<p>I live down the street from UCI but I got accepted to UCLA (surprise to me!) and am wondering if it is worth the commute? UCI pros: cheaper and convenient, UCLA pros: it's UCLA. I am wondering if the stress of the commute is going to compromise my performance or if I'd be crazy to pass up an opportunity at UCLA. </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Ucla
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<p>You’d be crazy.</p>
<p>Commuting might work for a year, but it will eventually not work emotionally or in terms of time management. </p>
<p>Assuming you have a class at UCLA at 8am, the commute one way is 90 minutes. If your class is 9am, it is 110 minutes. Going home at night is not too bad, perhaps 60 minutes if you leave after 7pm. This is not like commuting from Long Beach or Downey to UCLA… your distance is double. You could arrive to UCLA by 7am and go to the Library to study, which would make your commute only 60 minutes.</p>
<p>Do you really want to spend, at minimum, 2.0 - 3.25 hours commuting four days per week? Nor is commuting free. Using the government’s current .53/mile auto mileage reimbursement figure, at 100 miles round trip, or $53 per day in commuting cost. Even if you don’t count the auto liability insurance + Registration cost which you have whether you commute or not, your real traveling cost is at least .35/mile, or $35.00 per day real cost. (gas/tuneups/repairs/tires/breaks, and value of the car going down for resale with mileage buildup). Also don’t forget the ONE ticket costs $400 these days, and driving that many miles you’re likely to get at least one per year.</p>
<p>Irvine all the way.</p>
<p>Commuting is a slow, painful death. Driving from The OC to the westside is the absolute worst trip in SoCal. Don’t even think about UCLA if you can’t live on/nearby campus.</p>
<p>^ True.
But I do know someone who lived in San Diego and commuted to UCLA for 2 years.</p>
<p>The difference in the education you’ll receive is negligible at best, and the name of the school means much less than the grades you receive and resources you take advantage of at either university. If you can’t live on campus or near it, then Irvine is the much better bet.</p>