<p>I am transfering to UCLA next fall and drove down to the campus this last week to check it out. Ignore spelling and grammar, I have too many random things to add. This is my experience:</p>
<p>Overall: It was so awesome. It 100% exceeds my expectations. </p>
<p>School Pride: The first thing I noticed was the ample school pride. Nearly 80% of the students were decked out in UCLA tshirts, shorts, hats, key chains, socks, ect. I went on a tour and our tour guide (a student) was very open about the UCLA/USC rivalry. He actually told us crazy stories about rivalry wars between the two and made sure to crack many jokes at the expense of USC. I mentioned I chose UCLA over USC and a student who happened to be within earshot (not even part of the tour) yelled, "you made the right choice". The sense of pride is palpable on the campus. Everyone seems to very satisfied with being a bruin.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: UCLA has intermural sports teams for people who just like to play but aren't the next olympian. UCLA also has over 900 clubs including a dance dance revolution club that practices like 3 hours a week. Our tour guide said that there is a club for anyone and everyone, and if the club doesn't exsist you can make one. He has a friend who started a wine club, they actually got a federal grant to travel to napa valley and drink wine courtesy of uncle sam (nice).</p>
<p>The People: I was at UCLA on campus on a wednesday. It was the 10th week of class, the week before finals. In general, the students were great. I really felt like for the first time in my life I had a crowd I could hang out with. It was basically like community college minus all the people that make you wonder why they are even there. You know the ones that make you ashamed of going to community college. They all seemed very happy and approachable. It was really cool. Also, there are so many students, it is awesome.</p>
<p>Gyms, Haircutts, Atm's, Ect.: As far as all the extra things, UCLA has them all. It has an awesome gym that makes me want to work out so bad. It has everything and is free to students. Adam sandler actually has a membership there and goes there. Atm's: there are lots of ATM's on campus: Bank of America, Chase, ect. Haircutts: I was worried about haircutts but they have a place right on campus($15). As far as other living things, you can find it on campus. They have all kinds of stores with toiletteries(spelling?), energy drinks, candy, condoms, what ever you could need. And, if you can't get it on campus, westwood is right there and it has everthing and its cheaper.</p>
<p>Westwood (the surrounding area): I vote westwood as the coolest part of LA. Thats good because UCLA is in westwood. I didn't even get to explore westwood because just exploring the campus was an entire day project. However, here is what I saw: multiple movie theaters, a CVS (longs drug store basically), a textbook store, tons of clothes stores, lots of fast food, cool hotels (expensive), ect. I really enjoy westwood, it is really safe, clean, and pedestrian friendly. </p>
<p>Food: There is so much variety. There are tons of fastfood restraunts on and off campus. There are tons of campus restaurants and little shops with sandwiches. There are little campus stores with candy bars, top ramen, ect. Basically, everything available at home is available here. the exception is you might not have a stove to cook it on. However, that is what the student restaurants are for. I can't yet attest for the campus food because I had panda express on campus which doesn't count because it is fast food, however, I hear UCLA is ranked 2nd in the nation as far as food goes.</p>
<p>The campus: it was so cool. UCLA may be the smallest campus of the UC's, but it is huge by my standards. It is so beautiful. Huge brick buildings. My favorite spot is between Powell library and Royce Hall and the stairs in that area are so cool. The campus is so awesome, you have to see it for yourself.</p>
<p>UCLA vs. Cal Poly Slo: if you got into UCLA, be proud of it. I also went to Cal Poly Slo this week to check out my brother's school and was very disappointed. The atmosphere, student body, and campus had a very different feeling about them. It was much more akin to a large community college with less of the kids that make you wonder why they are there. I think the further you go up in college rankings, the less you see those kids. However, i was surprised by the student body, and felt glad that I was going to UCLA. To each his own, though, I am sure there are alot of really good students at the college, I know my brother is smart and he is going there. The campus was also kind of bland.</p>
<p>UCLA/USC Rival: I can tell you that going to UCLA and hearing the tour guide talk trash about USC is really cool. The rivalry creates a bond between the students, a common enemy. The rivalry is also good natured. No one really hates the people from USC, in fact they would even tell you it is a good school. My one bragging right when I get to UCLA will be that I got accepted to USC and UCLA, USC tried bribing me with a $33,000 university grant and I still chose UCLA over USC, Go Bruins!!</p>
<p>Fun: There is an arcade, they are putting in an online video game room where you can play xbox and other game systems online, they have events at royce hall, hella cheap sports and entertainment events: football, basketball, plays, concerts, ect. There is all kinds of things to do around campus and in LA. My tour guide said in the three years he has been in UCLA, he has just started exploring outside of Westwood. He said there is so much to do, you don't need anything else for a long time.</p>
<p>Any questions you guys have go ahead and ask. There are probably many things I forgot to add!</p>
i agree, TONS of school pride. im so excited to part of the school in the fall as welll!</p>