Choosing between UCLA and Tufts

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've narrowed my college choices down to UCLA and Tufts University, and I'm struggling to choose one or the other. I am an international student so the costs won't vary much for me. I want to take pre-med courses and hopefully get into med school when I graduate from college. (just fyi UCLA has already given me a major of biochemistry but not for Tufts).</p>

<p>I've heard a lot of opinions supporting both universities, so I'm having a real hard time trying to decide which school I should go to. Of course my main goal is to get into medical school so my priority would be a university that would prepare me better for that. </p>

<p>Otherwise, I've lived in Boston before and I am fine with the cold (which many of my friends were concerned about). I have not yet toured UCLA before, but I have seen glimpses of Tufts and I think the campus is pretty nice.</p>

<p>Up till tonight I was leaning towards Tufts, but after researching online, I'm leaning towards UCLA now (I am pretty indecisive).</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for answering my questions! and feel free to ask supplementary questions too</p>

2

<p>VISIT first! Also, are you a Math person? I’m being extremely stereotypical assuming you are Asian with a natural inclination towards mathematics. </p>

<p>You should see if you can take the “Math-Path” in UCLA. UCLA Math is supposed to be world class, even comparable to MIT’s and Harvard’s.
Terrence Tao is your key :wink: Doing a pre-med Math path is unique and if you’re committed, you should do very fine.</p>

3

<p>I’m assuming you’ve looked up each school’s rate on getting students into med school. </p>

<p>Both are excellent schools (I’ve attended one, and will be sending a kid to the other). I think at OOS tuition rates you’re getting more bang for the buck at the private, but I can understand the allure of UCLA’s name and the weather. My one concern with UCLA is the state of California’s budget. It’s possible that UC tuition will increase dramatically in the next few years. If your family is OK with this, then no worries.</p>

4

<p>Quote from Camathmom:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1122539-uc-tuition-fees-could-double-2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1122539-uc-tuition-fees-could-double-2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>“Gov Jerry Brown is discussing the idea of doubling UC tuition (fees) rates to 24,000 per year plus room and board.”</p>

<p>What a disaster for the kids in California if that happens. :-(</p>

6

<p>

I’m so tired of this “budget myth” being disseminated by those who have ZERO firsthand knowledge of the UC system.</p>

<p>There is no additional difficulty in signing up for classes relative to before the budget crisis. The quality of the UCs have absolutely had no noticeable change since the budget crisis. Graduation rates have not decreased (another popular myth). The university is making an active effort to help students graduate even earlier.</p>

<p>The only major concern is increasing tuition and it should not be a concern to internationals because there really is no room to increase fees relative to private universities.,</p>

7

<p>*“Gov Jerry Brown is discussing the idea of doubling UC tuition (fees) rates to 24,000 per year plus room and board.”</p>

<p>What a disaster for the kids in California if that happens. *</p>

<p>I’d like to know how much of that increase is subsidizing Blue and Gold for those who earn under $80k per year. If Blue and Gold is going to be funded/partly funded on the backs of those who earn $81k or more, there’s no excuse for that.</p>

8

<p>lolint -</p>

<p>As an international student who wants to complete an undergraduate degree in the US, and then apply to medical schools in the US, two very important factors to consider are:</p>

<p>1) The US medical school admission rate for INTERNATIONAL pre-meds from each of those univerisities.</p>

<p>and</p>

<p>2) Just exactly how you expect to pay for four years of your undergraduate education here and then four years of medical school.</p>

<p>It is not impossible for international students to be admitted to med school in the US, it is just very, very much harder for them because many medical schools do not admit international students. If your goal is to become a practicing physician, you should consider attending medical school in your home country (I believe that in Japan it is direct admit and would only take you about 6 years), and then you could come to the US for one or more of your medical residencies.</p>

9

<p>I don’t believe in a multitiered tuition system. Having two for non-residents v residents is one thing, and I hope the UC isn’t gouging NR’s because if it really wanted more non-resident enrollment, they could cut back the “margins.”</p>

<p>The doubling of tuition won’t happen. If Gov Brown does propose this, and, say, it were to happen, then he would be recalled – I promise you. </p>

<p>He was elected undoubtedly partly with the idea of preserving the UC, keeping it accessible, and if he were to succeed in doubling in-state tuition, he’d be out. Just the fact that he even proposed a doubling, puts a doubt in a lot of people’s minds.</p>

<p>And how this would affect non-residents – I don’t think it would. The UC wouldn’t be able to double an already high tuition for non-residents.</p>

10

<p>Last paragraph: </p>

<p>Because tuition for in-staters is based on state funding, obviously with CA funding ~ 2/3. If tuition for in-staters were to double, I couldn’t see the state funding only 1/2, which would make non-resident, full tuition $50K. That would be outrageously stupid, being the UC is trying to attract NR’s.</p>

<p>Attending school at UC is awesome and should continue to be awesome. All 9 have such varied experiences, there’s something for everyone. But I don’t disagree with those who say, the people who run the system, including the governator or current governor, are absolute morons.</p>

11

<p>Ignore that first paragraph of my last post…garbage, not the last one though, I stand by that.</p>

<p>If Brown threats were to come to fruition and assuming there were still some state support, without UC undergrad becoming fully privatized, then we could assume that the cost to educate a UC student would be say, $30K, higher than the $24-25K proposed.</p>

<p>I thought since the state owns the land, buildings, etc, that the cost to educate a UC student would be less, but $30K is quite high. I don’t know if there’s a shortfall that has to be made up, etc.</p>

<p>The following could apply:</p>

<p>Cost to educate UC undergrad: $30,000
Current Tuition: ~ $12,000
State supported costs of in-state: $18,000, or 60% state support</p>

<p>If Brown’s threats come forth:</p>

<p>Cost to Educate UC Undergrad: $30,000 (assume it stays steady)
New Tuition: ~ $24,000
State supported: $6,000 or 20% state support (pretty close to privatized) </p>

<p>Current Non-residents full tuition:</p>

<p>Cost: $30,000
Full Tuition: ~ $35,000
“Markup” Over Cost: $5,000, or 17% (not as much as I thought)</p>

<p>If Brown’s proposals go through related to Non-Residents:</p>

<p>Cost: $30,000
Full Tuition (Say, bumped up NR tuition by $10K): $45,000
“Markup” Over Cost: $15,000, or 50%</p>

<p>The problem under Brown’s scenario is UC would probably become ~ a open-admissions university. The U would be well funded though. Brown’s threats won’t happen.</p>