Is UCLA all that people make it out to be?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>College experience, academics, sports, professors, prestige, diversity, fun, food, location, etc etc?</p>

<p>Can any other college match UCLA and all that it offers?</p>

<p>I hear lots of great things about UCLA; in fact, UCLA is one of the first few colleges I heard about, way back when I was only 5 years old. With each passing year, I found myself more and more attached to the school although physically, I am separated from the school by thousands of miles (I'm from the east coast). Nowadays, I hear the words UCLA more and more often whether its through my family's praise of UCLA's excellent academics or through friends who love are ardent UCLA basketball fans. </p>

<p>Currently, I am just about wrapping up my senior year. This year I applied to many great universities and was luckily accepted to many colleges as well. Among those colleges that accepted me was my dream school, UCLA. I also got offers from University of Virginia, University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, New York University, and UNC. The choice for me was easy: UCLA.</p>

<p>I submitted my SIR about a week ago because my parents wanted me to consider some of the other universities I was accepted to, but deep down inside UCLA was still my number one. Right now I super excited about attending this fall and I am looking forward to the orientation this summer. </p>

<p>Now my question to you guys is, do any of you share my same views for UCLA? Anyone think I was a little foolish with my decision or is UCLA comparable to my other schools? Well anyways, GO BRUINS. U-C-L-A UCLA FIGHT FIGHT!!</p>

2

<p>I’m not sure what UCLA is really like because I’m an incoming first year like yourself but from what I’ve heard UCLA really is an amazing place. I too decided to chose UCLA (OOS) over many of my other other colleges that were ranked significantly higher, but the other schools I got into aren’t nearly as good as some of those you mentioned. </p>

<p>It’s great to see that someone shares my enthusiasm for UCLA.</p>

3

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<p>Yes, it is. :)</p>

4

<p>I’m glad that you guys agree. It’s my first time leaving the east coast so I’m sure that I will have a very unique and worthwhile experience on the west coast.</p>

5

<p>I’ve never been to UCLA, but my brother went to a basketball camp there a few years ago, and he had a good time- said the food was great. OP, you’ve made a good decision- UCLA is one of the top publics, definitely comparable with the other schools you have listed!</p>

6

<p>I agree with mollie, choosing UCLA was a good decision especially if you think you will be happy there. Not many schools can offer “College experience, academics, sports, professors, prestige, diversity, fun, food, location,” all in one package. Plus, the new environment on the west coast will be a great and unique experience, allowing you to grow as a person and become more worldly.</p>

7

<p>Academics are what they are… a top 12 or 13 faculty in the U.S.</p>

<p>Everything after that is about fit… class size, weather, sports, campus size, campus arthitecture/softscape, surrounding city, etc.</p>

<p>Sounds like it fits you like a glove.</p>

8

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Ummm, yeah…you know, the school you stole your fight song and mascot from…your big bro up north.</p>

<p>Silly bRuins…</p>

9

<p>I think the OP meant UCLA as whole, as in the WHOLE UCLA package: sports, location, great food, academics, professors, fun, etc.</p>

<p>Sure, UCB has the academics but lacks the fun, location, and weather of UCLA. In fact, now that I think about it, not many schools can offer everything that UCLA has to offer. I mean for example, Harvard is considered the best school in the world academically but it does not have the sports scene, great food, and fun that UCLA does. So in essence, UCLA is a very well rounded school.</p>

10

<p>^ I disagree.</p>

<p>UCB is in a college town and has SF close by via public transportation. Berkeley/SF > Westood/LA for a college student.</p>

<p>UCB has same sports as UCLA, and its football is played on-campus…not 20 miles away.</p>

<p>Berkeley is known as the gourmet ghetto…numerous good, cheap eats for a college student vs. Westwood/Bel-Air/Beverly Hills.</p>

<p>IMO, Berkeley is more fun than UCLA…especially if the UCLA kid doesn’t have a car…UCLA is a commuter campus.</p>

<p>I won’t argue about the weather, but I prefer the Bay Area’s wetter climate.</p>

11

<p>Except that UCLA isn’t in a college town. It’s an oasis in a very large city that has its football stadium 20 miles away. There is something about a college town that cannot be duplicated in a large urban area. I totally agree with UCBChemEGrad.</p>

12

<p>There are lots of well rounded schools–and UCLA would not really be at the top as it still has a commuter feel and lacks the cohesive college-residence-town-sports package. My list would include Michigan, Penn State, Uva, UNC, Wisconsin, Texas, UCB, and maybe Illinois, Florida and UCLA among top publics.</p>

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<p>Well like I said, there are not “many” schools that are as well rounded as UCLA, but of course there are some as was mentioned above. I, myself, was accepted to U Michigan, UVa, and UNC and when I visited I fell in love with all three schools. I agree that those three schools probably provide a more typical college-town campus feel but UCLA just has something that those other schools don’t. It’s difficult to describe what that unique thing is exactly but maybe its the city feel or the great weather or the awesome food or the school spirit that ultimately drew me to UCLA.</p>

14

<p>UCLA is amazing. I got into the school, but not going there; however, I abosolutly love everything about UCLA. Students, food, social life… only problem - i hate competitive student bodies. and UCLA for any sort of pre-med major is competitive. very competitive. I mean 30,000 undergrads… thats the only thing that turned me off.</p>

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<p>That’s why it’s important to go for fit class2009college. What seems like a perfect situation for you, might not to someone else. Personally, I love the look and feel of a college town over an urban/suburban environment. To each his own. Best of luck to you.</p>

16

<p>(IMO) I do think the UC’s are a bit overrated. I mean at the end of the day it’s a state school. I feel like the only reason many of the UC’s have the prestige associated with their names is because they have low acceptance rates, but look at CUNY Hunter it accepts 28% but that’s only because so many ppl apply.</p>

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<p>You’re from the northeast nastynate0315. The state schools up there aren’t as strong as in other parts of the country. I see you are attending NYU. I’d say UCB, UCLA, and UCSD are all peer schools of NYU.</p>

18

<p>rjkofnovi – NYU is peer to UCLA and UCSD, and undergrad only.</p>

<p>At the graduate level, all three completely obliterate NYU… and why? Precisely BECAUSE they are state schools… they have mandate, funding and contracts for cutting edge research. At the Ph.D. level, Berkeley, Michigan, Wisonsin, Illinois, UCLA are world renowned research institution, all in the top 20, with Berkeley 1 or 2 depending on how you measure the criteria. The land upon which UCLA sits would cost 4-5 BILLION dollars today.</p>

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<p>I don’t disagree with you at all DunninLA. I was just trying to be diplomatic. ;-)</p>

20

<p>@DunninLA-with that logic how could any private university compare to the resources of the UC’s? I suppose that means that all private universities are incomparable to Berkeley? I’m sorry but I don’t buy it.</p>