I am hoping someone can give me their thoughts. I have been accepted to both CU Boulder and UCLA. My intended major is Astrophysics. CU Boulder only offers a BA in Astronomy with and Astrophysics track. UCLA offers a BS in Astrophysics. UCLA has opportunities for co-ops and internships in places such as SpaceX. CU Boulder is the top funded public university by NASA. I attended both student days and liked both schools, but growing up in the cold mountains I have to say UCLA weather was a plus. I got a scholarship at CU Boulder and am accepted into honors housing, RAP and honors program, but no scholarship at UCLA, but accepted in honors. If I go to UCLA I plan to start this summer to get a jump on the academics through their College Summer Institute program. I am fortunate enough that my parents are willing to pay for the first year. I have to do well to maintain their support. I would like to go to graduate school at Princeton or UChicago. Where would you go? (I still have time to choose between the two). Thanks for any opinions.
Did you commit to both by May 1, or did you just get off the wait list for UCLA?
They are both excellent programs and well-regarded for that major. You can’t go wrong with either IMO. However, classes might be more impacted at UCLA than Boulder. The scholarship is also a big plus, especially if your parents are only willing to commit to paying for one year (one less thing for you to stress over while in school). The BS might be preferable, but you should be able to get the classes and experience you need from Boulder to get into a good grad school.
Congratulations on getting into both CU Boulder and UCLA. Both schools offer exceptional academics, especially in the area you are interested in studying. Yes, CU Boulder is widely known to be close with NASA. One of my best friends - a CU Boulder undergraduate- built a satellite which is orbiting Earth right now. It was paid for by NASA but launched by Space X. He had the chance to work with the SpaceX people and is going to work for them when he graduates. There are so many options for CU Boulder students in aerospace. Many go to work for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc. CU Boulder has everything that UCLA can offer.
And perhaps more because CU Boulder is in Boulder, arguably one of the best college towns in the nation. Boulder does not get that cold. It’s normally always sunny! Boulder would be a much better experience than polluted and crowded L.A. , especially if you have a scholarship. You could go to any graduate school you want if you do well at CU Boulder.
I’d go with Boulder–convincing arguments made above and perhaps a higher chance to be a “Big fish in a small pond” in terms of getting into a grad school. Plus, you have a scholarship there.
@stardustmom Got into both.
@spike22 Thanks for the insight and congrats. My struggle is I have grown up in a Mountain Town exactly like Boulder. I was looking for something a bit different from where I grew up.
Congratulations on both schools. It sounds like you are looking for something different. UCLA is definitely the better school IMO. If you have the resources, shoot for that, you don’t have to stay in LA.
You have plenty of time after college to explore living in different parts of the country. Internships are another opportunity. Cost and potential debt trumps weather and being in LA. You may find college classes to be more difficult than you anticipate, and your comment about your parents support being conditional and perhaps only for the first year is alarming. It is very common for kids who are used to getting all A’s in high school to get a big reality check in college. I know what you are thinking - those kids aren’t as smart as me - but you’d probably be wrong. My point is that if your parents withdraw support because you receive less than stellar grades in your first year, what are you going to do if you are at UCLA? I don’t know much about loans other than you can’t take out more than $5,000 without your parents co signing and interest accrues while you are in school. The resulting debt will limit your ability to explore and make choices that aren’t financially based. Also, you mention your parents support but not whether they will depend on loans that you will be expected to pay back. Think about the long term financial implications. Congratulations on having two great choices!
@jmek15 my parents can support me without loans. I know I am really lucky, but being an only child they planned for my college starting when I was really young. Part of the reason UCLA is appealing is because at CU I am currently ranked in the top 1% of the incoming class. I know UCLA kids will be smarter then I am, I am looking at that as incentive to up my game. I have 2 good friends who both go to UCLA who have been very insightful in what it is like there. My parents will support me as long as I am involved and doing my best. Basically they said the will not pay for a course twice. I also really like the idea of the College Summer Institute at UCLA. I appreciate your insight.
Sounds like you want to go to UCLA and you have the money to do it…
Astrophysics is a very tough field to get into. If your parents are able to pay for UCLA, I would definitely recommend going there. I would also recommend doing a backup option, like a double major in engineering.
“Mountain town exactly like Boulder”. Boulder is not a mountain town and is hyper connected with Denver. Good luck on your choice!
@Spike22, grew up in a town hyper connected to a big city too. Very much the same. Did not make the comment off the cuff. Travel and Leisure rates it as the #6 top mountain town. It’s pretty similar.
Sounds like you really want to go to UCLA and your parents can afford it. I still think you should check the % who enter the program that actually graduate with that major at UCLA. If a lot of people leave the program you should investigate further and talk to some people in the department. I’ll give you an example. We toured a school’s chem department and they couldn’t have been any nicer. However, during the discussion it came out that they typically got about 130 freshmen coming in as declared chem majors. That year there were 19 students graduating from the department. Huge red flag.
@jmek15 great point thanks!
Chemistry may have a high washout rate because it may be a “premed major” but most premeds wash out.
checked, most who enroll at UCLA finish, if they do not finish in astro they stay and finish in physics or biophysics about 2% leave.
Sounds like a great program and a nice fit for your interests.
If money isn’t an issue, I usually advise students to go to college in a very different part of the country. It broadens you as a person, as a citizen, gives you a greater appreciation of how diverse and varied our country is.
UCLA will be a whole different world from a cold mountain town. You’ll have access to the ocean and the desert. Mexico is a 3-hour drive away 
Skiing/snowboarding aren’t bad at Mammoth, either. Going to UCLA will be more of a personal adventure for you than Boulder. So I say… go Bruins.
whoaaaaaaaaaaaa, @katliamom not sure about the whole skiing/snowboarding comment. We are talking Mammoth vs Colorado.
However I agree with going somewhere away from home if your up to it (seen many a kid come back to home state school after a year or semester).