UCLA or Chapman?

College Search & Selection
21

<p>

Are you blaming UCLA for a student’s unwillingness to meet with a professor?</p>

<p>All professors have regularly scheduled office hours and are usually very willing to set up additional appointments if contacted in advance. Undergraduates who go the extra mile and show up during office hours, ask questions in class, sign up for independent studies, etc. get noticed by professors. Those who sit in the back playing around on Facebook don’t. It’s as simple as that.</p>

<p>I have always said that public universities are best for students in small majors (e.g. Celtic studies or classics) or professional fields; they can be lonely places for biology or econ majors. At the same time, people like OCELITE greatly overstate the hands-off nature of a public university education. For example, as an undergrad at Duke, I took several courses at UNC due to the nature of the program I was in – all of my professors knew my name by the third day of class, several took a direct interest in my studies (e.g. one emailed me about a book he thought I might like), two served as advisors for my senior thesis, and one of them wrote me a letter of recommendation that my graduate advisor later admitted was a major factor in me getting into grad school. If they’re willing to bend over backwards for a student who doesn’t even go to that school, one can only imagine their attitudes toward motivated undergraduates at their own university. </p>

<p>A place like UCLA is what you make of it. If you flit through your classes, never meeting with a professor or doing more work than you have to in order to squeak by with an A or B, then yes – it will probably seem large and impersonal. If you meet with professors, pick smaller courses/seminars, get involved with research, etc., it quickly becomes a much more exciting and engaging experience.</p>

<p>Personally, I would choose UCLA. I am not a huge fan of LA, but OC felt even more bland. I agree with beyphy; I’m sure Chapman has a decent reputation in southern California, but it lags UCLA significantly anywhere else. UCLA is noticeably more selective and would have a stronger peer group, and despite the UC budget crunch, facilities are excellent. I am generally biased toward strong research universities (whether small or large) and good liberal arts colleges; colleges that fall into the grey area in between like Elon, Chapman, Villanova, and comparable colleges are not my cup of tea, partially because they don’t fit well into either category and partially because they are not as strong academically. YMMV.</p>

22

<p>

</p>

<p>What makes you say that? I was thinking of actually majoring in bio since it’s the closest major to my interests than I can find. (BTW, didn’t get into USC after all…). </p>

<p>My problem is this: Chapman is a private university that granted me a scholarship and has a major that sounds interesting to me. UCLA, ranked much higher and widely known, does not have the majors I am looking for yet is the most renowned school out of the ones I was accepted to. UC Davis, not as “good” as UCLA, has clinical nutrition which is EXACTLY what I want to do, yet I shouldn’t pick UC Davis when I could be going to UCLA, right?! What do you think??</p>

23

<p>If UC Davis has exactly what you want in a major, and you like the school, then go for it if you like it and can afford it. I think prestige and ranking mostly matter to people on CC. You can get an excellent education at any of these schools.</p>

24

<p>Just wanted to attach a post and add a couple of points…</p>

<p>Even though both u’s are in CA, there really isn’t much commonality between the two, and the two don’t appear in very many students’ lists. </p>

<p>I’d be surprised if there were even 10 students in CA who are down to these two as final choices out of 100,000’s of hs grads within the state. I think this would apply to foreign and oos students also.</p>

<p>Not that I believe that one is better than the other, because I don’t really believe in this, esp with the subjective nature that makes one u better within one’s personal belief.</p>

<p>Chapman and USC have far more in common, mainly, say, because of film school or some of the arts in which Chapman might do well. There are undoubtedly a good number that might indeed be down between these two u’s. </p>

<p>Very unusual, maybe one that belongs on that list floating around of most highly contrasting final choices.</p>

25

<p>Yes, I realize that they are polar opposites in college terms, but both of their “styles” appeal to me and I like them both. I’m pretty adaptable so I think I’d love either place, it’s just hard to choose… I think I’m going with UCLA though, mostly because of the prestige and I feel like it’d be closer to a real-life experience than Chapman. My decision isn’t final yet, I’m going to visit them both soon and then make my decision. I’m so afraid that I’ll make the wrong one!</p>

26

<p>I just have to add something to this thread.</p>

<p>When we toured Chapman, our tour guide told us that she had been accepted to USC and Chapman (film school). She chose Chapman. So saying Chapman is a “USC reject school” is ridiculous. It depends on what you want. When we toured USC, I have to say honestly, the area around the campus gave me the creeps. I don’t think I have ever been so aggressively panhandled in my life.</p>

<p>With the UCs – fine schools – but these days honestly you do have to be ready to be on the 6-year plan. I have family members at both UCLA and UCSB. This is fact.</p>

27

<p>SJRcalderone:</p>

<p>~ 70% of UCLA students graduate in four years. The only reason why this isn’t higher is because the science students tend to stay longer, esp, the engineering students who push way beyond 180 units.</p>

28

<p>Chapman does not belong in the same conversation with UCLA - CSULA maybe but not UCLA.</p>

29

<p>

</p>

<p>anecdotes by definition aren’t facts…</p>

30

<p>I’d say if you’re choosing between two schools – whatever the two schools – they DO “belong in the same conversation.”</p>

