UCLA vs. Michigan

<p>I am trying to decide between UCLA and Michigan, both of which I have been accepted into. I am majoring in psychology and plan on going on to medical school after college. I received a good amount of money from both schools, so my choice is going to come down to preference. I'm from New Jersey and I know a lot of people going to Michigan, one of whom is one of my best friends. If I go to UCLA, I would be the only one from my school going. While I am aware that I shouldn't make my decision based on the friends I would be going with, I feel like the first few weeks of college would be much easier with somebody I know. I would appreciate any feedback, because I am pretty torn.</p>

<p>If everything else is equal to you, I would pick the school closer to home. Coast-to-coast flights are very tiring.</p>

<p>UCLA is a excellent school and is a hub for young population. UCLA would be a win win situation. Any ideal of your area of study?</p>

<p>UCLA! It’s a more selective school and in my opinion college is about new experiences not holding onto old friends. It’ll offer you a opportunity to put yourself outside your comfort zone and become independent.</p>

<p>keep in mind im biased =] how much money did you get from ucla? I wanna go there next year but they gave me no financial aid! (im frm ny)</p>

<p>Horrible advice. Coolbrezze got rejected from Michigan this year so he’s biased against it. Californication is clueless, as proven by the fact that he thinks “It’s a more selective school” equates to it being a better school. Also, you’re not likely to encounter people from your own high school at Michigan since the undergraduate body is so large.</p>

<p>Just so you know, Michigan just HAPPENS to be ridiculously amazing at psychology, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. There’s no contest whatsoever.</p>

<p>[NRC</a> Ranking of U.S. Psychology Ph.D. Programs](<a href=“http://www.socialpsychology.org/ranking.htm]NRC”>NRC Ranking of U.S. Psychology Ph.D. Programs)
[Top</a> 10 Psychology Colleges in the USA](<a href=“GoDaddy Corporate Domains - Protected”>GoDaddy Corporate Domains - Protected)
[Rankings</a> - Psychology - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-psychology-schools/rankings]Rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-psychology-schools/rankings)</p>

<p>Michigan wins.</p>

<p>aww thanks your so sweet!
everyone is entitled to their opinions. i love ucla obviously im gonna advise anyone to go there.</p>

<p>Right, you want to major in psychology. Well according to USNEWS ( and other rankings presented by Recharge) UCLA and UMich were both ranked equally for psych. Followed by another public school: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Again:
UCLA is a excellent school and is a hub for young population. UCLA would be a win win situation. Though one should remember these rankings are at the graduate level, but may give an ideal of the facility etc…</p>

<p>i was also wondering how much money you got for UCLA because I got accepted there too and I really want to go there but its just too expensive since I am also planning to go to medical school.</p>

<p>Thanks everybody for the responses. For what it’s worth I got about $25000 from both schools.</p>

<p>I think UM has a more stable financial base with a much larger endowment and less state money. UCLA could see deep cuts in state money while UM will not. UM also is a more national school. Academics are equal.</p>

<p>I agree with barrons – I recommend UMichigan. More financial stability, larger endowment, top-ranked psychology program, numerous undergraduate research opportunities, and closer to home (travel can get costly). Michigan also has a large Northeast student population, so you would not feel out-of-place on the campus. U-M alumni are everywhere no matter where you live.</p>

<p>Since you’re from New Jwersey, I would wonder how you would adapt to those cold, cold winters in Michigan, so if I were you, I would greatly consider UCLA. ;)</p>

<p>Did you fly out and check out both campuses, especially while they were in session? </p>

<p>Just wondering, because you don’t want to enroll in a school without your ever having visited – and visited well, say while school is in session, unless finances absolutely preclude your being able to do this.</p>

<p>I’m guessing there will be more fellow New Jwerseyites in the future as UCLA accepts more out oos students in its classes to meet budget demands. If you’re willing to take the chance, and you love it out on the left coast, spread the good word. </p>

<p>Best of luck…</p>

<p>They are both excellent schools and equal in terms of prestige. I would visit both schools to see which would be a better fit for you.</p>

<p>“Since you’re from New Jwersey, I would wonder how you would adapt to those cold, cold winters in Michigan, so if I were you, I would greatly consider UCLA.”</p>

<p>You obviously have no clue of what you’re talking about. Are you even from this country? If so, you need a lesson in climate and geography. Also I much prefer a to attend school in one of America’s quintessential college towns. Also the the thought of having to travel almost 30 miles or so in horrendous traffic to attend a UCLA football game, unless the school is playing at closer by USC, is a major turnoff!</p>

<p>I visited Michigan in the dead of winter and still loved it. Ann Arbor is a great college town and I could definitely picture myself there. On the other hand, when I stepped foot on the UCLA campus I immediately felt at home…which I guess says something. Honestly though, weighing the pros and cons of both schools is not really getting me anywhere, they are so even. Making my final decision should be interesting…</p>

<p>I’m always one to go with your gut feeling, and if a college feels “right,” then I think that is the best choice for you. If you felt at home at UCLA, go there, it’s a fantastic school.</p>

<p>And also, just to add, Recharge’s sources make no sense. According to those Mich and UCLA are practically equal. It was stupid to post them in favor of Mich in the first place, it helps the reputation of BOTH schools in an equal manner.</p>

<p>UCLA. Coast to coast flights are not actually that much more expensive then getting from Ann Arbor to Newark, they might even be less when you factor in that UCLA has a free shuttle that runs to LAX for OOS students.</p>

<p>“UCLA. Coast to coast flights are not actually that much more expensive then getting from Ann Arbor to Newark, they might even be less when you factor in that UCLA has a free shuttle that runs to LAX for OOS students.”</p>

<p>You fly into Detroit, not Ann Arbor. I can assure you that is it cheaper to fly to Michigan over California from the NY area nine times out of ten. It is also about 3.5 hours closer each way. Still, not enough reason to pick one school over the other. You are from a large urban area, I think going away to school in a smaller but interesting town will give you a different perspective on life.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the geography lesson; I just wish that the face would graphically wink and unwink; my deadpan would have gone over a bit better I think. And thanks for not raking me over the coals for my misspelling of New Jersey. ;)</p>

<p>You’re right, traveling from Westwood to Pasadena for students is a bit inconvenient for fb games. It would be hard to equate this to the same in Ann Arbor, because SoCal has community attached to community. But it also gives them a chance get out, not be so insular, and check out the nice city of Pasadena, with the shops, etc. There are buses for the students, by the way.</p>