<p>"Note that the financial independence requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduates whose parents are not California residents, including transfer students from community colleges and other post-secondary institutions within California, to qualify for classification as a resident at a University of California campus. "</p>
<p>P.S. Is there not more racial diversity at UVA?</p>
<p>LOL! I love your 'foolish' statement, BanginOnTrashCan. I felt the same way when I was applying to colleges back in the day.</p>
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I want to spend 4 years of my life at a school that has a little somethin-somethin, a school that isn't vanilla but a strawberry-chocolate swirl with maybe a couple snow caps on top.
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<p>To me, UVA was worth going to, even out of state.</p>
<p>UCLA is also a state school, so it's not easy for you to get in as a Virginia resident. I think UCLA really wants you but UVA is also a great school!</p>
<p>Berkeley - Very liberal, fun-loving students there. I loved the atmosphere when I visited Berkeley a while ago. It's also connected by the BART, so you have access to the Bay Area! </p>
<p>UCLA - It's in Southern California, and the weather is slightly better than in Norcal. The beaches are within reach, and you're in LA!</p>
<p>UVA - Pretty preppy, kind of conservative, southern school. Huge greek system, but it really well-rounded students. Everyone balances his or her life with academics and social life, and tends to be an overachiever. </p>
<p>All three schools are great, so it just boils down to personal fit! Visit ALL of them and talk to the students there. Make the best out of your next four years.</p>
<p>Cal is basically an entire culture unto itself. It's liberal, but still maintains a 60/40 liberal-conservative ratio, so there are people there who will agree with your perspectives as well. Professors don't hold your hand, and you will be challenged to advance intellectually at a rapid pace. It is for the independently-minded student. Sports are big--football team set a school record last year for number of sold-out games (capacity ~72,000). Football team was ranked #2 in the country mid-way through the season before choking. Things will hopefully improve this year, and definitely will get better when the tree-sitters leave.</p>
<p>UCLA- slightly bigger than Cal, it has nicer weather but not as beautiful of a campus as Cal or UVA. More of a homogeneous population; wealthy areas surround the campus. Nice part of LA, great basketball tradition, renowned athletics.</p>
<p>UVA- I've only visited, but from what I've seen, most beautiful campus of the three, much more conservative-socially and fiscally-rich in history (shares this aspect with Berkeley). More humanities based than the other two. Science and Engineering majors would have more options at Cal/UCLA. Beautiful part of the country, though not as laid-back as the other two, and more preppy. Sports teams well supported. Colder weather, but nice change of pace (at UCLA, you'll get 70 year round FYI).</p>
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You can establish residency after your first year and probably get instate tuition which is around 18-19K per year. So in four years, it would be around a 25K difference. The thing about UCLA is that it has an absolutely awesome campus. However, for me personally, I don't see what's so great about LA.
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<p>I'm out of state @ UCLA (transfer in, nice scholarships). You will not be able to establish residency if you go here for 2 years first...unless you can show you have a job that allows you to pay 45k in out of state tuition w/o help from your parents. The extra $$ you'll spend to attend UCLA won't be worth going to UCLA over VA. I'd take VA in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Cal is great...real <em>academic</em> type atmosphere. You either love it or hate it, not a huge social life (at least compared to UCLA/VA)</p>
<p>UCLA is a great school, by far a superior campus/location/weather/sports/social life to cal. That being said it's not as intellectual as the former. </p>
<p>I'm going to briefly interrupt, even though you weren't responding to my post:</p>
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Basically, you are 100% wrong
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<p>Basically, YOU are wrong. Academically, they're similar. However, due to the enormous UM alumni base on the west coast (there are over 3,000 members in the SD alumni club alone), you are guaranteed a high-end job immediately upon graduation, in practically any location you choose. UCLA alumni, like Cal alumni, are known for loving their school but not really turning that love into donations, job opportunities, etc. </p>
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not a huge social life (at least compared to UCLA/VA)
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I thought you said you went to UCLA? In which case you wouldn't know about Cal's social life. Nice try though, I know that lil rivalry runs deep in your heart from previous threads I've read ;) I have a friend who attends UCLA, and I asked her the other day how she liked it. Her reply: "It's boring." Like beauty, social life is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.</p>
<p>Both UCLA and UVA are excellent schools. OP, either way you choose, you can't go wrong. If you want something different, go to UCLA! If you want the same education for a lesser price, choose UVA. No doubt you will have fun and exciting experiences at both schools. </p>
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Basically, YOU are wrong. Academically, they're similar. However, due to the enormous UM alumni base on the west coast (there are over 3,000 members in the SD alumni club alone), you are guaranteed a high-end job immediately upon graduation, in practically any location you choose. UCLA alumni, like Cal alumni, are known for loving their school but not really turning that love into donations, job opportunities, etc.
