<p>Going to a small liberal arts school in the East coast is what I've envisioned for myself before I got admitted to UCLA. If I chose any of the top ten LAC over UCLA, would I be giving up great opportunities, great people, and great connections for a lesser-known school totalling only about 2,500 people? Do other aspects of UCLA make up for the intimacy and the nurturing I would get at a LAC? What to do? What to give up?</p>
<p>Hrm.. I want to know what people think about this as well. I always thought of going to an LAC but all this info UCLA sends about Clusters and Fiat Lux seminars looks interesting. The $$ factor helps UCLA too...</p>
<p>but I still have to wait for those LAC acceptance letters...</p>
<p>UCLA is going to offer you a great location, resources up the wazoo, and a very vibrant research community.</p>
<p>However, if you're not particularly keen on doing a bunch of research, and are more interested in the tightly-knit learning experience that a LAC offers, I would probably stick with the LAC.</p>
<p>actually, if I went to UCLA, I would have to pay more in loans and work study than if I went to a LAC for some reason. (even though I am not an OOS)</p>
<p>I'd prefer the LAC for undergrad and then go to UCLA or Cal for grad school if they are strong in your major. </p>
<p>You'll become known at an LAC by the profs you'll need in order to go to a good grad program. At UCLA, it's much harder to have access to the professors as an undergrad. Too many students!</p>
<p>It really depends on your personality. Different people thrive better in different environments. You should visit the campuses of the schools you are considering to help you make a more thoughtful decision.</p>
<p>how about with purely rankings? i have no idea how to compare a public university to a private liberal arts on rankings; can anyone take a stab? or does it completely depend on the program, etc?</p>
<p>personally, would u choose UCLA over say...Bowdoin, Haverford, Middlebury, Claremont Mckenna?</p>
<p>I would, but I would also prefer to go to a big school. A school like UCLA receives much more recognition than smaller, lesser known liberal arts schools. I think in terms of rankings top tier universities fare better than top liberal arts schools. I have some friends at UCLA, who want to transfer to liberal arts colleges because of the more intimate atmosphere. Much is lost in classes of 400 students.</p>
<p>what about ucla vs. smith, wellesley, amherst</p>
<p>Apples...and oranges.</p>
<p>haha, well said, UCLAri</p>
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personally, would u choose UCLA over say...Bowdoin, Haverford, Middlebury, Claremont Mckenna?
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<p>i would, but that's personal preference. there are people who would rather take any of the above anyday over a large public university. it really depends on what you're looking for. the experience is going to be different at each. you're going to "give up" something by choosing to go to either one over the other, so try to see what your preferences are and which one is a better match.</p>
<p>Having gone to one of the small LACs that you mention for undergrad, and a large well-known research university for grad school, I'm confident that I made the right decision. Looking back, I got so much more out of my undergrad experience than I did my grad experience. Small classes, going to profs houses for dinner, spending weekends hiking and fly fishing in the mountains--I wish I could do it all over again.</p>
<p>I agree with a lot of the advice given on this thread. One thing I love, though, is the following.</p>
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I'd prefer the LAC for undergrad and then go to UCLA or Cal for grad school if they are strong in your major.
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<p>Like many good high school kids won't go to the best couple colleges, many good undergrads aren't going to get into the best graduate programs. This plan is great, but it usually doesn't happen at the "get into the graduate programs level." The advice sure sounds nice. It's basically like saying "go to school X, go to an Ivy graduate program." For most fields, for most students, it's just not going to happen. But of course, we can dream. Anyway, chances are UCLA and Cal will be strong in graduate/professional programs they offer, and keep in mind that most people don't go into graduate or professional study. Like most people here are saying, they're different environments.</p>