31

<p>Geez, just heard on the radio and then found online…two USC engineering grad students shot to death this morning, just off campus. Attempted car jacking of the BMW the young woman was driving. Both driver and passenger killed.</p>

32

<p>Quote:
“Chapman does not belong in the same conversation with UCLA - CSULA maybe but not UCLA.”</p>

<p>LOL. You’ll be amazed at how many people who have applied to UCLA have also applied to Chapman. Frankly, DS at Chapman only heard of people who have applied to USC, UCLA, and other UC’s, Cal Poly, and some other private schools, but haven’t heard of anyone applying to CSULA yet. Not only that, the caliber of the Chapman’s student body today is much greater than over a decade ago. In fact, I know of a store owner where I shop a lot, has a son who will be going to Chapman in the fall, who also applied to Stanford and Caltech, but they prefer Chapman because of better aid, and also like the OC location better, all in all, better fit for son.</p>

<p>As I had said to the OP earlier, s/he must visit the schools in person to see. We can only share what we know about the schools, obviously different people have different experiences and different stories to tell just as I have shared about what I’ve learned from my UCLA relatives and relatives from other UC schools as well, the rest is up to the OP and his/her family to decide.</p>

<p>OP, since you’ve been awarded scholarships at Chapman, but no scholarship from UCLA, if you still can’t make up your mind after your visits, keep in mind that you would loose your scholarship benefits at Chapman if you decide UCLA didn’t workout for you and later want to transfer to Chapman. Since you didn’t get a scholarship to UCLA anyway, you don’t have anything to loose, if you transfer there later, you still pay the same amount. Something to think about.</p>

33

<p>Dodge College @Chapman University has the top most modern facilities, smaller student to teacher ratios and more hands on experience than USC or UCLA. USC is known as the greatest Film School in the world. But one is better trained for work in the Industry at Dodge College @Chapman University. Dodge College admits 241 total Freshman each year (only 39 in the TV Production/Broadcast Journalism major). USC’s program that is less specific when it comes to the major of Cinematic Arts Critical Studies and they accept 75 Freshman each year to this program; the entire USC School of Cinematic Arts school accepts a total of 200 Freshman per year. Although there is a very wide possibility of classes at USC to choose from the program is less directed than Dodge College and relies on the student to choose their classes (@USC). </p>

<p>USC, UCLA and Chapman/Dodge are very similar. Not in how they run their program, but how they’re seen in the industry. Chapman is 3rd, but really catching up, and they’ve amazing facilities. You won’t do film at UCLA until you’re a junior, at USC, you start during your sophomore year, at Chapman, as a freshman. Dodge College student films have out competed USC films in recent film festivals.</p>

<p>Los Angeles Times Re: Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University wants to overtake USC and NYU:</p>

<p>[Dodge</a> College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University wants to overtake USC and NYU - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/10/entertainment/la-ca-chapman-20110410]Dodge”>Film Studies: Chapman University wants to overtake USC and NYU)</p>

34

<p>Other comments I found on the internet:</p>

<p>02-15-2011, 10:54 PM<br>
TOCproductions
Basic Member<br>
I’ve been going through exactly the same process!</p>

<p>I don’t know if it is possible for you to tour the campuses of these schools, but if you can I HIGHLY recommend it. </p>

<p>I myself was pretty dead set on USC initially. I knew of their prestige and rep in the industry. However I also made sure to tour Chapman, because I had heard good things.</p>

<p>After the campus tours… my opinion and preference has shifted 100%. Chapman basically reached out and hugged me. Everyone was friendly, small student population, gorgeous campus. And the film school was AWESOME. I had a private tour (guess it was a slow day) from a Freshman in the program. He showed me completely through the studios, sound stages, foley room, motion capture studio, editing bays, audio mixing studios, 500 seat preview theater with 3D HD projectors… the whole 9 yards, everything top of the line. Students can access facilities 24/7. Seriously. Got an idea at 2 in the morning? Keycard into the building and start working. Additionally, alumni have access to equipment, resources, and stage space AFTER they have graduated!! Fill out a schedule form, and you are in! No rental charges, nada. That is seriously cool.</p>

<p>USC… is definitely a prestigious university. Massive campus, very educated students, but TONS TONS TONS of people. Medium city sized. As for the film school… my impression was that there was SO much money invested into equipment… that they are almost scared to let students near it. From the mouth of my ‘tour guide’ who actually mainly talked about admission; “Ya, we have awesome facilities! I wish i could show you, but they are behind a lot of locked doors which I don’t have keys to.” I felt that was very representative of the school. You have to take large numbers of GE classes before you really launch into the film program. Not so at Chapman; you take classes for your film major from freshman year on out, constantly. </p>

<p>Chapman may not have quite the rep that USC does, but they are RAPIDLY coming up in the industry. They have plans laid out for millions of dollars in expansion culminating in a ‘film village’ with backlot and even more sound stages, and are very aggressive in expansion programs; part of the benefit of all the tuition they charge, I guess. Speaking of tuition… they are several thousand dollars a year cheaper than USC. Not much, but every bit helps. </p>

