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I suspect students at Caltech would strenuously object to that conclusion.</p>
<p>blue: I know of very, very few (only 1 or 2) people at UCLA who are “forced” into triples their second year. In fact, I think UCLA has one of the most convenient housing systems in the country. You get to hand-pick the room you want to live in from your second year-on, down to the room number. Sure, some people get a bad lottery number and end up with triples, but this is rare and the cases are few and far between. In fact, I myself am the only one I know who ended up with this issue.</p>
<p>Also, from this year on, UCLA will guarantee on-campus housing for 4 years. Very few public universities, and not even all private schools, offer this.</p>
<p>Finally, I take major issue with your argument that UCs- especially the top-tier schools- aren’t a good “value” for OOS students. Sure, it’s more expensive to a student from NY, WA, etc., but you’re the only person I’ve ever heard argue that the smaller classes and better housing at Oxi, Chapman, etc. are more valuable to an OOS student than a degree from UCLA or Berkeley. To be honest, I think that’s just foolish. In-state or OOS, those two degrees are among the most respected on the planet. </p>
<p>PS- I’m not sure what “facilities” you are referring to, but both UCLA and Cal have some of the most state-of-the art facilities you’ll find anywhere. That’s why they’re nationally-renowned research schools. Also, as for advising, I don’t know anyone at UCLA who’s had an issue with it, as long as they’ve put out the effort to set up an appt. and speak with an advisor. The resources are there, but it’s up to the student to take advantage of it. Welcome to the real world.</p>
<p>I’d say UCLA, UC Berkeley, Caltech, Stanford, USC (especially Marshall and the film school), and Pomona are the top. They certainly are in terms of selectivity. A quirkier mention is also Deep Springs, which sends students to top Ivy’s, UChicago, etc. after 2 years.</p>
<p>UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
USC
Stanford, of course</p>
<p>and the Claremont colleges are great</p>
<p>Think_Different:</p>
<p>I can’t comment on who you know, but UCLA’s own website states: </p>
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<p>Thus, you claim of triples being “rare” rings rather hollow, based on UCLA’s own statements.</p>
<p><a href=“http://map.ais.ucla.edu/portal/site/UCLA/menuitem.789d0eb6c76e7ef0d66b02ddf848344a/?vgnextoid=2830064a9a7d1010VgnVCM1000008f8443a4RCRD[/url]”>http://map.ais.ucla.edu/portal/site/UCLA/menuitem.789d0eb6c76e7ef0d66b02ddf848344a/?vgnextoid=2830064a9a7d1010VgnVCM1000008f8443a4RCRD</a></p>
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<p>I hope you work on your critical reading skills before you join the “real world”, bcos I can assure you that I’ve never posted nor even thought such things. :)</p>
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<p>Like I said, it was just my opinion. We can agree to disagree, but “taking issue” over opinions?</p>
<p>* I know of very, very few (only 1 or 2) people at UCLA who are “forced” into triples their second year. *</p>
<p>I probably know 6-8 kids, and I now live across the country from UCLA. UCLA does not have enough housing, hence the tripling. Some may move off-campus after the 1st quarter, so some de-tripling may happen.</p>
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<p>Then do you mind explaining who you ARE referring to? Stanford has a higher PA, and you state outright that you’d take schools with a lower PA score, so you can’t be referring to them. Pomona and CMC are, at least in my opinion, virtually equal to UCLA and Berkeley in terms of prestige (at least to educated professionals who are aware of those schools). Thus, the only schools I can see you referring to in CA- with “less competition” and “lower PA scores”- are Oxi, Chapman, and perhaps USC (another school which has a fine reputation…hard as it is for me to admit :P). </p>
<p>As for food, UCLA is currently ranked #1 in the nation, just above Cornell. </p>
<p>Also, it’s “because,” not “bcos.” I would ignore it, but if you’re going to question my critical thinking skills, you should at least use proper grammar and spelling when doing so.</p>
<p>Finally, yes, I take issue with your opinion.</p>
<p>
I find this really, really hard to believe (unless you’re an OCD helicopter parent, I really doubt that you speak to 8-10 college students from across the country often enough to know that they’re having housing issues). I go to the university, and not to sound arrogant, but I’m REALLY involved in a ton of different things. And I know 2 people, myself included, who’ve had housing issues their 2nd year. Freshman are definitely pretty much forced into triples (though several on my floor are in doubles). Not second-year, though. Maybe it’ll be a little tougher next year while dorms are under construction, but once they’re completed there will be guaranteed housing for 4 years.</p>
<p>My D is a sophomore at UCLA. UCLA has about 4 high rise dorm buildings that I believe are the oldest dorm buildings. Each year (at least for the last 2-3 and the next 1-2) they are completely renovating one of these buildings. I mean a total gut job and everything will be new. So until that reno project is completed there will be many triples especially with freshmen. Other than the high rise halls there are many “plaza” type dorms that are 3-4 stories high with very large rooms and private and semi private bathrooms. There are also suites and apts available. So many freshmen do end up in triples and some sophomores do but that will likely end when the last high rise hall is renovated in 1-2 years. My D has chosen to live in an off campus apt. this year but it is very convenient, one block from her old dorm and comes with parking (worth gold in LA!). This post was meant to address the dorm issue but I will add that she loves UCLA, has had some classes with only 25 people and has no problem meeting with advisors.</p>
