<p>I am thinking about going to a university in California, and I was wondering if you guys from CA can tell me what its really like! How is it in CA and how are the campuses there? Any info will help.</p>
<p>for ucla: great campus (but a ton of walking, as with any college), mostly the professors are good, a good social atmosphere is READILY available, student body is ok. If you are looking into ANY kind of research, you will find it here. THere's also a good football/basketball atmosphere if you're into that. Oh yea, the food is better here, than at most colleges.</p>
<p>California is the best ever, whatever u want, it has. Nor-Cal is completely different from So-Cal. Nor-Cal is cooler (as in temperature), redwood forests, San Francisco, wine country, snow, and just more of an outdoor activities type of area. So-Cal is beaches, hott, palm trees, surfing, and fake breasts, I mean...</p>
<p>But anyway, the people are chill, the weather is awesome, cant wait to get back.</p>
<p>CA is awesome and it's got some of the greatest weather and people in this world. You will enjoy the laid-back attitude :)</p>
<p>CA is amazing, that all there is too it! A-super-mazing!!!!</p>
<p>I had a lot of ideas about what it was like in CA before I moved to Nor-Cal (Bay Area) back in 8th grade- surfers, beaches, hot, superficial people. Ok, Nor-Cal is nothing like the So-Cal beach life you often see in movies or on TV so a lot of my ideas were just completely wrong. People are normal, laid-back. The only difference is that generally people have more liberal political views & environmental concern than in other places, but only a small percentage actually go crazy about it.</p>
<p>(A lot of people from CA think CA is the best state ever, even if they've never been outside of CA. Don't expect CA to be a completely different world from what you are used to.)</p>
<p>Like others have said, there's a big difference dependind on where in CA you are. I've lived in Southern CA all my life, and am still in the area for college.</p>
<p>I'm at Pepperdine in Malibu, and we're minutes from the beach. Lots of people go to the beach or surf, I've just been a few times at night. The weather's pretty much warm nearly all the time, though it does cool down some during winter. Some out-of-state friends would comment on how weird it was to be wearing t-shirts in December, no jackets, but to me it's normal.</p>
<p>Lots of celebrities live in Malibu, and it's a fairly small city, so we'll see someone famous sometimes while out at Ralphs or something.</p>
<p>i lived in the Midwest from 8 till i was 17, then I moved to Southern California. first thing i noticed was the diversity; there are people of every race/ethnicity/color and it's not as surprising as it is in the Midwest, where anyone that's not white or black is viewed with curiousity at first. Next thing I noticed is the laid back attitude, people just enjoy life here more than they do in Indiana, which I suspect the amazing weather has something to do with it. People here say "hella" a lot, which I do'nt get, but w/e. They're also a lot nicer and tolerant than my midwestern friends (and me to an extent), which is nice. I think you'll really like it here tho, but I miss some of the cuisine that was availible in the Midwest/east coast, like Louisiana food and BD's Mongolian BBQ :P</p>
<p>ive lived in so-cal my whole life, but have spent time on the east coast. major differences i noticed:</p>
<p>--only form of public transportation is the bus, and its generally used as a last resort (a car is very helpful), unlike boston and NYC where taking the subway or T is commonplace
--we have toilet seat covers in almost every bathroom, didnt see one in boston
--most restaurants use cheddar cheese, not american
--there is more of a "dont expect me to talk to or smile at you if i dont know you" mentality
--the shopping is incredible
--lots of girls in short skirts and uggs when its freezing
--freezing here is about 65 degrees
--you will find any type of food you could ever want
--i love so-cal</p>
<p>That's a lie about the weather. Don't let anyone fool you. Yeah, for the most part the weather during the day time is excellent (sunny and 65 or above throughout the year with a few exceptions when it rains) but at night from October through April it can get quite cool. I live back east and still need a sweater when it gets into the 40s. The weather's better than anywhere else in the country IMO, but it's NOT perfect.</p>
<p>As everyone else has said everyone's really laid-back. Great diversity (geographically as well). My biggest gribes are the horrible transportation system, the traffic and the lack of good Italian, Indian and Carribbean food.</p>
<p>i think i want to go to southern CA but how are the guys there?</p>
<p>Could someone describe all the UC's? I know the major ones (Berkeley, UCLA) but what about the others? What are they all known for?</p>
<p>There is UC - Davis which is known for its agriculture stuff. UC - Merced is the new one. UC - San Francisco is only a graduate medical school I believe. Then there is also UC - San Diego.</p>
