<p>What school is better?
I got into both. I'm majoring in chemistry (pre-dental)</p>
<p>Thanks! (OOS for both)</p>
<p>The feces is hitting the fan for the UC system right now. Stay away.</p>
<p>Michigan is the ultimate college experience in the quintessential college town.</p>
<p>wow I am in the exact same position as you OP: UMich or UCLA, and I am also OOS so I am going to probably have to pay pretty big bucks too… 
IMO UMich is better in terms of academic. I think UCLA may have a slightly larger name but that may just from hype. In terms of school spirit, I believe they are pretty equally matched. Both schools are huge so there is not much difference there.
I guess you just have to go to both campuses and see which one you feel better about.
And I also believe that UCLA may not be as good as it used to be because of California’s economy of the past couple years.</p>
<p>I would guess that it’d be easier for an OOS student to adjust at UMich than at UCLA because UCLA is 9% OOS while UMich is 1/3 OOS.
For academics, they’re both pretty amazing.
For weather, UCLA has the edge.
For sports, I’m not sure, but they both have awesome athletic scenes.
I’m not sure about the social life either, but they’reb oth large state schools with Greek scenes and no shortage of fun parties.
On the whole they’re both incredible. SOrry I couldn’t be of more help ,but good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>If you get into UCLA and you’re OOS, I’d say that’s pretty incredible and you definitely don’t want to turn it down.</p>
<p>I’ll see if I can help you out as I made the decision last year. I think I might’ve posted it elsewhere befpre but I don’t feel like looking for it - but if you check my post history you’ll probably find it (…I think).</p>
<p>Anyway, about me, I’m a resident of California (born and raised) and got a $10,000 merit aid scholarship at UCLA and Berkeley. </p>
<p>One of the things I didn’t like about UCLA (which will probably be completely different for you) is that all the kids going there from my high school weren’t the kids I would ever want to hang out with outside of school. They were all brilliant and driven and nice kids, just not the ones I would go out to party with (though I’ve heard most of them, including our straight-edge-to-the-max valedictorian has broken out of her shell there). But this’ll probably be minor for you.</p>
<p>School Spirit
In terms of school spirit, I give Michigan the HUGE edge. It’s not even close, in my eyes. I grew up liking UCLA and absolutely ****ing hating USC, so I would consider myself having a vested interest in their sport success. However, after going to football games at the Rose Bowl (even the USC/UCLA games), basketball games at Pauley Pavillion and the volleyball games there too, I can safely say UCLA can’t even compare to Michigan’s school spirit. I would honestly put Michigan in the top 5 for most spirited schools. For football games, people get up at 7 AM to start drinking, every single fraternity has hundreds of people outside dancing to blaring music, kegs and handles being passed around, tens of thousands of people walking around the street, and walking down Hoover past the IM building in the street on the way to your first game at the Big House as a student is surreal. </p>
<p>Weather - UCLA has a huge edge. Not even close. Maybe I’m a little bit sheltered since I grew in So Cal within a mile of the beach, and anything below 70 is cold, but still, UCLA has the huge edge. It’s hot in the summer, and warm in the winter. It rains very, very infrequently in the Fall/Winter/Spring, and overall has some of the best weather of the country. California has Summer, and then not Summer and the temperature is 65-85 for the vast majority of the year. </p>
<p>Michigan winters, however, are a force to be reckoned with if you’ve never experienced one. I remember earlier this year it was -7 below or something, and around -22 with windchill and it was COLD. But that was the worst day, and you get used to it. I honestly wouldn’t let weather detract you from coming to the University. Also, pretty much everyone I’ve talked to aside from those who are from California say they LOVE having 4 seasons. I agree to an extent because watching the leaves change colors (cliche, I know) is breathtaking. I still love California weather though.</p>
<p>Academics - non-issue here, in my opinion, as both are amazing institutions. Don’t let rankings or academics or anything else seriously impact your decisions, imo, unless you’re doing Business or Engineering at UMich, or Biology at UCLA (or whatever is reallly really good there - I don’t know what is lol).</p>
<p>Campus and surrounding area - Ann Arbor is definitely top tier for college towns. I absolutely love it and think it’s an amazing place. The area surrounding the campus basically caters to the needs of the students and it’s awesome. I can’t say enough about how much I love Ann Arbor, and I think it’s top 3 in terms of best college towns in the US. Michigan’s campus is also awesome imo. Ton of history and I think it’s really cool. The buildings are great and the business school/law schools building(s) are unreal.</p>
