<p>Oh yeah my brother's friend's cousin goes to Chico State and the blue rabbit told him that too.</p>
<p>How many of you would choose UCLA over Cal, if you got admitted to Cal for the spring 2006, and to UCLA for fall 2005? Would starting school earlier, be a good justification for choosing LA? Is waiting for Cal until spring 06 Ok?</p>
<p>No, starting one school a few months earlier or later is not a good justification for choosing one school over another. </p>
<p>Choose the school that will offer you the best opportunities to get the best education. That may be Cal, it may be UCLA. You might just want to flip a coin and let the chips fall where they may. Neither one is going to seriously affect your ability to accelerate your future more than the other.</p>
<p>Well in this case the few months actually happens to be 8 months, including the summer.</p>
<p>sorry clig, no actual source. I just heard this from people around. Nonetheless, Chico State is a very well known party school.</p>
<p>I'd probably pick Cal, but my major is stronger there. For academics Cal is tops, it's hard to argue that.</p>
<p>And to the matter at hand...</p>
<p>I agree with UCLAri....PLEASE do not base your decision on when the university starts. UCLA and Cal are both great institutions and both in great areas. It's all on your preference. But DO NOT go to UCLA when you really want to attend Cal just because you can transfer out sooner. Or do not wait for Cal just because it's "ranked higher" as some say when attending UCLA really fits you best. It all depends on YOU.</p>
<p>Educational wise...I believe both universities are neck and neck. You know, just picture yourself where you believe you would be more happier at in the end. Do you feel like you are a BRUIN prodigy? Or do you feel like you are a true Golden BEAR? </p>
<p>I do not know if I helped much...I hope I did...but Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>
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Well in this case the few months actually happens to be 8 months, including the summer.
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<p>8 months is hardly a stretch.</p>
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8 months is hardly a stretch.
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<p>It's long enough to affect student loan deferrals if you have run out of classes to take at the community college level.</p>
<p>-- Mark</p>
<p>That's true, but you could always take time to work and maybe pay back some of your loans. If Cal is your goal, then 8 months is not a big deal.</p>
<p>Unless you're independently wealthy, putting choice of school above your financial health is usually a bad choice. Besides which, there's a lot to be said for getting done with school that much sooner.</p>
<p>I disagree "putting choice of school above your financial health is usually a bad choice" the money issue will work itself out. Where there is a will there is a way. There are loans, work study and what not besides the better school you graduate from the more financially capable you'll be to pay back those loans. For example my friend will graduate from ucla in june as a biz econ major and already landed a job paying 42k a year with a $10,000 signing bonus and a retention program that pays $25,000 up front for staying with the company for five years not to mention a raise every six months. My friend considered attending Cal State University Northridge because of financial reasons but at the last minute decided to get out loans and attend ucla. Even though he amassed 30k in loans his four years at ucla he will pay it all off quickly. My advice to anyone facing the same decision is attend the best school possible in your major.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm not saying it's a bad idea to spend more money if you can afford it, but too many people spend and spend on their college time without thinking about whether it's worth it.</p>
<p>For example, I know a large number of people who have racked up $80K or more in loans to go to (generally first-rate) private art schools, and earn $30K a year right out of school. They're on a razor-sharp edge of getting by, and a little push could leave them in very bad shape -- particularly because student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.</p>
<p>In any case, Cal vs. UCLA are pretty close in quality in many fields and I still argue that if going to one or the other means waiting an extra eight months for a degree plus giving up student loan deferrals, it can be a bad choice if the extra cost is a problem.</p>
<p>Assuming that "money will just work itself out" is a pretty weak way to manage your finances, with respect to school or anything else.</p>
<p>-- Mark</p>
<p>So really what you guys are saying, is that because UCLA and Cal are pretty much equal, which I know can be debated, I should choose the school where I feel most comfortable at. Whether that be socially, academically or both. Essentially thats what the decision has come down to, and with only 2 weeks left, I better make up my mind ASAP. Anyways, thanks for all of the great input from everyone</p>
<p>How did you manage to get into the CAL's spring semester? What are your stats i.e. GPA, EC's, xfer student, TAP, etc?</p>
<p>Polisci transfer student from cc, 3.6 gpa, work 30 hours a week, IGETC cert., alpha gamma sigma, lots of community service</p>
<p>Well, I visited UCLA and I couldn't see myself there personally. The school didn't have the right feel for me, and I didn't like the city at all... but this is a matter of preference, i'm sure many like LA better than SF. FWIW, When I got into LA, I was considering going. I had not visited Cal, but they are <em>MUCH</em> better ranked for my program of interest (Chemical Engineering) and it is in general a more prestigious school so it was not a tough choice for me when I got into both. From what I heard about the Bay Area it will be a much better fit for me than LA. If your program of interest is equal at both schools (I wouldn't know) then you should choose the place that will make you happiest. If you visited both schools, and can't see yourself at one of them, then you should go to the other! </p>
<p>Personally, I didn't take finances into account. I just took out a loan to go to Cal. I am not concerned about it at all, my future is worth every penny and more! </p>
<p>-A</p>
<p>You were probably looking for an axcuse to dislike UCLA I can't see anyone visiting campus and not liking it. There is literally a niche for every type of person from the extroverted to those who prefer silence. I guess every city comes off a different way to everyone.</p>
<p>same thing can be said for UCB, mexbruin.</p>
<p>chemeng1: Given your reaction, sounds like you made the right choice. Congratulations!</p>
<p>-- Mark</p>