believed to be an educational Shangri-La.

There’s still no way Boston can compete with SoCal for beauty, weather, and access to nature. The winters were #$&* cold and dreary. Outside a few historical areas, Boston is a fugly town.

I agree that living on the west side of LA is quite nice, but Westwood Village is a ghost town, the actual facilities at the UCs are kinda run down, most popular majors are impacted, housing is crowded, and student services, like advising, are poor. The reality doesn’t really match the dream, at least these days.

My DD just graduated from UCLA and I have spent a ton of time in Westwood over the past four years, including this past week. Westwood Village WAS a ghost town in the 2020-2021 school year when my DD started at UCLA and all classes were on line. But it is no longer a ghost town and is bustling with activity all the time. It's a great little "college town" in the best part of LA. There are two historic movie theatres there with lots of Hollywood premiers. DD graduated with a double major in four years (could've graduated in December), one of them being a popular major. Housing is crowded at many, many fine universities, but my DC never lived on campus because dorms were closed first year and once she lived in an apartment, she never wanted to live in a dorm. DD had the time of her life and has repeatedly said that UCLA was the perfect college experience. EXCEPT for (and I agree 100% with you on this one) advising. DD didn't have a real advisor until she was officially accepted into her first major at the end of sophmore year. They learn to figure it out on their own.

UCLA is NOT run down and is one of the prettiest campuses you'll find. The landscaping is beautiful and the campus is meticulously maintained.

After attending a small private from K-12, DD knew she wanted a large, public university and didn't apply to any privates. The UCs are definitely not for everyone. Students need to be self-starters, self-advocates, and go-getters who don't need any hand-holding because they won't get it there!

Some of the building exteriors on the main quad are very pretty, but the insides of all of them are not particularly impressive/ very institutional, even the Admissions Office is kind of dreary. The contrast with some of the Los Angeles private colleges is stark if visiting them at the same time. Westwood Village never recovered from the shooting there on the 1990s. I never understand why, with so many students right there, but outside of the strip closest to campus with In and Out, Whole Foods, and Lemonicas (which I agree is always busy with students), there are many empty storefronts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

After many years (sometimes 13 years) in a small school environment, many kids are drawn to the big universities.

Depending on what you study, once you move beyond the freshman and sophomore courses, the class sizes can be quite small.

UC Santa Cruz uses a small college system.

The campuses are also beautiful and in great neighborhoods. I came east for an Ivy but a part of me wishes I’d gone to UCLA, minutes from Santa Monica and other beaches, a few hours away from skiing, and gorgeous national parks all over.

No one believes you. You had at least 2 years to try to transfer to UCLA, and you never did. 🙄

What an idiotic response. Could care less if you believe me or not. I did say a part of me but I know not everyone can read with subtlety.

A certain school in Boston beckoned, and I thought four seasons and a new milieu might be interesting. My parents would not have supported my transferring from what they believed to be an educational Shangri-La.

There’s still no way Boston can compete with SoCal for beauty, weather, and access to nature. The winters were #$&* cold and dreary. Outside a few historical areas, Boston is a fugly town.

I agree that living on the west side of LA is quite nice, but Westwood Village is a ghost town, the actual facilities at the UCs are kinda run down, most popular majors are impacted, housing is crowded, and student services, like advising, are poor. The reality doesn’t really match the dream, at least these days.

My DD just graduated from UCLA and I have spent a ton of time in Westwood over the past four years, including this past week. Westwood Village WAS a ghost town in the 2020-2021 school year when my DD started at UCLA and all classes were on line. But it is no longer a ghost town and is bustling with activity all the time. It's a great little "college town" in the best part of LA. There are two historic movie theatres there with lots of Hollywood premiers. DD graduated with a double major in four years (could've graduated in December), one of them being a popular major. Housing is crowded at many, many fine universities, but my DC never lived on campus because dorms were closed first year and once she lived in an apartment, she never wanted to live in a dorm. DD had the time of her life and has repeatedly said that UCLA was the perfect college experience. EXCEPT for (and I agree 100% with you on this one) advising. DD didn't have a real advisor until she was officially accepted into her first major at the end of sophmore year. They learn to figure it out on their own.

UCLA is NOT run down and is one of the prettiest campuses you'll find. The landscaping is beautiful and the campus is meticulously maintained.

After attending a small private from K-12, DD knew she wanted a large, public university and didn't apply to any privates. The UCs are definitely not for everyone. Students need to be self-starters, self-advocates, and go-getters who don't need any hand-holding because they won't get it there!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA and cal are great schools. Most see it as a step above Michigan, uva, and the like. Honestly, they’re probably the two best public universities in the country. And they both have pretty cool campuses. I get it.

Just be aware, if coming from a fancy east coast school there will be some social adaptation required. California is very different. Take the flip flops, but leave the sperry topsiders and vineyard vines polos at home.

I agree that they’re great schools, I just don’t understand why a Big 3 student would choose a huge, public, cattle-call like environment over a comparable private university. I also don’t think there’s really any appreciable difference between Cal, UCLA, and Michigan. They’re very much peer institutions. It just depends on what you want to study and where you want to live for 4 years.

After many years (sometimes 13 years) in a small school environment, many kids are drawn to the big universities.

Depending on what you study, once you move beyond the freshman and sophomore courses, the class sizes can be quite small.

UC Santa Cruz uses a small college system.