<p>*I find this really, really hard to believe (unless you’re an OCD helicopter parent, I really doubt that you speak to 8-10 college students from across the country often enough to know that they’re having housing issues). *</p>
<p>Since my entire family still lives in So Cal, it’s been easy for me to keep in touch with what is going on with my MANY nieces and nephews and their friends (I have nearly 50 nieces and nephews and that doesn’t even count my cousins’ children who also live in Southern Cal). I spend about 25% of my time in Southern Cal since my parents are elderly, and I “take turns” with my sisters taking care of them. So, not a helicopter parent, more like a frequent flyer a la American Airlines. lol I also recently spent a lot of time on UCLA’s campus and the newish hospital. </p>
<p>So, yes, I know a lot of kids who’ve recently been and are current sophs at UCLA, and I know some who’ve had to do triples into their sophs years. You can’t deny that UCLA has a housing shortage.</p>
<p>Do you know if Stanford, USC are trying to get more out of state students?</p>
<p>What does an Occidental education compare to? Is it a comparable LAC to Pomona? Pitzer? Carleton? Reed? Grinnell? Oberlin? I can’t get a grasp on what it’s like. People always mention Occidental in passing after the UCs, Stanford, Caltech, USC, and the Claremonts, so it’s hard for me to tell if it’s a great school or if it’s a big step down. Or both.</p>
<p>For the USC freshmen enrolled class of 2009-2010 52% were from high schools in CA. International students were 11% and students from other U.S. states were 37%.</p>
<p>U.S. states most represented outside of California were Texas, Washington, New York and Illinois. International students most represented were from China, including Hong Kong, South Korea and Canada.</p>
<p>In the academic unit distribution 18% of the freshmen were in the arts. This included architecture, fine arts, music, theatre and cinematic arts.</p>
<p>i feel the same way in regard to pomona much ado about nothing. ucla/cal and some of the other UC’s so much more, and are super prestigious and amazing on the global perspective. imo, i know lot of spoiled rich kids in the clarmont consortium, as well as other lacs such as chapman.</p>
<p>an oos won’t pay much more at a UC over an LAC such as Pomona. just my opinion and i’m sure i’ll hear it from irate lovesr of the LAC’s…</p>
<p>Occidental is a very good LAC, ranked at 33 which is the same rank as Kenyon, one of the elite midwestern LAC’s. It is modeled as the “Princeton of the West” in name and architecture, and has great academic programs like the Diplomacy and World Affairs major. Above Pitzer and around the level of say Hamilton, Bates, Kenyon, etc. Not top 10 like Pomona and Bowdoin but still a great school.</p>
<p>Since we are discussing Occidental, it should be noted that Barack Obama attended Occidental prior to transferring to Columbia to get his undergraduate degree. (Barack Obama’s law degree is from Harvard.)</p>
<p>Surfgirl, I’m cool with what you think. The problem is that you want a big state school, and I want a small LAC. They are wicked different. I would run six marathons and give up two summers to be accepted into Pomona but I couldn’t care less about the UC’s.</p>
<p>Also, isn’t anyone concerned about the financial situation that California is in, and in turn, the UC’s? If I were looking for a big state school, that would probably affect my decision.</p>
<p>Can anyone compare Oxy to other LACs?</p>
<p>is it easier for an out of state student to get into stanford?</p>
<p>funk,</p>
<p>Let me compare Occidental to the Claremont LACs. Note that I have not attended any of these schools, but had high school classmates that attended Occidental, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps (as well as the other local college–meaning on the northeast side of Los Angeles–Caltech).</p>
<p>Occidental is focused primarily on the social sciences, international studies, and foreign languages and cultures. Interdepartmental majors are common (such as mixing a diplomacy major with chinese language studies, or music with history) and most of the minors offered are in linguistics and culture of different countries.</p>
<p>Pomona and Harvey Mudd, Pitzer and even Scripps all offer liberal arts programs, but all of my friends who went to those colleges did so because they offered great science programs–which is the primary focus at these colleges. </p>
<p>So what happened to each of my friends? The one at Occidental went into diplomatic work and got posted overseas at an embassy, the one at Pitzer went on to medical school (in New York City) and became a doctor, and of the three that went to Pomona, one became an expert on American history, one went into a chemistry career, and one had a nervous breakdown, transferred to another school and changed her major from Physics to French literature, but never graduated. </p>
<p>P.S. The one that went to Caltech ended up at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a manager.</p>
<p>Although it is true that a hefty percentage of Oxy students major in the social sciences, the sciences are far from weak. </p>
<p>After politics, biology and psychology are the most popular majors. Occidental is relatively unique among LACs in having a strong marine biology track in its biology program, and the chemistry, geology, and physics programs are also quite strong.</p>
<p>As others have said, Occidental is roughly on par with Macalester, Kenyon, and Bates.</p>
<p>@modest and cal: I totally missed your posts, sorry. All I saw was surfgirl. Good info though. The ranking system confuses me, especially when it lists state schools and LACs side by side. I’ve looked at stateuniversity.com, is that a good site?</p>
<p>@cal and hippo, thank you. I’m hoping to discover who I am, what I want to do, ect. in college, and I’m under the impression that Pomona is a good environment for that. I hope that Oxy is as well. It’s good to hear that I won’t be disappointed in any of the departments, no matter what I end up with. The way you’ve described Occidental is awesome, I’m applying.</p>
<p>Cal, just know that you’re extremely helpful. The follow up stories were great.</p>