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<p>Are you serious? How dense do you have to be to think that UCLA has a smaller alumni base on the west coast than Michigan? Sorry man, you're 100% wrong on this one. I'm not trying to knock Michigan, it's a great school, but in california the school IN CALIFORNIA tends to be stronger. Go figure. </p>
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I thought you said you went to UCLA? In which case you wouldn't know about Cal's social life.
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<p>Is this why UCLA's social life is rated much higher than Cals? I don't need to go MIT to know that their girls probably aren't on par with UCLA's, just like it's a fact that Cal doesn't have as vibrant a social life as UCLA. Let me guess, you probably think the girls at Cal are just as hot as the ones at UCLA too? </p>
<p>Either way OP, go to UVA. No way in hell I'd turn down instate tuition at UVA to go to UCLA.</p>
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I don't need to go MIT to know that their girls probably aren't on par with UCLA's, just like it's a fact that Cal doesn't have as vibrant a social life as UCLA. Let me guess, you probably think the girls at Cal are just as hot as the ones at UCLA too?
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<p>Since when did social life=girls? Me, I don't choose an institution based on which one has better looking people. Just seems too materialistic of a way of thinking to me. I don't even know how girls entered the conversation, to be honest.</p>
<p>And I'm a girl, so I don't really go around looking for "hot" girls. Sorry to disappoint you :)</p>
<p>As for the social life, you don't even go to Cal, so your opinion of their social life means absolutely nothing. But I love how UCLA students always act so high and mighty because "ohh my GAWD, we have a better social life!" </p>
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Are you serious? How dense do you have to be to think that UCLA has a smaller alumni base on the west coast than Michigan?
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Never said they had a smaller alumni base. Simply said U-M's is more renowned.</p>
<p>This is a stupid conversation. If you want to debate social life, do it on the Cal/UCLA boards.</p>
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As for the social life, you don't even go to Cal, so your opinion of their social life means absolutely nothing. But I love how UCLA students always act so high and mighty because "ohh my GAWD, we have a better social life!"
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<p>1) I've been to cal</p>
<p>2) Since when do you need to go somewhere to know what it's about? If everybody is saying Cal has a s**** social life then I'm going to assume they're right. Have you ever been to princeton? Would you concede that it's probably a very good school even though you've never been? It's common fact that Cal social life lags...I have plenty of friends who go there that describe it as a haven for gunners who study 24/7. </p>
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Never said they had a smaller alumni base. Simply said U-M's is more renowned.
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<p>UM has the most renowned alumni base of any state school, yet I'd guess that in Texas UT > UM. Just like in california the university of CALIFORNIA, los angeles > UM. By your logic UM is better then every other school because their alumni base is more renowned right? UM > MIT? UM > Caltech? UM > Amherst?</p>
<p>1) Ohhh dangg! I'll be looking for your guidebook in stores soon then!</p>
<p>2) Yup, been to Princeton. It's a good school indeed. My brother and many, many friends go to Cal. He has a 4.0 GPA with a double-major and def doesn't study 24/7. So he's either a genius (which he's not...very smart, but not a 2400er), or maybe your friends just like complaining. Like any school, it's what you make of it. Maybe your friends just aren't as good at being social as you thought they were. If they aren't social, it should give them an excellent opportunity to get a jump on those UCLA socializers by getting internships, jobs, etc., which will pad their resume for grad school.</p>
<p>About the alumni thing: By your logic, Michigan is more social than MIT, Cal Tech, and Amherst. So yeah, therefore it must be better!</p>
<p>Now please get back to your homework or something. If UCLA is as social as you say it is, I'm sure there's plenty for you to do there on a weekend without responding to these threads on CC that are about a school you've never even been to.</p>
<p>You're not being constructive. We've heard your opinion. You told the OP to go to UVA, and I'm sure that helped him. Your comparisons of Michigan to Amherst, however, have nothing to do with "UCLA vs UVA." </p>
<p>Your comments aren't helping this thread, the OP, or UVA students, alumni, and prospective students. Therefore, I'll save my words for something more meaningful.</p>