[A letter to myself^^.]

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Dear PH,</p>

<p>This is a letter to you written by HP. I am selecting universities now; actually I've got 7 offers in the application process (UCLA, BMC, UIUC, UCI, GWU, BU, UCSD) and two waiting (Scripps and Lehigh), also a bunch of reject (GT, WUSTL, UCB, Barnard, Brandeis, NYU), plus there is still one school that haven't give me the decision result (Umich).</p>

<p>So, in fact, I will choose only ONE school out of SEVEN schools. Luckily, only TWO schools get into the final round, which are UCLA and BYRN MAWR. But, I just can't tell you how I love those two school. If I had some magical power, I would split myself into two parts and go to both of them!</p>

<p>You see, UCLA is a well reputated SUPER university which holds more than 20,000 students in the undergraduate program. It got lots of clubs, lots of activities, lots of friends, lots of courses, and lots of sports! U will meet many interesting people and things there. The university experience would be FANTASTIC in UCLA. But, as a nickname of UCLA, u see lots of asians, I wonder if I could feel that I am in America. Besides, the ratio of facaulty to students is 1:18, which means students can not much attention?? And there is another question that bothers me, in UCLA, people only choose one major? They can not chhose double majors or one major plus one minor? However, in LA, the weather is just fabulous, and u can easily get an intership if you really want (at least this is what I heard). Wow~ and people will make that respond if you tell them you go to UCLA.</p>

<p>But you also want to see this, Byrn Mawr college, the essence of American's undergraduate education. As an international student, how could I abandon the essence of American education? Small class, critical thiking, close relationship, choose what course you like, meet your mentor, and plus Haverford and Swarthmore! This is a real gift! Academically, BMC is a place to learn and to think; you can get more attentions from your professors, and it feels good (as an international student). But, as for entertainment part, BMC really can not compare to UCLA...plus the weather...</p>

<p>I know after one year, you will have the right to make a comment on your choice. But for now, I really don't know what to choose. Somebody once told me, school experience is all dependents on people regardless of whic university or college they choose. Yeah, i admit that this is partially right, but a school and its eduacation system really has an impact on students undergraduate experience.</p>

<p>I have a small wish. I hope my selection process will be a intrinsic but funny experience.
Both of you are WONDERFUL! But at last I can only choose one of you, and I believe it will be a great choice after all.</p>

<p>Your BFF,
HP</p>

2

<p>You’re great :)</p>

3

<p>… but you couldn’t have picked two entirely different schools.</p>

<p>I can only address the UCLA side of things, but I undoubtedly know that you’d love Byrn Mawr also. </p>

<p>No, you won’t feel like you’re in a foreign country if you attend UCLA. All the students who attend the school adapt to the Californian lifestyle. Tanned people, wearing shorts, t-shirts, flip-flps up to and through December of each academic year in most years. There’s a lot of hot people at UCLA, regardless of race. </p>

<p>A lot of the things that make it great are ancillary things as opposed to straight scholastics. It is a quintessential California university, maybe not the THE quintessential one, which is probably UCSB because SB’s on the beach…, but UCLA is located in the entertainment capital of the world, and there are so many things to do, both culturally and for having fun. It’s located just south of one of the most famous streets in the world, Sunset Boulevard. Go west to the beach, go east to the clubs. </p>

<p>Scholastically it holds its own pretty well by producing a lot of high-powered professionals. UCLA is a top feeder to the top bus, med, law programs at UC, generally instate, and all over the county. </p>

<p>UCLA isn’t about majoring in anything in particular, because it is so pre-professional, preparatory for grad school in orientation. But there will be majors on campus that will closely fill whatever it is you care to peruse. There are plenty of interdisciplinary majors on campus, and students who have these majors make up a good % of the undergrads. I’m sure your movement from major to major will be dependent on what college you’re enrolled. But the restrictions are off to people taking more double majors and there are plenty of them on campus.</p>

<p>Absolutely, there is a downside to the school also as you mentioned with 26K undergrads. If you wanted a personalized education, then Byrn Mawr would be much better for you. Also there’s a lot of school bureaucracy you’ll have to wade through at UCLA. Budgetary issues for the UC are a concern, but I don’t think it will delay your graduation.</p>

<p>Here are a couple of videos that I like to link:</p>

<p>The first shows how the school is big into [volunteering](<a href=“UCLA Volunteer Day Heroes - Sept. 22, 2009 - YouTube”>UCLA Volunteer Day Heroes - Sept. 22, 2009 - YouTube), here’s the [CBS national news story](<a href=“CBS Network News - UCLA Volunteer Day 2009 - YouTube”>CBS Network News - UCLA Volunteer Day 2009 - YouTube) on it, and the second shows a [flash mob Michael Jackson dance](<a href=“[Official] UCLA Michael Jackson Flashmob - YouTube”>[Official] UCLA Michael Jackson Flashmob - YouTube). So I guess we could say, UCLA students are socially conscious and definitely like to have fun.</p>

<p>If this thread doesn’t get a Byrn Mawr perspective, you should try the Byrn Mawr board with a duplicate post.</p>

<p>There are no bad choices here… Best of luck.</p>

4

<p>Really appreciate!
Btw, is it true that most of the classes during freshmen and sophomore year are taught by TA? Also, what about the real class experience @ UCLA?
Thank you so much!</p>

5

<p>So if you split yourself to attend both, would you only have to pay half tuition at each? Seriously though, best of luck</p>

6

<p>Reputated… lol</p>

7

<p>And so suddenly the comment about Asians is okay?</p>

<p>So rude.</p>

<p>Asians include a variety of different kinds of people and one’s ethnicity does not entirely define them as a person, in regards to personality, looks, culture, etc.</p>