Why Should I Choose UCLA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
1

<p>Seems like a really dumb question, but I had my heart set on UC davis and UCLA was my number 2. I got accepted to both, and I thought I wouldn't care at all if I got into UCLA or not because I had gotten into Davis. Now, for whatever reason I'm having second thoughts. I don't care if you were rejected, accepted or whatever I just want to know why you want to go to UCLA and why you fell in love with it.</p>

<p>I got accepted under Molecular Biology, (<3) and I didn't receive a whole lot of aid (comparatively to Davis).</p>

2

<p>I’m so happy to have been admitted as well. I fell in love with UCLA freshmen year when I visited the campus for the first time. I was truly taken away. UCLA was how i envisioned a college to be: the brick architecture, the beautiful laws, royce hall, the amazing weather. I would pick UCLA over any school. So grateful to have gotten in. The academics are superb, the student body is both social and intelligent, and plus, the bistro is amazing. The dorms are clean and modern. Just the overall atmosphere and vibe is the main reason why I fell in love with UCLA.</p>

3

<p>@missamanda1295 I’m in the same boat as you! I don’t know which one to pick :&lt;/p>

4

<p>Like everyone else will probably tell you, definitely visit the campus (on a school day) and see how you like it/feel. UCLA and UC Davis have very different atmospheres. </p>

<p>UCLA is in a big city with a large nightlife and a ton of places to explore. UC Davis on the other hand (I’m basing this on a 10 week summer camp I did there), has a way more cozy, “homey” feel with an awesome small town community. People rely on bikes to get around campus while most people at UCLA walk to class. In terms of academics, both school are competitive with UCLA being definitely more difficult. </p>

<p>I strongly recommend taking a trip to UCLA…you are going to spend 4 years of your life at a campus, the travel expenses are negligible to finding out which school you are going to be happy at. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>I was admitted by both UC davis and UCLA as well. For me I would chose UCLA. First I love living in large size cities with all kinds of activities; it would definitely give you a broader vision. Also, this may be a bit biased, but the rankings mean pretty much to me, no matter how the major I chose is, but I enjoy studying a generally highly ranked school. </p>

<p>And I just want to mention that I really didn’t expect to be admitted by neither UCLA nor UC davis since I never considered myself to be really strong or competitive; guess I was rly lucky.</p>

6

<p>Reputation aside, you need to find the college that “fits” you. Are you closer geographically to Davis or LA? For some, coming home on weekends is a plus. Are you being considered for the UC Davis Honors program? For your major, both are good schools, UCLA may be a bit more competitive . Again, make sure to visit before final decision.</p>

7

<p>Last year, I chose UCLA over Berkeley (among other schools such as NYU, Georgetown and LMU). It came down to those two and it was such a hard decision that took me a month to think about. I ultimately chose UCLA because of the location, the academics, the trimester system, and the people. I never regretted my decision.</p>

<p>For location, you’re smack dab in the middle of the place where the world’s culture is being molded and created. Beverly Hills, Westwood, Bel-Air, Sunset Blvd., Hollywood – you see all the excesses, grandeur, cosmopolitanism, sophistication, and openness that most people dream about and see in the movies. The great thing? While being immersed in all of this, you’re still in a college friendly environment where you can find like-minded individuals that would make your UCLA adventure more fun. The weather’s perfect too. Nothing but a good amount of sunlight to take the stress out, for me anyways. What a great way to start eh?</p>

