Are the people nice and down to earth? Coming from the South.
I was admitted to UCLA and paid a visit during the school week to see what the students were like. They were some of the friendliest and most helpful people I’ve ever met! Everyone I talked to was super down to earth and gave me a great feeling about the school. While I’d recommend visiting to meet them yourself, I think that the students at UCLA were some of the best I’ve met out of all of my college visits.
At my time at UCLA, I have to say UCLA students were always ultra polite, courteous and were always willing to help their fellow students. This notion of students are cutthroat and would sabotage their fellow students is poppycock. I never saw it that way, I was always willing to help my peers and vice versa. Even if I missed a lecture, I would ask a fellow classmate if it was okay if I could see their notes, they would send me their entire notes for that lecture or they would AIR-DROP the recording for that day.
Outside of the school atmosphere, I always saw the students say thank you, hold doors and just be good human beings. UCLA students are extroverted, even if you’re not, you gradually will become one.
Even at my time (while I was a student at USC), I used to joyfully visit UCLA (though I was from the rival school). That is why my daughter ended up at UCLA (Eventhough she was raised as a Trojan “baby”, as she used to call herself, prior to finally decide to become a Bruin instead!)
Like any school, there are good and bad apples. When I attended a transfer orientation, I was unfortunately placed with the bad apples, lol. There was this one girl that was pretty much threatening our student advisor because she was worried about not enrolling in the classes she wanted. I wasn’t the biggest fan of my student advisor either. I’m not the fastest walker - he even asked why I was going so slow as I made the arduous walk up the hill. Since I was the last to arrive at the dorm, he automatically said I would be the last to register for classes. I thought this was very uncool. Why not go in alphabetical order or something? Only two students were allowed to register for classes at a time, so when my turn came around, I had slim pickings. I’m sure a lot of the people are nice, but the student that was serving the role of my advisor really turned me off.
I visit UCLA all the time since I have a lot of friends there. I’m only at community college right now. Even though I do go to see my friends mostly, if I’m ever there just by myself, any time I’ve had conversations with people they’ve all been really great. The people there are friendly and have an immense intellectual curiosity. They want to be the best and bring everyone along with them for the ride.