The University of California - Los Angeles

Professors are experts in the field. If you are a dedicated student and excel in your classes there is opportunity to do research or build connections with these professors.

For the most part curriculum is very well thought out and courses are relevant and taught well.
UCLA has an incredibly diverse student body with some students there to enjoy the college experience and others who are very serious, intent on making their mark in the world or in academia. Also, people come from all different backgrounds.

The negatives are similar that you would find at other large universities. The mentoring and counseling isn't great. You have to seek out any connections or ask for advice if you want it.

The workload is much higher than h.s. and it takes a certain amount of discipline to excel. This is especially true in the sciences and engineering. This can be difficult at times with all the distractions of college life.

Socially UCLA can be a bit overwhelming with so many different people from different backgrounds. It helps if you join some sort of organization with people of similar interest as the school is so large you probably won't get to know people from your classes until you get to the junior or senior level.

4th Year Male -- Class 1993

Useful Schoolwork: A, Individual Value: D

UCLA was great, the academics prepared me for a graduate program in a completely different field, seemingly much more so than my peers. Classes are big, but the university offers honors seminars with 10-20 students, and professors are actually accessible. On campus housing and dining are great, there are many student organizations and clubs to become involved with, and there are many on campus jobs for students. Westwood is fun and convenient, too, and there are many buses running so you can get to the beach and around LA pretty easily, even if you don't have a car.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000