English medical student-elective at UCLA

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone could share some advice or opinions on the above, as I haven't a clue and anything to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated! :)</p>

<p>My medical school has an exchange program with UCLA so I'm hoping to go there for four weeks in my final year (this coming October). I'm pretty excited! Since I don't know much about UCLA, what is the weather like around that time of year? And what about the situation regarding transport, would I need to hire a car (bearing in mind I will be 22 and therefore in a high car rent bracket!) or could I get by on public transport?</p>

<p>I'm pretty sociable so would also love to go out as well, what is the nightlife like around the campus? Any suggestions of any good bars/places to go? :)</p>

<p>Thanks very much!</p>

<p><em>bump</em></p>

<p>No-one able to help?!</p>

<p>Weather around this time of year is sunny and hot (but not too hot). It’s very balanced with the occasional cool breeze coming in thoughout the day. Transportation depends on how far you want to go. The UCLA transit center is the final stop for most of the big blue buses and there are a lot of metro buses to take. It’s definitely not mandatory to have a car here, but if you want to go to the Valley you would probably have to get a car (although I don’t see why anyone would want to go there for fun…)</p>

<p>Thanks very much for the reply, it’s much appreciated :)</p>

<p>I was having a look at the campus map on Google, how far apart would you say the South Campus and the North campus are? I.e. from the hospital. Ideally, I want to be around the majority of people and not stuck hidden away in the corner for a month!</p>

<p>South campus is about 5-10 minutes from the hospital, depending on how far south and west you are. It took me around 12 minutes to walk from the building that is furthest south (Botany) to one of the furthest north (Bunche).</p>

<p>Thanks, that’s very doable then, not miles away! My base hospital is 20 minutes by train away from the halls that I live in in London! The one I am currently at is an hour away :(</p>

<p>What about the social scene? How difficult is it in a college with 50,000 students to make friends and get to go out? Especially considering the reasonably short amount of time I am there. I don’t think you lot have a ‘student’s union’ like we do in universities in the UK, like a main focal point that everyone goes to with bars and live music etc etc</p>