The campuses are also beautiful and in great neighborhoods. I came east for an Ivy but a part of me wishes I’d gone to UCLA, minutes from Santa Monica and other beaches, a few hours away from skiing, and gorgeous national parks all over.

No one believes you. You had at least 2 years to try to transfer to UCLA, and you never did. 🙄

What an idiotic response. Could care less if you believe me or not. I did say a part of me but I know not everyone can read with subtlety.

A certain school in Boston beckoned, and I thought four seasons and a new milieu might be interesting. My parents would not have supported my transferring from what they believed to be an educational Shangri-La.

There’s still no way Boston can compete with SoCal for beauty, weather, and access to nature. The winters were #$&* cold and dreary. Outside a few historical areas, Boston is a fugly town.

I agree that living on the west side of LA is quite nice, but Westwood Village is a ghost town, the actual facilities at the UCs are kinda run down, most popular majors are impacted, housing is crowded, and student services, like advising, are poor. The reality doesn’t really match the dream, at least these days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if your kid or any you know were admitted to Cal, UCLA, etc from a Big3, what do you think put them over the edge?
I know these are hard admits under the private school paradigm of few APs, etc,

I don’t know any students at my children’s school (Sidwell) who talk about attending a UC. I’m sure there are some, it just hasn’t reached my ears. Generally speaking, I don’t think state schools are popular among Sidwell kids.

My son applied from Sidwell a couple of cycles ago. Denied. The problem is that a Sidwell GPA will never cut it in a sea of 4.8888888s, and GPA is literally the only thing UCs screen for now. That, and I think poverty.

Michigan, Virginia and Wisconsin "get" the Sidwell situation. UCs and Texas do not. So, Ann Arbor is a more reliable admit than UC Santa Barbara, oddly.

UCs are not highly sought after by Sidwell students. That said, there are 5 c/o ‘24 students going to UCs (1 each to Cal, UCSD, and UCSC). The two students who are going to UCLA are recruited athletes.

Sidwell seems to send a handful of students (including non recruited athletes) to UCs every year. It’s not an impossible admit.

And yet Sidwell seniors send in close to 30 applications per year with only a few acceptances to Berkeley/UCLA.

There are 125 students per grade at Sidwell. Those 30 applications are most likely coming from the same 5-10 students. Are you actually trying to convince us that UCs are some of the most sought after colleges by Sidwell students? Please stop.

In 2023 - 25 Sidwell students applied to Berkeley and 27 applied to UCLA...... look before you leap.

And how many were admitted to each?

Berkeley lists 0 but we know a student is there - so it's hard to say whether that is a reporting error vs a student getting off WL

UCLA lists 3 (and we know of 3 accepted there)

Did they have any Bs?

You ask this question like Bs are the only thing that matter. Do these students getting denied have strong ECs, do they have strong essays? One B or a few Bs definitely isn’t a disqualification for UCB. Check their common data set. A majority of students accepted don’t have perfect GPAs.

What? Yes, grades are the only things that matter for OOS at UCLA and Cal. Literally, the only things.

Or were you being sarcastic when you suggested that staffers are actually reading 100,000 essays and critically perusing 100,000 compilations of ECs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if your kid or any you know were admitted to Cal, UCLA, etc from a Big3, what do you think put them over the edge?
I know these are hard admits under the private school paradigm of few APs, etc,

I don’t know any students at my children’s school (Sidwell) who talk about attending a UC. I’m sure there are some, it just hasn’t reached my ears. Generally speaking, I don’t think state schools are popular among Sidwell kids.

My son applied from Sidwell a couple of cycles ago. Denied. The problem is that a Sidwell GPA will never cut it in a sea of 4.8888888s, and GPA is literally the only thing UCs screen for now. That, and I think poverty.

Michigan, Virginia and Wisconsin "get" the Sidwell situation. UCs and Texas do not. So, Ann Arbor is a more reliable admit than UC Santa Barbara, oddly.

UCs are not highly sought after by Sidwell students. That said, there are 5 c/o ‘24 students going to UCs (1 each to Cal, UCSD, and UCSC). The two students who are going to UCLA are recruited athletes.

Sidwell seems to send a handful of students (including non recruited athletes) to UCs every year. It’s not an impossible admit.

And yet Sidwell seniors send in close to 30 applications per year with only a few acceptances to Berkeley/UCLA.

There are 125 students per grade at Sidwell. Those 30 applications are most likely coming from the same 5-10 students. Are you actually trying to convince us that UCs are some of the most sought after colleges by Sidwell students? Please stop.

In 2023 - 25 Sidwell students applied to Berkeley and 27 applied to UCLA...... look before you leap.

And how many were admitted to each?

Berkeley lists 0 but we know a student is there - so it's hard to say whether that is a reporting error vs a student getting off WL

UCLA lists 3 (and we know of 3 accepted there)

Did they have any Bs?

You ask this question like Bs are the only thing that matter. Do these students getting denied have strong ECs, do they have strong essays? One B or a few Bs definitely isn’t a disqualification for UCB. Check their common data set. A majority of students accepted don’t have perfect GPAs.

Anonymous wrote:The UCs seemed to take a group of DMV private kids off the waitlist this year. Since remaining on the waitlist requires you submit a LOCI type statement and type in YTD senior grades, it’s an opportunity for DMV kids to really put it out there that they will attend if offered a spot and show that they’ve maintained strong academics.