<p>UCLA has a beautiful, beautiful campus. The buildings are nice and though I haven’t seen a lot of it, I can say that from the things I’ve seen, the buildings/classrooms/structures are awesome. Westwood is a cool city, but it is definitely not a college town. There’s a ton to do around UCLA, lots of clubs/bars/restaurants, but it caters to a different crowd I think (a little bit older, I’d say, like ~25+, but still pretty cool). Having grown up so close to Westwood though, I got bored with it and I don’t think it’s worth the half hour drive to go out there. But that’s just me.</p>
<p>People - People in the Midwest are the nicest people in the world. No joke. Everyone here is so ridiculously nice it’s absurd. People hold the door for you, say please and thank you, help you pick things up, will give you a dollar randomly in line if you’re short, etc. etc. and it makes you feel great. People in LA are ******s, plain and simple. It makes me sad, almost. hahaha</p>
<p>Social Life - I’ve heard from quite a few people that UCLA sometimes seems like a commuter school with a lot of students going home on the weekend. Given the fact that a lot of instate kids go to UCLA, and that almost a third of CA’s population is south of LA, many people live really close to campus and can go home. However, I also know a ton of really awesome people that go to UCLA and say they love the parties there. Can’t comment too much on this aspect though. The girls at UCLA are pretty hot, too. Though I will say, I actually think it’s more the girls that live in Westwood and around UCLA, and not UCLA students per se, since UCLA feels like its 50% Asian.</p>
<p>Michigan’s social life is great (for me at least). The frat parties are for the most part open if you can come with girls, there are tons of parties, and Thurs/Fri/Sat there are TONS of people out going to bars/restaurants/parties. I think the girls are really attractive (some people disagree - to each their own) and while yes, California has the stereotypical hot blonde beach girl, Michigan also has its fair share of attractive people. I think the social life, especially given that we live in a college town as great as Ann Arbor, is excellent.</p>
<p>All in all, I don’t think you could go wrong with either choice. I had a couple things that made the decision a little bit easier (I’m a quadruple legacy, got into the business school as a pre-admit, I love hockey more than any sport, been a die-hard Michigan fan my entire life) but I am also out-of-state, paying full tuition, when UCLA would’ve cost me about ~120k less. I am very fortunate to be here.</p>
<p>TL;DR the positives of michigan are endless. I honestly could speak of its positives for days. only cons I have are the weather (Not joking - that’s the only negative I can think about, and this is since I grew up spoiled with the amazing weather of Manhattan beach)</p>
<p>the positives of UCLA are most likely numerous as well, I’m sure, I just don’t know them since I don’t go there. negatives were the people that went there (that I knew, at least), seemed like a commuter school, and school spirit couldn’t even begin to compare to other schools. Plus UCLA’s football stadium isn’t even on campus or within walking range, their football team blows, and their basketball team isn’t that great anymore. Whereas Michigan is one of the most storied teams in NCAA football history (though we’re regrettably in a slump that should end soon - fingers crossed) and the best college hockey team in history (just won the CCHA, ranked #5 in the nation) and our basketball team is on the upswing).</p>
<p>If you have any specific questions AT ALL about either school, I’d be more than happy to answer them. Hope this helps, it was more stream of consciousness and I don’t feel like editing it for clarity/readability lol.</p>
<p>gosh that was a wall of text. my b</p>
<p>ill edit it after all i guess haha</p>
<p>EDIT: And yeah, the UC system is kinda wrecked right now. I know it’s hard for my sister, as a senior at Cal, to even get classes.</p>
<p>Michigan isn’t immune either, but I think they’re in a better situation financially. Don’t quote me on this though, because I don’t know exact statistics.</p>
<p>UC system endowment = $6.2 bill in 2009
Michigan endowment = $6.0 bill in 2009 or 2010</p>
<p>However, the UC’s is spread over 10 campuses, and Michigan’s is just 3 (I think? hopefully someone can confirm this) with a majority going to UM-AA</p>
<p>In '10 Michigan had a $6.5 bill. endowment and the UC System had a 5.4</p>
<p>Michigan broke my heart with the financial aid offer
I would have chosen Michigan over UCLA even if it were only $10,000 more expensive.
