<p>I visited UCLA last week and really liked it. However, I do have a few questions regarding the "feeling" on campus.</p>
<p>1) I realized that at a big school you are more likely to feel like a "number." However, many schools fix this by promoting a community feeling. Is this true at UCLA? Like at many other large schools I've visited, you can just tell that everyone feels connected to everyone else, but UCLA seemed more kinda independent or something. But maybe I just missed it, which is why I'm asking you students.</p>
<p>2) How is the school spirit there? Ok, I know everyone loves the football and basketball games, but are there traditions and chants and whatnot that supplement that, or is it just like everyone shows up for the games bc it gives them something to do? Does having a stadium off-campus lessen the community-feel?</p>
<p>3) What are some of your favorite traditions/songs/etc., and how much have they added to your experience at UCLA?</p>
<p>Sorry, I know these questions are pretty unusual, but before I commit to a school I want to make sure I know everything about all of my options, and this is the one thing about UCLA that I'm least familiar with!</p>
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<li><p>you only feel like a number if you let yourself be treated like a number. there are many ways to avoid this, which are discussed in detail all around this forum, and include common-sense things like going to office hours, finding small classes, getting involved, etc. also, you make your own communities. there's dorm floors, study groups, and whatever clubs/teams/groups you go out and join. there are SO many opportunities here- the thing is, you've got to find them.</p></li>
<li><p>school spirit definitely exists, and does seem to center itself around football/basketball but we also have spring sing and other campus-wide events that help draw the school together. however i'd say it's more that each group has its own traditions that get passed on (ie, marching band has a ton of them). </p></li>
<li><p>traditions... well there's undie run, if that's your thing. and midnight yell, sort of. spring sing is more of an event than a tradition but it's a huge deal here! i'd say traditions really do come out more during football/basketball- that's the place to go if you want a taste of UCLA spirit. and football games have been some of the best times (since i'm in the band lol) and we have our own set of traditions on top of bruin ones.</p></li>
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<p>i guess one way to sum it up is that at UCLA, you can do anything you want and take part in any organization under the sun- you just have to find your own way :)</p>
<p>1) I would say the answer to this question is subjective, as everything would depend on the person. It depends on the initiative you take to go out and join clubs, to meet people, to talk to professors, etc. There are 25,000+ undergrads, not all 25,000 are going to be your friends. Just like in ANY school, you're only going to have your clique of 5 people or so that are going to be your main friends.</p>
<p>2) I will say having the Rose Bowl in Pasadena sucks. Like big time. But there's nothing to do about it. As for chants and stuff, there's the 8-clap and the frisbee cheer during basketball games. Youtube them to see what they are like. A tradition before the USC Rivalry game is the entire week before it, Beat 'SC Week, or Blue And Gold Week.</p>
<p>3) I like the song Mighty Mighty Bruins and prefer that over Sons of Westwood to be our fight song.</p>
<p>1) personally love the big school feel. there is just so much diversity and there is so much to do. a big school can simply offer you so much more options than a smaller school. there is room at ucla for everyone to find their niche.</p>
<p>1) I don't feel like a number. Like liyana said, you only feel like a number if you passively let yourself become a number.
2 +3) Basketball games and Football games = <3. I love 8-Claps, singing Sons of Westwood, and doing Roll Call b/f Basketball Games. I'm in SAA (we do some pretty huge traditions/events on campus, ex. Blue and Gold Week, Spring Sing). I definitely have school spirit but you know, it's not an everybody gets spirited kinda thing.</p>
<p>You know what I like about being one of 29837498273 people on campus at any given time? I can walk around with like, a booger hanging out of my nose and not care. Or whatever. It's not like high school where people talk **** or whatever.</p>
<p>Sweet, thanks for all the responses guys! Is there like a "rally committee," it is probably called something different but I know that's what it's called at Berkeley...you know, a group that puts on rallys, spirit events, etc? If there is something like this, how do you join it? Thanks!</p>
<p>mega: thanks for your concern, but I think I'm old enough to make my own decisions. dude. ;)</p>
<p>wow, you guys are awesome!!! UCLA band mom, I love the rendition of "retro joe" vs. modern-day Joe Bruin....it's cool to see how those traditions and such evolved over time. Thanks for posting the link :)</p>
<p>namaste/mnucla: haha you're sure getting me excited for next year! Isn't SAA only for alums though? I looked it up on google and it looked like an alumni association.....</p>
<p>SAA is the student alumni association so its for students :) we work with the ucla alumni association and help out with their traditions that attract alumni and build school spirit</p>
<p>You may get a small presentation done by the SAA president during Summer Orientation. Or, you can pick up a packet somewhere between late September or early October. It's a lot of fun and a very rewarding experience. (: You get to rank the committees in which you would like to be on, you fill out an application, interview, and the executive directors choose who they want. You pick up a letter and you see if you get in or not. </p>
<p>I've done it for two years so far and it's amazing to be behind the scenes in some of UCLA's greatest events. I definitely encourage applying.</p>
<p>So you're actually going to enroll then, eh? Well, my bad homie, you totally seemed like you had your heart set on cal a few months ago. I thought you were just inquiring a bunch just to be a nerd. </p>
<p>My bad for being a dick then, welcome to the fam, fellow Bruin :)..</p>
<p>haha mega I do love Cal, it's a family thing, but in the end UCLA just offered me a deal that was beyond anything any other school offered, and I felt stupid to pass it up. Who said you can't love too schools lol?! Haha and thanks for the welcome, I look forward to becoming part of the great UCLA tradition (just sent in my SIR woot woot)!</p>
<p>mnucla: Ahh I definitely want to do that! I'll look forward to receiving info on it! Thanks for all the info, hopefully I get to work w/you next year!</p>