<p>So here's the big question. It's been on my mind ever since I submitted my college applications for both. I am a pretty good student, with a 3.9 GPA and 31 ACT, so I will likely get accepted to UW, but UCLA is obviously much harder to get into. I do plan on having fun in college, but studying hard as well. If I do have a choice, which one? It may seem obvious to head to UCLA right away, but I have to weigh the options.</p>
<p>UCLA: Offers a great major in Neuroscience, great reputation, great weather, and great campus. Downside: After financial aid is calculated, UCLA will be a RIDICULOUS out-of-state cost: 62000 overall per year. I will most definitely have to get student loans for this which can be incredibly hard to pay off.</p>
<p>UW-Madison: Does not offer a major in Neuroscience, but rather Biology. Offers a great cost because I am in-state: 25000 per year. However, much less ranked than UCLA.</p>
<p>I also plan on heading to Graduate/Medical school after undergrad. </p>
<p>Vital Question: Is it worth it to pay the extra price for undergrad UCLA? I hear UW Madison has a reputation for being one of the happiest schools in the country, but then again I'm sure I'd have an awesome time in UCLA as well. Please understand that UCLA has been a dream school of mine ever since I visited the campus. UW is a place where I have been trying to avoid, but now with the financial factor weighing in I'm open to the choice. Any graduate school is open because there is no in-state/out-of-state tuition, so maybe I save my money until then by going to UW?</p>
<p>Thanks and I look forward to your responses!</p>
<p>Paying OOS tuition is not worth it for UCLA. Save your money for grad/med school by going to the best school you can for a reasonable cost. </p>
<p>LOL! I understand this question, since one of my sons is in love with UW Madison and we are California residents, and live in LA county where UCLA is ‘too familiar’ (not to mention that both his Dad and I graduated from UCLA undergrad.) Familiarity (and the wholly imaginary prospect of parents breathing down your neck) breeds contempt, they say…</p>
<p>I love the midwest, but college is about learning new things, isn’t it? </p>
<p>I will say that you will get more of the classic college experience at Madison imho. I went to UCSB for the first two years which is also a college town experience, and that was hugely different from my last two years at UCLA where campus was barely a focus of my life. Of course, part of that is that freshman year is different from your experience as an upper classman. In any event, I think that is a little different now because UCLA has much more dorm availability so more freshmen live on campus, but I lived in Westwood close by and still considered it a commuter school. I valued it, and didn’t fail to enjoy it, but the UCSB social experience amongst a student body majoring in social skills along with academics was pretty exceptional. From what I understand, and you might know the reality of this more than I would (in which case, please share!) UWMadison is supposed to be more like UCSB that way, less the beach.</p>
<p>I think UCLA is perceived as ‘at somewhat a different level’ on a rating scale, but not hugely so. if you are going to graduate school, I would particularly agree that the cost is a big consideration. If this will be your terminal degree, that would weigh more towards UCLA in my mind.</p>
<p>Both seem like good options, though. </p>
<p>I will be watching this thread!</p>