<p>Yes, if UCLA’s undergrad program in the major has not historically produced good PhD students to the point that PhD programs tend to be unwilling to admit UCLA undergrads, then it makes sense to go to a stronger school in the major for pre-PhD undergrad.</p>
<p>However, he may want to be more open to going to other good schools for PhD study, assuming that he does well in undergrad, due to the faculty preference for undergrad and PhD study at different schools.</p>