<p>momsquad, from what I know of UCLA and Cal, I just don’t see it being “easy” to meet up with friends from other schools on weekends. It’s not impossible, but the environment in Berkeley/San Francisco/Westwood/Santa Monica isn’t like what you’d find in, say, Boston. </p>
<p>It’s possible that a student may start off at a LAC and decide later that they want to transfer to a big research U for more research opportunities, but it’s not something that can be predicted or planned for. </p>
<p>Junior year transfer also generally rules out study abroad.</p>