<p>UCLA - also known as University of Caucasians lost in Asians due to the insane amount of asian students. nice college town of Westwood, which i dont find very appealing since ive been hanging out there since i was in 8th grade. Good school, good rep, huge rivalry with USC
UCSB - campus right on the beach, known as a huge party school, but still respected for its academics. also known for its very attractive students and a lack of racial diversity
UC Irvine - is located in a place no one should want to be, ie not interesting. known as a commuter school and also has a large asian population
UCSD - san diego is a great city, but this school is known not so much for its parties as its science related academics
UCSC - another party UC, not as respected as UC santa barbara. UCSB is known more for its drinking, this one is known more for the drugs
UC Merced - very new, not very popular. if you want to move to california, i guarantee you this isnt what you had in mind. mostly a technology school, as thats the only real academics theyve had a chance to develop
UC Berkeley - most respected and nationally/internationally known UC. known for the politically active, birkenstock wearing hippie students. everyone i know who goes here loves it and san francisco is a great city
UC Davis - known mostly for the agricultural sciences, ive heard many a dispute about the college town surrounding. some call it cow town, others say its the perfect college town</p>
<p>Anyone who wants to go to school in So Cal might want to take a look at University of Southern California. This school is the epitome of what most people envision when they think LA. This school is big on frats, football, and hot guys who know how to dress. USC is also known as University of Spoiled Children.</p>
<p>fyi, ucla has a lot of whites as well. In fact, despite the statistical demographics, ive seen an equal number of whites and asians (okay fine, may be a little more asians, but more whites than you'd expect)</p>
<p>While UCLA does have a giant percentage of asian students, you will find that the percentage of asians present drops dramatically as you head in to night (party time). You are located right off Sunset boulevard and have immediate access to clubs on this well-known Sunset Strip. The sports at UCLA are amazing. We have the most NCAA championships. Just look at what we are doing now...we reached the finals in mens soccer, we reached the semi-finals in women's soccer, we beat USC football, and we are number 1 in basketball nationally. UCLA is the most recongized clothing symbol in the world. However, we do have our school-devoted students that don't know about any of these facts. On my SuperShuttle ride to the airport with 6 fellow students, I found out that only 2 of us watched or went to the USC game. The other 5 also didn't know we were any good at basketball. </p>
<p>We are just a short drive away from beatiful Malibu. I surf there 4 times a week. If you join a fraternity/sorority, you will realize that we have an amazing party/social life. We have multiple events each week. For example, every tuesday/wednesday a frat will take a bus with a sorority to a nice club/bar which is rented exclusively to them. Every thursday one well-known fraternity will throw a massive party (1000 people) which are always crazy and fun. Basically, if you have had a rough week with school, you usually have some event to celebrate on your day off. </p>
<p>On top of the social life and amazing location, the school offers amazing academic and research opportunities. UCLA Medical Center, which is number 1 in the West and ranked higher than Stanford and Harvard, is right on campus. I'm actually working with the anesthesiology group in the OR next quarter.</p>
<p>I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but I truly do love this school and can't think of a better school with a sports/social/school balance. If you want to be in socal and have an amazing time, check out UCLA.</p>
<p>do not believe what the above poster said about location. The sunset strip is a good 15-20 min drive with normal traffic flow, and 40 min during rush hour. not to mention, youd need a car.</p>
<p>I stayed at UCLA this summer for a research position and I have to say I did not like it at all. The traffic is ridiculous and the med school is not as great as surferboy thinks.</p>
<p>well i was referring about the UCLA Medical Center.....not UCLA med school if you read closely.</p>
<p>Best in the West..#5 nationally</p>
<p><a href="http://healthcare.ucla.edu/best-in-the-west%5B/url%5D">http://healthcare.ucla.edu/best-in-the-west</a> if you don't believe me</p>
<p>and yes my fault in describing the proximity of Sunset Strip...traffic does come in to play. At UCLA, my perception of distance has changed haha. You really notice how close Malibu is though when you surf at 2 am...</p>
<p>malibu has really bad beaches compared to OC and San Diego. Also UCLA's football is not that big in UCLA becuase thier stadium is so far away. And the campus is way to small compared to the size of the student body.</p>