<p>I am out of state for both so cost is not a factor.</p>
<p>I was accepted to the University of Michigan (in Ann Arbor) in December Early Action and over the past few months, I have grown comfortable with the idea of going there. A couple friends from my school are going there and I know about 8 people who go there.</p>
<p>However, last Friday (3/22), I found out I was accepted to UCLA. I thought it was more of a reach/dream school and didn't really expect to get in.</p>
<p>I plan on studying English/Advertising/Public Relations/Journalism. (Kind of love them all, still trying to figure out my career).</p>
<p>I may still be leaning on Mich, but I have been rethinking and am unsure about where I want to be the next 4 years.</p>
<p>I am Jewish, and it is important to me that I can incorporate that into my life/ make Jewish friends/ go to Chabad or Hillel. From what I know, Michigan is a lot more "Jewish" of a school but I haven't really found out a lot about UCLA.</p>
<p>Other important factors: make friends easily
decent living conditions
school spirit
strong academics
recognized as a good school (it's not that I care so much about 'prestige', I just want potential employers to think that the school I went to is strong)</p>
<p>I have visited both and I loved both. I have seen a few threads on CC comparing the two and there was a lot of bias but I basically got that both are really great schools....Any thoughts???</p>
<p>UCLA and Michigan are both recognized as top schools in USA and the world. Therefore, academic wise…you can’t really go wrong. The social scene at both colleges are pretty great. One huge difference is Michigan’s weather is terrible compared to UCLA. Cold, snowy, and rainy whereas UCLA is warm, sunny, etc. They both have great school spirit, sports teams, lots of people to socialize with. Just choose by the financial issues and weather and ranking of YOUR preferred majors in that college. DO some research!</p>
<p>Both excellent universities, so you’ll have to choose for fit. LA has a fairly strong Jewish scene in focused in the Pico-Robertson area (not that far from UCLA) so if you wanted to live there, you could commute from there to campus.</p>
<p>I would go with Los Angeles because its in California (better weather, more job opportunities). Academically both are world class top public Universities. Also, UCLA is cheaper for out of state.</p>
<p>UCLA doesn’t have better job opportunities because its CA. There’s barely any jobs here. I would know.
Been here for 17 years 364 days;0
UCLA is also really big and extreme amount of students. I’d go Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>kellymadison, I don’t think you need to worry about cost or about the number of Jewish students around you. Both universities cost about the same (tuition is a little higher at Michigan, but cost of living is a little higher in LA) but as you point out, if there is a difference, it is negligible. Also, both universities enroll a large number (and percentage) of Jewish students. </p>
<p>According to the link below, Michigan has approximately 4,500 (18% of the total student population) Jewish students and UCLA has approximately 3,000 (12% of the total student population). </p>
<p>Academically, the two universities are stellar, and both have strong reputations. Obviously, Michigan’s reputation will be stronger in the Midwest and Northeast (especially in the tri-state area because of the large number of alums who live there) while UCLA’s will be stronger on the West Coast and the Southwest.</p>
<p>Both universities have loads of school spirit, but I would give Michigan the edge in this department.</p>
<p>The main difference between Michigan and UCLA is student demographics. UCLA is less geographically diverse, but more racially and socio-economically diverse. Only 10% of UCLA undergrads come from OOS as opposed to 40% at Michigan. But at UCLA, 38% of the students are caucasian, compared to 68% at Michigan. The Asian and Latin American population at UCLA is significantly larger. Also, at UCLA, over almost 40% of undergraduate students qualify for Pell grants, while at Michigan, only 10% do. If you have not visited both campuses and can afford to do so, I recommend it. While they have much in common in terms of quality, they are very different in terms of campus environment and culture.</p>
UCLA and Michigan are both very strong by all of these measures (and pretty much equal in each category). I think you should decide based on which campus environment your prefer. You said you already visited and love both so I guess you can’t go wrong with either. If you want to work in the west, UCLA may be slightly more recognizable, but Michigan is still very reputed, so again not much difference.</p>
<p>Congrats Kelly! My son (from FL) was down to the same two schools. He had similar questions. Seemed to be leaning towards UCLA due to rankings and major interests etc… But accepted Michigan and proud to be going Blue! Ann Arbor is a fantastic town, the school spirit is amazing, walks to the football stadium on game days memorable, and yes it’s cold but you adapt. Good luck!</p>