Degree of difficulty (Cal & UCLA)?

<p>After having spoken to a PhD student at UCLA and a transfer student at Cal, I am really curious to hear how others perceive certain aspects of both schools - obviously, and and all input is welcome but anything anthropology specific would be amazing!</p>

<p>So when comparing UCLA to Cal, how difficult would the following be:
- Academics?
- Getting to know professors?
- Maintaining a decent GPA?
- Getting into grad school (Stanford!)?
- Socializing?
- Exploring interests outside of academia (would there actually be time)?
- Getting an internship?
- Studying abroad?
- Finishing within 2 years?
- Access to student need-based resources?
- Access to good housing (on or off campus)?
- - and anything else you could think of! I would love to hear any and all input and I hope this thread helps someone else with their future decision! </p>

<p>I’m in to see how the answers turn out because i really want to know. I know that Berkeley academics is super ultra rigorous and competitive (not cut throat, but rather that everyone in the school is smart and there is little leeway for mess ups). UCLA comes off as chill, but at the same time competitive since it has a name to maintain. </p>

<p>Berkeley academics are known for being rigorous, but UCLA’s classes aren’t really known for being easier.</p>

<p><a href=“UCLA”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/Ucla.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“UC-Berkeley”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/Ucberkeley.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>UCLA students have lower average GPAs than Berkeley students. There’s a number of possible reasons why, but I believe it’s reasonable to think that you’ll do fine or terribly at both schools, e.g. if biochemistry classes at Berkeley are too hard for you, don’t expect UCLA’s biochemistry classes to be any easier. Nasty curves are used at both schools(Mainly in STEM majors, though). Even in the majors where curves aren’t used, I doubt there’s much difference in difficulty between the two schools.</p>

<p>UCLA and Berkeley are both huge and highly impersonal public research universities. Professors are often busy and more concerned with research than teaching. I expect, however, that transfers will have an easier time with these professors since they’ll mostly be taking upper-division classes with them where the class sizes are smaller and the professors devote more time to their students. </p>

<p>I don’t know about UCLA and Berkeley’s graduate school placement rates, but I imagine that neither school will make much of a difference in getting into the graduate school that you want to get into. They’re the top UCs with a national and global reputation to uphold. What matters more is how well you perform on the GRE, your GPA(More so in your upper-division classes), the research you’ve done if any, letters of recommendation, writing sample, and statement of purpose on your grad school applications.</p>

<p>In regards to socializing, I must admit, I don’t know too much about either school, although I’ve heard UCLA has a decent party scene(Not on the level of UCSB, but still good). I haven’t heard the same about Berkeley, but maybe Berkeley has a good social environment too. I recommend touring both campuses to get a feel for the social atmospheres.</p>

<p>There’s definitely enough time for most students to engage in extracurricular activities or anything else that isn’t strictly related to school or work, unless you happen to be an engineering major…engineering majors have very little free time, lol.</p>

<p>Sorry, don’t know much about internship opportunities at either school.</p>

<p>In regards to study abroad opportunities, UCLA and Berkeley have lots of them. They’re famous around the world, so it’s no surprise that they’d have great study-abroad programs.</p>

<p>According to USNWR, both UCLA and Berkeley have 4-year graduation rates of 71%. This is for freshman, presumably, but since transfers don’t take any longer to graduate, according to the UC system, we can assume that you have a very high chance of graduating within two years at either school. It’s a tie between the two schools here.</p>

<p>Student need-based resources? I wouldn’t know too much about that, but I know that the two schools have plenty of them. Both have tutoring centers. UCLA has 12 libraries(12 libraries!!), but Berkeley has more than 25 libraries. Berkeley probably has the upper hand here in regards to resources available to students to help them succeed.</p>

<p>I’ve heard UCLA’s dorms are better than Berkeley’s, but I don’t know how true it is. I don’t know much about off-campus housing near either school. Off-campus or on-campus are both expensive in both Berkeley and Los Angeles. That much I’m certain of.</p>

<p>If you care about sports, UCLA has a pretty good basketball team and ok football team. Unfortunately, UCLA doesn’t have its own football stadium; UCLA students have to go somewhere else to see their own team play. :cry:
Berkeley doesn’t have this problem. Then again, Berkeley’s teams kind of suck. :P</p>

<p>@Cayton, I’m surprised to hear that Cal students have higher GPA’s than UCLA students; not because I think UCLA is “easier,” but because, to my understanding, UCLA is more relaxed with their academics. How did you find the websites you posted? I’d like to try and find something that is a bit more up to date. </p>

