<p>I love UCLA because its in LA. I love the area. The campus is beautiful, it's sunny, there's grass to run around in and I feel like I will be happy. But I hate that it's a public school. I've gone to public school all my life and it sucks. The budget deficit is definitely not going to let me have as great as an academic experience than if I were to go to Northwestern. Now a few words about Northwestern. I love how you can get to know professors intimately as an undergrad and cross-register among their different schools. NU is also ranked higher academically. They have fewer students which makes me feel like there will be more focus on us and less competition to get classes, etc. But Northwestern seems socially dead and I absolutely hate the weather. I cannot live in the cold. I cannot be snowed in on a dead, lifeless campus for close to 6 months out of the year. Maybe I'm exaggerating. I'm not sure.</p>
<p>If anyone can give me any advice, I'd be very grateful. I need to decide soon.
Btw, I'm completely undecided for my major. I have a lot of interests: film, journalism, communications, and I definitely want to take a lot of electives to fulfill my interests and see what it is I want to do. Both schools are on quarter system, so it's good for that.</p>
<p>Id go for northwestern. the campus, like UCLA, is amazing and it has an awesome private education with opportunities. I presume the tuition for both schools would be around the same too?</p>
<p>UCLA is about 3-4 thousand cheaper. When I visited the NU campus, everything was dead. no one was really walking around campus…it didn’t have the friendly appeal…it was more like isolated and cold. Are you a student there?</p>
<p>So, my SoCal S had several CA acceptances last year to compare to Northwestern (USC, UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc.) We had the same tredpidation about the budget situation in CA and it hasn’t gotten any better in a year (plus we had some inside perspective, as my H is on faculty at USC and has several colleagues on UC campuses.)</p>
<p>S is now finishing out his first year at Northwestern and has had a great time. He chose it primarily due to a special program he was admitted to (the honors Integrated Science Program so he works hard.) </p>
<p>He’s adjusted well to the weather (found the Snowpocalypse amusing, getting his first snow day ever, and the spring thunderstorms interesting.) He has not lacked for social activities and the campus does not die for six months of the year. On the contrary, they embrace the weather and do things like install a temporary outside skating rink on the lawn outside the Norris Center.</p>
<p>At Northwestern, you will likely find your fellow students more consistently working at a higher level. Don’t get me wrong, UCLA has plenty of peak performers as well. It’s just a fact, as my H tells me, the higher performance of the students in a class, the higher the level the professor can teach to, meaning you’ll get more bang for the buck. Yes, it is more expensive at Northwestern. Be aware of the following, from a recent
study by a Stanford economics professor: </p>
<p>no but I have 4 friends or so that have chosen to attend NW, they all say it’s an amazing experience. when did you visit when you saw the campus was dead?</p>
<p>Well, when the long-overdue “Big One” finally hits LA – and note all the recent Pacific Rim earthquake activity – there may no longer BE a UCLA campus. NU, on the other hand, will surely survive its next major snowstorm.</p>
<p>Be STILL my heart, Lorem! And since I’ve been here since 1986, any of the “major” ones we’ve had (thankfully nothing compared to Japan) I’ve been out of town for all of them.</p>
<p>Our DD’s vantage point may prove helpful to your situation…
DD attended a public urban school in the Bay Area-close to 700 students/GC. She was accepted to UCLA-Honors, and waitlisted at NU. She wanted to study Theater, be in an academic environ that allowed her to follow her passion for Theater while being surrounded by students who challenged her in the classroom and be engaging outside the classroom environ…and…have a whole new living experience from the Bay Area.
When she was accepted at NU off the waitlist-she had no hesitancy to accept their offer. She found she appreciated the seasons, dealing with the cold actually was something novel that gave her a chance to see she could succeed in whatever environ she placed herself in.
UCLA’s weather is indeed delightful-warm sunny days is a real experience. Is it better than Chicago-may depend on what you want from your college experience.
BTW… DD graduated early from NU/Dec 2010-which may or may not have happened @UCLA given the current budget constraints.
I hope this helps with your decision.
-APOL-a Mum</p>