<p>As for academics, UCLA is 25th in the USNWR report, and 9th in reputation among the world’s universities (13th overall). Plus, UCLA’s History program is ranked 9th in the nation (I’m a history major). Admittedly, Berkeley had a slight advantage in this (ranked 21 USNWR, 5th in reputation), but I inferred from CC and my HS counselors, not to mention my own research, that the difference was very negligible especially since I want to pursue Law after college. The truth is, UCLA and Berkeley are of the same tier, with only a handful of schools in the world being able to “boast” higher academic reputations. And you know what? UCLA didn’t disappoint. Next term, I’m registered to take a class with Prof. Teofilo Ruiz who won the National Humanities Medal just last month from President Obama. Last Winter and Fall Quarter, I’ve had professors who have hailed from the other bastions of academia, such as Harvard, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Brandeis (my Jewish studies prof.). I had a visiting professor from Africa who invited various guest speakers and even the author of our book (a retired UCLA prof) to lecture in class (a very interesting and great experience). In my Stem Cell Politics and Biology Class, we had a UCLA medical doctor to visit and lecture us about his experiences on acquiring and handling UCLA’s 10 or so Stem Cell Lines (officially registered!) as well as his experiences in dealing with state and federal government for the stem cell’s transportation from the east coast to UCLA. The TAs are great and accomplished as well. I have literally been inspired by some of them. There are so few schools capable of having so many intelligent and accomplished professors and people that sometimes, I am just amazed that I’m seating there listening to their lectures!</p>

<p>The trimester system is also great for me. When you have 10 weeks to do what you need to do, time really flies so fast! Plus, you have 3 times to get a high grade all year round :slight_smile: You also get to experience a lot of other classes which is again a good thing for me.</p>

<p>As for the people, I have found that UCLA has great diversity. Not so much in the racial sense (you see white and Asian people hahaha!) but in terms of the various hobbies, beliefs and passions. People here are also respectful of other opinions, not the “in your face” type at some colleges. One can really find one’s niche here. Wanna be a nerd? what about an athlete? a party-goer? Anything flows at UCLA, but at the end of the day most people are always the same in terms of wanting to succeed academically. I have perfectly “normal” friends with the normal ideas and stuff going through our discussions, but when it comes to academics, that “normal”, “well-rounded” friend has a 3.9 GPA - go figure. </p>

<p>I really thought that I would regret my decision, but after a year, I never really seriously thought that my college career would be better and happier if I would have gone to Berkeley or any other school. UCLA’s great. :slight_smile: I hope this post has helped you in some way. Good luck in your decision.</p>

8

<p>@fromcalwithlove – I was also deciding between UCLA and Cal last year! </p>

<p>I thought that I would hate UCLA because I hate Los Angeles (and am still not a fan) but when I visited for the first time in April I was amazed by all the people I met at UCLA. For almost everyone I’ve asked, the reason they love/chose UCLA is for all the Bruins here. For me, college is about meeting poeple and building networks, and the positive support, love, and sense of community among Bruins is what I love most about UCLA. </p>

<p>Bottom line, if possible, visit UCLA and get to talk to some students here to get a feel of the UCLA community. Choose whichever college you can see yourself at. Good luck</p>

9

<p>reply to Missamanda;
Have you visited UC Santa Cruz? I got accepted to ALL three of above UCs, just visited UCDavis last weekend, and will visit Santa Cruz around 4/1. I also taken a tour to UCLA and USC over Christmas last year. Tell me if you feel the same way: UCD is really spread out, I was exhausted after the 1 1/2 hr tour, and the architecture seems bit old. UCLA is really really crowded and when I tried to ask students for directions, they seems a bit rude and neglectance. UC Santa Cruz staff and adviser seems really nice on phone but I am thinking it might get really lay back and I will start to get behind if I follow the trend.</p>

<p>I also have anxiety that I might be getting bunch of C’s with competition at UCLA. Davis and Santa Cruz might be easier and less competitive. Can anyone give some advice to me how competitive is UCLA meaning do students get B’s on the freshman year with average brain and extra effort. I will be going in Pre-Bus-Economics. Does professor in that major teaches well?<br>
Dennisy@collegeconfidential</p>

10

<p>@fromcalwithlove</p>

<p>I agree with you on everything except this :