<p>Seeing the number of libraries at each school made me smile. I love libraries. I will probably spend 75% of my time, in which I am not in class or sleeping, in the library. Do you know if it is possible to find the specific libraries? Because I know that Cal has a library just for anthropology students and I am curious to know if UCLA has one too.</p>

<p>Your such a bit help @Cayton! Have you considered being an academic counselor? You seem very knowledgeable and enthusiastic when it comes to helping others. </p>

<p>@AnthroFlo‌ </p>

<p>I heard about the website a while back. Don’t remember how, unfortunately. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t know how to find the specific libraries, but whichever school you SIR to should help you with that. I don’t know if UCLA has its own anthropology library, but it’s probably not short on anthropological texts.</p>

<p>I’d like to be a counselor, but in the state of California, I’d need a master’s degree in counseling to get anywhere. Ain’t nobody got time for that. But I may consider it. I’m glad to know I’ve been helpful.</p>

<p>@AnthroFlo I dunno if I’d say UCLA is more relaxed with their academics. It’s probably the more laid back atmosphere that gives you that impression. I bet some of it has to do with the fact that all the really super ambitious people aim for Berkeley, so perhaps that contributes to the high GPA average.</p>

<p>@anavera‌ </p>

<p>Well, it takes about equal levels of ambition to get into UCLA and Berkeley in my opinion. At the transfer and high school level, admitted applicants have nearly identical GPAs.</p>

<p>But UCLA students get lower GPAs for some reason. One can only wonder why. Might be the quarter system making things harder. I don’t know.</p>

<p>@Cayton Oh yeah, I don’t mean to say that you need more ambition to get into Berkeley. It’s just that, it tends to be that the absolute most ambitious people generally aim for the highest, which just happens to be Berkeley. And I personally feel like that plays some role in Cal’s higher average GPA. That’s just my opinion of course.</p>

<p>@anavera‌ </p>

<p>Ah, OK then.</p>

<p>Hmm, it’s a good thing that @AnthroFlo isn’t a STEM major. the STEM classes at Berkeley and UCLA are uber-competitive, lol</p>

<p>Hey there Anthroflo :slight_smile: Just wanted to put my two cents in:
Only speaking to the UCLA Political Science side of things</p>

<p>-Academics
This is really going to depend on your department. Overall the academics at UCLA are top notch, but the quality will really differ from department to department. For instance I have a friend who is minoring in Afro Am (which they are about to turn into its own department) and she says is is depressingly easy. </p>

<p>-Getting to know professors
Some professors are very open to engaging with undergraduate students while others are very hands off. In larger classes, most professors will route you to your TA with any questions or concerns. Use office hours as an opportunity to pick their brain about topics from the class. As an older student I have forged some great relationships and even friendships with my professors here at UCLA, it is really about finding the professors who are open to getting to know you :)</p>

<p>-Maintaining a decent GPA
I transferred from SMC and had a 3.8 during my time there. Here at UCLA I am graduating with a 3.985, yes one A- :. Again that is speaking just to the Political Science department, my husband is in the philosophy department and his GPA is similar to what he had at SMC. </p>

<p>-Exploring interests outside of academia
Yes, there is lots to do especially in LA and there is definitely time</p>

<p>-Finishing within 2 years
I came in with 105 units from CC and I am graduating on time. I have personally never taken more than 3 classes per quarter, but I know plenty of people who take 4 or 5. The only reason I didn’t is because there wasn’t really a need to and I wanted to shield my GPA for grad school. In any event, though not a cheap option, you can always take summer classes if you are falling behind.</p>

<p>-Housing
Depends on your budget. If you live on campus you will get the full college experience and everyone that I have spoken to says they really enjoyed it. If you are older, you may want your privacy. My husband and I opted for something in Santa Monica, which isn’t too far from campus (about 3 miles) but with traffic it can sometimes take 30 minutes just to get to school. If you are looking off campus take traffic into account! You will spend such a ridiculous amount of time sitting in traffic if you aren’t careful. </p>

<p>In any event, I got into both Cal and UCLA and I don’t regret my choice in any way. I have cherished my time here and am proud to be a bruin :slight_smile: </p>

<p>@burks4tw: Hi Burks. I know you mentioned that you are graduating on time which is 2 years. If you wanted to stay an extra year, would UCLA allow you? I wanted to know because I wanted to see if I could stay an extra year.</p>

<p>I’m only coming with 61 units from a CC.</p>

<p>@burks4tw‌ </p>

<p>Hey fellow Political Science major! How’s the department there at UCLA? :slight_smile: I already sent my SIR to Berkeley but I would like to know what made you choose UCLA’s PoliSci department over Cal’s? Also, how would you say the opportunities (internships, etc.) for Poli Sci majors are at UCLA? </p>