BUT less than 20,000/year for UCLA and 43,000/year for UMich. I’m still visiting Michigan since I ordered the tickets last month, but I probably won’t be attending. I don’t think Michigan is worth $23,000/year difference.
I mean, which one would you guys choose? Go to Michigan and pay $90,000 more?</p>
<p>That was such a great response! Another question I was wondering: Does UMich have bad grade deflation? Is it hard to get good grades because everyone is so competitive? Thanks!</p>
<p>you just make me love michigan even more!!! the only thing i care about is the financial aid at mich</p>
<p>^^It is hard in my engineering courses, but for the courses I’ve had in LSA so far/current projection they’ve been easier grade-wise, quite reasonable.</p>
<p>Academically, both schools ROCK! we are talking about two of the world’s finest universities. The similarities between the two schools are truly amazing. Both schools are almost always ranked right next to each other in virtually all disciplines. In terms of </p>
<p>Udergraduate students:
Michigan: 26,000
UCLA: 26,000</p>
<p>Graduate students:
Michigan: 15,000
UCLA 13,000</p>
<p>Total students:
Michigan: 41,000
UCLA: 39,000</p>
<p>Undergraduate rankings:
USNWR: UCLA #25, Michigan #29
USNWR reputational score: Michigan 88, UCLA 85
USNWR undergraduate Engineering: Michigan #7, UCLA #19
USNWR undergraduate Business: Michigan #4, UCLA N/A
Fiske: Michigan **<strong><em>, UCLA </em></strong></p>
<p>Departmental/program rankings (graduate level):
Biology: Michigan #20, UCLA #24
Chemistry: Michigan #16, UCLA #16
Computer Science: Michigan #13, UCLA #14
Earth Science: Michigan #9, UCLA #17
Economics: Michigan #12, UCLA #14
English: UCLA #10, Michigan #13
History: Michigan #7, UCLA #9
Mathematics: Michigan #8, UCLA #8
Physics: Michigan #11, UCLA #19
Political Science: Michigan #4, UCLA #11
Psychology: Michigan #3, UCLA #3
Sociology: Michigan #3, UCLA #9</p>
<p>Law: Michigan #9, UCLA #15
Medicine: Michigan #6, UCLA #11</p>
<p>Libraries:
Michigan: 9,000,000 volumes
UCLA: 9,000,000 volume</p>
<p>In terms of reputation, both schools are highly respected in most corners of the World. Michigan has the edge in the midwest and the East Coast, UCLA has the edge on the West Coast. Michigan has the clear edge in Europe (I am a citizen of France and have lived and worked in France, England and Germany for several years) and the Middle East (I have lived in Lebanon and the UAE for over 10 years). The number of highly placed Michigan alums in Europe and the Middle East far exceed the number of highly placed UCLA alums, and that makes a difference. By that reckoning, I will assume that UCLA has the clear edge over Michigan in Asia and Latin/South America. Regardless, both schools are highly respected everywhere.</p>
<p>Like I said, the two schools look almost identical on paper. </p>
<p>Quite possibly the only advantage Michigan has over UCLA is financial. Michigan’s endowment is almost 4 times larger than UCLA’s. This gives Michigan a slight edvantage in my book, but not in a way that students may notice.</p>
<p>In short, I would not base my decision on which school is better since both are equal. I would instead focus on the campus of the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor vs the campus of UCLA and its surounding areas. When looking at fit, the decision becomes clear since both schools are very different culturally. Some prefer the UCLA feel, others prefer the Michigan feel.</p>
<p>You should go to UMich. It’s totally awesome =)</p>