<p>I’ve been pouring myself into this research for the last few months, but visiting made all the difference. If you have any questions about campuses or anything just let me know…
Best of luck!</p>

35

<p>Christopher C. Odom is a Director, Writer, Author in Nashville, TN, USA</p>

<p>UCLA is best known for their writers who dominate the summer movie screenwriting credits, USC is better known for their powerhouse directors, AFI often has incredible cinematographers, NYU is heralded for its East Coast filmmaker style, and Columbia is an all around great school with exceptional film theory for all programs. Any school you go to at the Big five will be an incredible experience for each program. You’ll also have big name professionals and heads of big companies teach courses or speak as guests because of the school’s notoriety. You cannot lose.
The downside to USC is that they run it like a studio. Only five people get to direct a thesis project if you are a graduate directing student. Every directing student comes in to be one of those five and then twenty or thirty people in the end do not get a thesis project, but get to help crew on the five people who did get to make one’s film. The upside to USC, is again, that they run it like a studio. USC is often unparalleled in its networking capacity and markets its students aggressively to the industry.
UCLA is most known for its screenwriters. USC might be capable of out-networking UCLA, but its writers cannot out-write UCLA writers. An average UCLA Graduate Screenwriting student will leave with eight feature length screenplays. UCLA screenwriters write a feature-length script in a 10-week quarter, which most resembles a real life 8-week writing assignment. USC screenwriters will write one feature-length screenplay over a period of one year. You do the math.
The Peter Stark Producing Program at USC is great for producing movie executives, but the UCLA Producing Program is great for teaching producers everything there is to know to go out there and just start doing it.
Similar to USC’s “only five will direct a thesis project”, AFI is even more hardcore. Not only are there are a limited number of thesis projects, not every filmmaker is always invited to come back to school for a second year. It is harder to get into any of these film schools than it’s to get into Harvard Law School, simply because Harvard takes a higher percentage of its applicants than the big film schools do, so for me AFI and USC really wasn’t worth getting cut or snubbed over after you had to already defeat the odds of winning the lottery to even get accepted. Having to win the lottery a second time just wasn’t desirable.</p>

36

<p>

I’m sure plenty of Harvard applicants also apply to Rutgers and Ohio State. That doesn’t mean they’re as selective. Everyone needs safeties and matches.</p>

<p>When comparing UCLA and Chapman, it is immediately apparent that UCLA has a noticeable edge in selectivity. (I won’t compare any others - unverified anecdotes aside, I doubt Chapman pulls more than one student, if that many, from Stanford or Caltech each year. I’m skeptical it fares well against USC either.)</p>

<p>UCLA
25% admitted
97% in top 10%</p>

<p>SAT CR
560-690
700-800: 22%
600-700: 43%</p>

<p>SAT M
610-740
700-800: 44%
600-700: 35%</p>

<p>SAT W
590-710
700-800: 30%
600-700: 44%</p>

<p>Chapman
45% admitted
49% in top 10%</p>

<p>SAT CR
550-650
700-800: 9%
600-700: 44%</p>

<p>SAT M
560-660
700-800: 11%
600-700: 49%</p>

<p>SAT W
570-660
700-800: 14%
600-700: 47%</p>

<p>

I’m trying and failing to figure out the relevance of this for the OP interested in biology and music. Could you help me out?</p>

37

<p>warblersrule, yes, thank you for pointing that out. I’m getting a lot of information on film programs and about USC, however…</p>

<p>1) I am not at all interested in film or television majors/studies.
2) I did not get into USC. </p>

<p>I recently re-visited Chapman and realized just how small it is! It is of course a modern, beautiful campus, but I feel like I would get tired of the smallness after a while. I sat in on a class, which as advertised, was quite small. I don’t know if I like it or not since I have nothing to compare it to, because I’ve never been in a large class or a lecture hall. Tomorrow I am going to UCLA, so I’ll finally have impressions for both colleges fresh in my mind.</p>

<p>Also, I’m reconsidering my decision to study biology, because I am afraid it would be too difficult academically, and I’ve realized that what I am actually interested in (natural medicine, nutrition…) doesn’t really correspond to a biology major which concentrates on biochem, physics, and just molecular bio in general. </p>

<p>Conclusion: still don’t know what to do but going to wait until after my UCLA visit to make further assessments.</p>

38

<p>most of the “university X looks like it’s going to overtake university Y” statements rest on the erroneous premise that university Y will remain unchnged whereas universitu X will continually increase in quality. There’s no doubt that USC knows about chapman’s film school and will likely update it’s facilities accordingly.</p>

39

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/chapman-university/336047-chapman-over-nyu-usc.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/chapman-university/336047-chapman-over-nyu-usc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

40

<p>I suggest checking out the course catalogues of the different schools & decide which classes interest you the most. Chapman for example:</p>

<p>[Chapman</a> University Catalog 2011-2012 - Crean School of Health and Life Sciences](<a href=“Chapman University - Acalog ACMS™”>Chapman University - Acalog ACMS™)</p>