<p>I always read that UCLA is huge, and it's largely commuter...blah blah</p>
<p>How well do you think it "provides the typical college experience"? I'm from Connecticut, so I will most likely not get a chance to visit it unless I get accepted ($$$), but I was interested in hearing what you guys feel life is like there.</p>
<p>it is not largely commuter - i don't know where people get this idea. Almost all third and fourth year students live off campus (perhaps thats where these statistics come from), but that is because (until this year), upper classmen could not live in the dorms. But almost all students living off campus live right off campus in the westwood apartments.
I think UCLA provides a great college experience - its very large, and there is definitely something for everyone here.
Are you a junior, millertime?</p>
<p>Yeah, I posted my stats recently in a "what are my chances" thread, but I'm basically looking for some type of Cali school for fall '06.</p>
<p>millertime,</p>
<p>what you'll here from most students and the stereotype of most ucla students is that they maintain a great balance between academics and social life. that's what's great about being at ucla. i'll try to focus a little on college experience: good sports teams also help maintain the college spirit, and ucla is pretty good in a variety of sports, and basketball (their money sport) should be pretty exciting in the upcoming years. their stadium (pauley pavilion) is right on campus. there's also tons of parties going on thursday nights and plenty of entertainment options throughout los angeles. and the vast majority of students are involved in extracurricular activities. basically, there's always something to do. dorms are guaranteed 3 years and eventually will be 4 years, and dorm life is part of the college experience (although one could argue frats or apartments are too). i hope i captured some of the "college experience" that you were looking for... if not, please define. </p>
<p>and ucla is definately not a commuter school. some SoCal residents go home during the weekend, but that's still the minority.</p>
<p>That was basically what I was asking. I'm really looking for a place that knows "how to have fun". I was really put off by the quiet introverted students at Northwestern/U Chicago, and I was worried UCLA would be as quiet/empty. This is really good news to hear from you guys though.</p>
<p>Just wondering...is the enivornment too hard and stressful? Are people competitive and not as friendly, which means they are not less likely to help you at UCLA? Basically, I hear that UCSD, UCD, and UCSB have environments that are really relaxed and people are more willing to help you out. Is it like that in UCLA? That's what I've been hearing from others.</p>
<p>P.S. I Think I got just got in today lol. WOOOOOOO!</p>
<p>UCLA is definitely competitive. Like science related majors and engineering stuff definitely is competitive at any school. Yea, but the only problem with this school is the large classes. The competition is tuff like any other top school, but this school has a social life</p>
<p>"Just wondering...is the enivornment too hard and stressful? Are people competitive and not as friendly, which means they are not less likely to help you at UCLA?"</p>
<p>i want to say moderately to highly competitive. yes, science related majors are very competitive. why? because you are graded on a curve. i wouldn't consider ucla to be relaxed, but it isn't necessarily always stressful. from personal experience, other students have been quite helpful and nice to me. however, i am still an underclassman... i've heard that competition gets tougher as you move into upper-division classes.</p>
<p>yah, that's what I'm most worried about...it's really down to UCSB and UCLA for me. i'm a political science major...is it harder over there and do they grade you on a curve that i'll be transferring as a junior as well.</p>
<p>Millertime......out-of-staters pay dearly, isn't it close to 40,000 now, folks? Why would anyone pay that kind of money for an undergrad program? Now, graduate school is a separate issue entirely. However, I think you'd be better off at a small LAC, then cramped in a 250+ class on Comparative Governments class, or whatever courses Poli Sci majors take. Grad schools want to see independent work.....anyway, if you're not planning on grad school, I'd still look into a private LAC over a public university.</p>
<p>Good grief, you can find the "college experience" at any good-great college...it's finding some peace and quiet and intellectual stimulation that's hard to find. lol</p>
<p>"it's finding some peace and quiet and intellectual stimulation that's hard to find."</p>
<p>i don't think that was the only thing millertime was looking for. in fact, i think he/she was trying to avoid that type of environment. </p>
<p>"Why would anyone pay that kind of money for an undergrad program?"</p>
<p>why do people pay $40k to attend other schools? just because ucla charges more for out-of-state doesnt mean that out-of-staters aren't getting their money's worth. look, they're willing to pay the $$ to go to a really good school, and a school with an environment that fits their needs. california residents are just lucky that their tuition is lower, that's all. compare apples to apples... you're willing to spend $40k/yr on education, and you can choose between UCLA (out of state) or georgetown. well, that's your call. you're still paying for equally good quality, so it's up to you where you want to be.</p>
<p>kfc, I know he's trying to avoid that....I was referring to my own experiences. I am surrounded by UCSB-people whose only ambitious is to get wasted every Thursday on State. There's just more to life, so much more.</p>
<p>Secondly, I agree California residents do have a lucky break on tuition, but I was referring to graduate school for doing the "out-of-state" thing. I'm just very lucky I'm getting a full-ride to both UCLA and Cal, otherwise I'd have to go somewhere local which would also be a fine situation.</p>
<p>Maybe when you've been in the workforce as long as I have, you'll be able to see just how little all of this actually matters.......people don't care about what school you went to, but how you can make them money. </p>
<p>Finally, UCLA is an awesome school.....odds are just not in most people's favor, especially the Bus Econ and Bio chem majors.</p>
<p>"Finally, UCLA is an awesome school.....odds are just not in most people's favor, especially the Bus Econ and Bio chem majors."</p>
<p>I actually just have a quick question I didn't really understand what you meant by the odds not being in most people's favor epecially the Bus Econ and Bio Chem majors? Are you referring to the difficulty of getting through the majors or something else?</p>
<p>"it's finding some peace and quiet and intellectual stimulation that's hard to find."</p>
<p>I'm not really looking for that "peace and quiet". I'm considering schools like Dartmouth and potentially UCLA becase they are academically challenging but still know how to party.</p>
<p>Dartmouth a party school? news to me.</p>
<p>On campusdirt.com, 13% of people drink 6+ nights a week, 41% drink 3-5 nights a week, and 56% drink 1-2 nights per week. This statistic "wins" them the "who gets drunk the most" award among the ivies on the website. I say they can party.</p>
<p>i have also heard that dartmouth has a reputation as a party school. but you also have to just think... if you don't party, what else can you do in hanover?</p>
<p>can't out-of-stater's get in state tuition after a yr?</p>
<p>No, that's a myth. It's actually really hard to establish in-state residency once you enter as an out-of-stater.</p>