</p>

<p>You’re not really doing anyone any favors by trying to create a pretense of glamour and celebrity life at UCLA. I might be misinterpreting you, maybe your definition of seeing “excesses and grandeur” is walking down Rodeo drive taking pictures with friends or possibly spotting Jennifer Anniston in Westwood Village… However, if you’re implying that going to UCLA will increase your chances of getting into celebrity parties or kick backs at Miley Cyrus’ house, you’re just giving people the wrong impression. You need to know people to get access to that stuff, and even then you come to realize that celebrities are just regular people like the rest of us. If anything, UCLA makes you (or should make you) a more down-to-earth person because of how adjacent you are to “Hollywood Life.”</p>

11

<p>^
Overachiever, no I didn’t mean thst celebrity life is seen at UCLA. I wanted to say that all those things are seen around it, hence the great environment for a college student. Nowhere else can you see Jen walking down Westwood, or all those “effin” great cars parked along Sunset or the big mansions around Beverly Hills. And what’s good? Around all that, you still have burger king and in-n-out, places friendly to a college student haha! I meant UCLA was surrounded by that environment, not that the it also represents UCLA itself. It’s like USC being surrounded by ghettos but not being ghetto itself, well that’s what they say ;)</p>

<p>@Peteandpita, You know what? I was an LA hater too and that sort of made me second-guess my decision. Hated the Lakers, Trojans, the sprawling suburban landscape, a lack of a great downtown etc. etc. But coming here and being open to what UCLA and Los Angeles has to offer? All I can say is WOW. They say that you either love LA or you hate it, and in my case, “I LOVE IT!” (Except for the Downtown area… God that sucks) . Same to UCLA too. :))</p>

12

<p>I agree with Fromcalwithlove. I think UCLA has the most well rounded students of all the UC’s. Intelligent, good looking, and down to earth.</p>

<p>I have a friend who did Molecular Bio @ UCLA, she went on to earn a PhD from UCLA and did it all on a grant. She conducted research at UCLA medical, jaws drop when she mentions this. Best Hospital in the western US. Place where Michael Jackson died. Heart-in-a-box episode on Gray’s Anatomy, I could go on and on…</p>

<p>As far as the area…</p>

<p>You want to relax? Take a nap on the green near Janss steps, take a 15 min trip to Santa Monica beach, Malibu beach, etc.</p>

<p>Want to go hiking? Go to Malibu [Escondido</a> Falls - Malibu, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/escondido-falls-malibu-2]Escondido”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/escondido-falls-malibu-2)
Hiking in Hollywood with celebs? [Runyon</a> Canyon Park - Hollywood - Los Angeles, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/runyon-canyon-park-los-angeles-2]Runyon”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/runyon-canyon-park-los-angeles-2)</p>

<p>Want to party? Off-campus dorms, Sunset strip, Hollywood, West LA, Sharkeez in Hermosa Beach.</p>

<p>Sports? Rosebowl and thew newly renovated Pauley Pavillion, or join a team sport.</p>

<p>UCLA has everything a person could possibly need.</p>

13

<p>Thing is, I lived in socal all my life. The only thing I really enjoy about socal is the food (youve never tasted seafood until you’ve gone to socal. fact.)To be honest, the only thing I liked about UCLA was UCLA itself and the campus. Westwood, beverly hills, I really just don’t care. All I can think about is how I could never live off campus.</p>

<p>Thing is, I’m set on biochemistry and really I don’t like history or anything humanities based. Academically, I’m looking for the school with a better biochem program / professors. Just because a professor is smart and has good research doesn’t always mean that they can teach (my dad is one at UCSD and … wow. I’d never take his class. ever.) </p>

<p>I definitely like the campus / feel of davis better. It’s home to me, but I’m a competitive person and I like the prestige that comes with UCLA.</p>

<p>The only thing I still have questions about is the quality of the professors and the one-on-one attention you get with them or their TA’s. If any of you UCLA students can tell me your experiences (specifically in the quality of education… not their accomplishments, what they helped you accomplish) that would really help. Thanks :)</p>