<p>@imaplealot‌ Hey there! Yes you can stay an extra year if you would like to. I know plenty of people who have decided to take a fifth year because they have either picked up a minor or would just like to soak up more classes. As long as you don’t go over the maximum amount of units (216) you will be fine.</p>

<p>@ocnative‌ WOOT! Yay Political Science :slight_smile: The PS department at UCLA is quite massive and because of its size it is actually run quite well. James Bondurant (who manages student affairs for undergraduate PS majors) frequently sends out e-mails with the latest job/internship/events/and other opportunities. I am sure the situation is similar at Berkeley :slight_smile: </p>

<p>There are several reasons I picked UCLA over Cal and a big one was that I much prefer LA over Berkeley. In terms of academics I found that both schools are similar and I just felt my quality of life would be better in LA. </p>

<p>Another factor that pushed me toward UCLA was political orientation. I consider myself a true moderate politically and after doing research, felt that UCLA would be a bit more balanced than the Berkeley crowd. Don’t kill me for that comment hehe! But I feel like I made the right choice for me, with a major like Political Science it is so important to have a balanced representation of information from both left and right leaning academics. </p>

<p>A friend of mine from CC went to Berkeley (also a true moderate) and she quit literally HATES the political climate at Cal. She has said that she has had multiple professors who are quite extreme (in both liberal and conservative ideology) and that a lot of the student body is too “out there” for her. This is less of an issue if you aren’t a PS major, but it is something to consider and if you are. </p>

<p>Either way, Cal or UCLA, you will get a fantastic education! Congrats! </p>

<p>@burks4tw‌ </p>

<p>Hi, you mentioned your husband being in the philosophy department at UCLA. I just wanted to ask you what your husband’s GPA is and how difficult he finds UCLA’s philosophy program to be. I’m a transfer student who’s been accepted to UCLA for philosophy and I’m trying to get as many perspectives on the program as I possibly can so that I can sufficiently prepare myself. I’ve heard that UCLA philosophy is no joke and is pretty difficult. Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>@burks4tw‌ </p>

<p>Thank you for that insight! It was very helpful. Lol the student body is too “out there”…that’s funny. I’m actually looking forward to studying polisci in a very political environment like Cal. Everyone has their different preferences though :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>If I may ask, are you planning to do law school afterwards or a career in teaching or government, etc? </p>

<p>@Cayton‌ Hey! My husband had a 3.5 at SMC and he has a 3.6 at UCLA. He is 100% in love with the UCLA philosophy department! As far as difficulty goes, if you have a solid background in symbolic logic you won’t have much trouble. While the department can be quite tough, there are plenty of people we know who have maintained 3.8+ GPAs. </p>

<p>As long as you work hard and put the time in you shouldn’t worry. Aside from the rigor, I too find myself loving the philosophy department :D. The political science department is so large that it can sometimes feel a bit lonely (plays the world’s tiniest violin) and I envy my husband and how incredibly tight knit philosophy is. Though he is particularly involved in the department, I don’t think his situation is unique. Since the upper division classes are usually small (~30 people), the professors are much easier to get to know and he has formed some very tight bonds with his TAs. </p>

<p>If you ever have any specific questions about the philosophy department let me know and we can try to get it answered for you :slight_smile: Oh! You should also join the UCLA Philosophy Club (the official one that the department has on their website). I don’t know if you are local, but if you are drop in on one of the philosophy club’s meetings Tuesdays at 6pm in Dodd 399. They frequently have visitors from other schools or people just interested in the club.</p>

<p>@ocnative‌ Yeah definitely! There is never a dull moment at Cal, I hear there is always something to get into (politically and otherwise I am sure). </p>

<p>I am thinking of doing a JD/MBA but decided to wait to apply until this upcoming fall. I have a pretty exciting opportunity this coming fall and didn’t want to pass it up, which is why I waited. When I do apply, I will app to Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, Boalt (Yes, Cal I know!), and UCLA. </p>

<p>@burks4tw‌ does having 105 quarter units from cc provide any benefit over the minimum 60 semester?</p>

<p>@burks4tw‌ </p>

<p>Thanks so much! In fact, I got an A in my symbolic logic class at CC. The only aspect I found difficult was the proofs. Everything else was pretty easy.</p>

<p>I’m glad to hear that the upper-division philosophy classes aren’t too big and that the professors are more accessible. I’ll be sure to make the most of it. I’ll definitely join the philosophy club. Thanks again!!</p>

<p>There is a program where you can spend a semester/quarter/summer session at another UC campus, does anyone know what this is called? I’ve been a bit unsuccessful at my search :(</p>

<p>@AnthroFlo‌ </p>

<p>Special Programs Enrollment</p>

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</code></pre>

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