UCLA is very expensive if you’re OOS. Any chance that “danger” is the reason given while finances are the real problem? Frankly, I wouldn’t be all that worried about crime in Westwood.
UCLA is in a pretty good area. It is expensive for OOS students. Have you looked at S.U.N.Y. Binghamton?
If OP hopes to study CS, I’m not sure he/she could do it at one of the Cornell contract colleges which are
Agriculture and Life Sciences, Human Ecology, and Industrial and Labor Relations.
Especially considering according to Cornell’s CS website:
https://www.cs.cornell.edu/undergrad/uadmis
A & S and Engineering are NOT contract colleges.
OP-You haven’t given us any stats or any indication of why you like CS. I am with all those here who suggest you build your list with the SUNY unis: UB, Stony Brook, Albany, Binghamton. If your parents can afford it, then add some privates like RIT or RPI.
OOS for a public university , especially for CS , doesn’t make sense given all the good places in your own backyard.
If you can give us your stats, we may be able to give you ideas for private universities with good CS departments where you can maybe get merit.
UCLA is exorbitantly expensive for OOS students. Are your parents willing to pay the full cost for you to go there as an OOS student?
sigh dream school again.
since your parents are paying and don’t want you to go there, and it is absurdly expensive anyway for OOS, looks like it’s time to move on.
i like the above suggestions of targeting SUNY’s plus Cornell.
Uh, to restate the obvious as @intparent and others have said, this is not a problem till you get accepted. CS there has a 7-8% acceptance rate. Also agree, don’t pay that money for an OOS public, and one that is across the country (more costs). A great school in many regards and fab for a lot of people, but imo too many issues to deal with, especially at OOS rates. There are so many other schools you could check into.
But, it is a safe campus for sure, that is silly. Mom has to grow up.
I wouldn’t target for the assumed in-state rate if OP is aspiring to study CS and hoping for an in-state discount as it’s only offered in Arts & Sciences & Engineering which are NON-CONTRACT colleges where there isn’t an in-state discount for NY residents.
^^^
right but since we don’t know the family $$$ situation the OP might receive large need-based aid if accepted to Cornell.
i didn’t even realize Cornell offered any type of break for in-state students.
@ everyone who mentions going to SUNY schools- I realize they may be the logical choice from a cost standpoint however I have been to almost all of their campuses and tons and none are appealing to me besides Cornell. Most are very grey and have little to do, so I would prefer not to go there
If you aren’t interested in the SUNY schools…you need to have a frank talk with your oarents about how much they are willing to spend on your education every year. You will either need to find colleges within that price point…or places where merit aid is guaranteed to bring you to that price point.
Since you were planning to apply to a CA public or two…which will cost about $50,000 a year…I gather your oarents will be full pay.
Are they willing to pay full costs at OOS public universities, because you won’t get much need based aid from OOS publics except UVA, UNC-CH…and maybe Michigan which is working to increase need based aid to OOS students.
The UCs will no longer be offering need based aid to OOS students.
Assuming OP qualifies for admission to A & S or Engineering and family financial situation such that OP is eligible for need-based aid.
Cornell offers in-state breaks only in their contract colleges: Agriculture and Life Sciences, Human Ecology, and Industrial and Labor Relations.
None of them offer CS as a major though.
yeah, but we don’t need to know the family’s $$ situation. UCLA has stopped providing need-based aid, so it will cost at least $55k/yr. (this year’s price…assume a few % increase for next year.)
UCLA parent here (undergrad and grad) - bad things can happen at all universities. The overall crime statistics for UCLA can be confusing, especially in that one poll a few years ago that named it the most dangerous campus in the US. UCLA is surrounded by quite a few non-university, but very populated, areas, which are also included in the area crime statistics. These areas have nothing to do with the university. That said, there is a large amount of crime centered right off campus in what is considered off-campus housing for students. This area contains many multi-storied apartment buildings crammed right next to each other. These buildings are so concentrated that at night, there are several areas on each street for people to hide in dark/poorly lit areas. The streets in this area are also poorly maintained, as are many of the buildings. These streets are definitely not shown during tours, but house a great many students. To combat this issue, the university police have walking escorts that will walk students to many of the off-campus housing units between dusk and 1 a.m. These escorts are students but they have police radios to contact officers, as well as pepper spray. But whether in a large city or rural location, students need to always be aware of their surroundings, lock their doors/windows, use the escort service, and walk in groups at night.
OP, if you are not into the SUNYs, have you considered CUNY/CCNY?
I mention this because, as others have said, it’s possible your parents can’t (or can’t easily) afford to spend $55,000 per year on an OOS public school, even if it is a very good one in UCLA. And with travel costs thrown in, they’re probably looking at another several thousand per year.
So you might consider looking at the other “state school” option in New York – the aforementioned CUNY/CCNY schools – as well as some private universities that offer both CS and decent financial aid, like:
Cornell (as previously mentioned)
Carnegie Mellon
University of Rochester
Lehigh
Syracuse
You might also look at some liberal arts colleges that offer CS – some of them also offer decent aid.
Before we can really help you, we’d need to know more about where your parents are coming from. Where would they like you to apply? If, for example, they are insisting that you apply only to schools that would allow you to live at home with them and commute, then whether they like UCLA in particular is irrelevant. You also need to know how much finances have to do with their views.
I would never allow my children to apply to a college I couldn’t afford or didn’t want them to attend. You have a 33 ACT and are a NYS resident. Do you qualify for the NYS tuition grant for STEM majors? Is the family business you work at your parents’? Finances may be an issue. Ask them how much they can pay.
Check the top of the financial aid forum for the thread about guaranteed merit aid for certain stats. You may be able to find an affordable OOS college in a warm location. It won’t be in CA though.