<p>of course UCLA</p>
<p>Colleclass, our Bruin days were a long time ago. 
It was during the time of the Vietnam War demonstrations and the basketball era immediately following Lew Alcindor. We slept over at Pauley Pavilion to get season student tickets to watch the likes of Sidney Wickes-Henry Bibby and also the Bill Walton Gang. It was a different time and place. The number of students was less and the dorms were not filled to capacity. Did we enjoy our time at UCLA? In hindsight, yes, our college friends remain close to this day. But, again, we are all from CA. The friendships we made remain the best part of our UCLA experience.</p>
<p>Even back then, the size of the campus and the large lecture halls were daunting. Adjusting to the quarter system was also a challenge. It took me 1.5 qtrs to become fully comfortable and acclimated. With the exception of a handful of upper division classes, I was just one of many enrolled students. And, in terms of student counseling in Murphy Hall, every student dreaded receiving a notice for the degree check. It meant making an appt and bringing in your own file of papers to confirm your enrollment in courses needed to graduate. The student is almost always right. ;)</p>
<p>After receiving our undergrad degrees, we were pretty much on our own to find employment. Back then, the Career Placement Ctr was in a bungalow. My brother, who graduated in '92 with an Econ degree, had a similar experience. I hope this is not true in the focused/professional field engineering.</p>
<p>IMO, UCLA is the most beautiful of the 9 UC campuses. The weather, sports, food, and facilities are tops. They are matched only by our disdain of our “crosstown rivals.” As they say, “Once a Bruin, always a Bruin.” If this is what you seek, then go with your gut.
Unlike us, students today have so many more options to choose from. Like our daughters, you are asking all the right questions in order to make a knowledgeable decision. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your experiences Archermom. I wish the best of luck for your daughter(s).</p>
<p>Colleclass: The other unique difference between CMU and most other undergrad colleges/universities is applying to the distinct schools (ie, Tepper, CIT, etc). I believe that (for the most part) this attracts a different group of applicants. Perhaps more focused and passionate about their chosen area of study…especially in the pre-professional schools such as Tepper, CIT, SCS, Architecture, and even the Fine Arts. The application process forces prospective students to think hard and long about their majors even before being accepted. It is an interesting concept.</p>