Williams vs. UCLA

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>I posted this on the Williams forum, too.</p>

<p>After all the admissions (and rejections) letters have arrived, I've taken several weeks to consider my choices. I was accepted into UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC and Williams.</p>

<p>I've narrowed my choices down to Williams and UCLA, and I'm seeking some outside input to help me out...</p>

<p>BTW, I am interested in applying for a business school (MBA) later on, if my interest remains with me throughout my undergrad experience. I plan to be an econ major.</p>

<p>UCLA
- surrounding area is very appealing (LA, Westwood, Beverly Hills)
- lots of internship opportunities due to nearby LA
- I was offered Regents here, which gives me a four-year parking permit, four-year guaranteed on-campus housing, four-year academic mentor, priority enrollment, $5500/year, RSS (opportunity to network with nobel laureate professors, important alumni, etc.)</p>

<p>Williams
- liberal arts curriculum
- best professor-student relationship
- east coast! I grew up in southern california, so nice change of scenery</p>

<p>I know Williams will offer me one of the best undergrad experiences in the country. But no doubt UCLA has an exceptional undergrad education as well. It's just that the two schools are so different that they're hard to compare.</p>

<p>I'll repeat this, but I am not trying to be concerned with prestige or name value because both schools are highly prestigious. I am just hoping I can find a place where I will be happier at, but unfortunately, no one can predict that. Some outside advice or comments would be helpful though!</p>

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<p>turning down regents would be a pretty big deal. </p>

<p>i can't really imagine doing the LAC thing, at all. i really, really like the diversity at UCLA in this respect. i know so many people in such a varying array of fields and i don't think you can get that kind of perspective at a small arts school. </p>

<p>honestly it doesnt really make sense to me why you'd choose to go to Williams over UCLA besides for the change of scenery thing. You'll get the opportunity to work closely with professors at UCLA and the whole "youre just a number" thing is only true if you make it so. You'll also obviously have much more flexibility getting internships and jobs here. And uh. Dude. Regents. </p>

<p>I dunno. </p>

<p>you would have absolutely no problem getting into business school with an undergrad degree from UCLA provided things go well. </p>

<p>Like you said, no one can predict where you'll be happy. But unless you just love love snow and want to get the hell out of here, I can't think of any logical reason to go across country, academically at least.</p>

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<p>what is williams? i have never even heard of that college in my life? is it even in the top 50 colleges? lol</p>

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<p>Williams is a top 3 liberal arts school. With Amherst and Swarthmore, they comprise AWS which is considered to be the HYP of LACs.</p>

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<p>i've heard of williams.
if you had NOT got regents, and were really really into the LAC thing, or the east coast, i'd support it more.
...but turning down UCLA regents? the perks you get are MAJOR!!!!!!!! they may not seem like it now. but after half a year at UCLA, you'll understand just how sweet it is to be regents. parking alone is a perk you'll LOVE (maybe not your first year, not all regents' scholars use it as freshmen, but definitely down the road!!!). housing is a good perk too. and so is priority enrollment!!! (granted, there are multiple ways to get it, but you can go into college knowing you'll always have it, and that is a GREAT thing to know).
UCLA with regents owns any small liberal arts school. IMO. because regents helps make such a large university VERY small, with very personalized attention, PLUS all the vast resources of such a huge university.
trust me, you've got it made! :)
btw, if you haven't visited both schools, definitely visit LA. i know regents has some sort of welcoming day. i'm not regents but my friend is, and visiting LA last year and spending the night solidified his decision to come here. so i highly encourage you to do so, if you haven't already!
good luck, and congrats!!! :)</p>

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<p>regents at ucla. that's an offer you can't refuse.</p>

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<p>seriously i cant even imagine that being a hard decision.</p>

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<p>Mary Jane, i was accepted to amherst college as a transfer student (im at a community college). And as you are probably aware of, amherst and williams are pretty much equal in terms of prestige, location, and quality....</p>

<p>I can tell you this straight off the bat, one of the things i found that was not appealing was the location. Both schools (amherst + williams) are rural. So if you are looking to have a "fun night on the town", dont expect that at williams; that was what i didnt like about it. Financial aid wise, like amherst, williams will be generous.</p>

<p>Anyways, since i didnt like the location, and i thought i would be depressed since its not as sunny as cali, and i would be too far away from what i have known to love, i decided to stay in cali for the UCs like UCLA and Berk.</p>

<p>I think I would get from both, UCLA and berk, what i want, which is to have the opportunity to go home whenever im homesick, to go out with friends into the city and maybe go to a club, the chance to drive by myself whenever im frustrated with school, or even the chance to go to the beach! These are all things that you wont see at williams. Also, practically no one knows about williams or amherst in the west coast.</p>

<p>PS. the people in williams are ugly (in terms of looks)
PS(2). Beware that if you go to williams, ditching classes will not be easy</p>

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<p>OP - My D is in a similar situation, and is back east right now looking at Penn. She visited UCLA and really liked it, but really wants a smaller school. Are you going to the regent reception this week? She has a few questions since she can't go. Good luck with your decision, it's a tough one.</p>