University of California - Los Angeles - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Despite its reputation of being the capitol of face lifts and breast implants, Los Angeles actually has a casual style and many unique neighborhoods. Their are many patches of culture and fun scattered throughout the city. To get around Los Angeles and see everything that the city has to offer, a car is necessary. In the student-led life of Westwood, however, all you need is a pair of walking shoes and your student ID.

There are many other universities within a 20-minute drive: Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles State University, and of course our hated cross-town rival University of Southern California. Although these Universities are all close by, there is not much intermingling between the students because each neighborhood in LA, at times, feels like a separate universe. As for the UCLA galaxy, there are quite a few sights worth checking out that are only a short (free) bus ride away. With so many nightlife options at your fingertips, Los Angeles is one of the premiere spots in the entire country to party. You can hobnob with the stars, check out the assortment of bars and clubs, or take it easy and make it a Blockbuster night after watching a movie premiere. The fact that clubs close at 2 a.m. is a definite bummer. It is difficult to fully experience Los Angeles without owning a car. Yet, what truly leaves an impression about Los Angeles is the sheer endlessness of the city. One person can never “do it all.”

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Students Speak Out

UCLAA says: University of California - Los Angeles 2015 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Los Angeles is a busy city with... Los Angeles is a busy city with lots to do. The beach is only a few miles away. There's nothing to really stay away from, but you have to be careful going out at night. The downside is that if you don't have a car, you become extremely limited in what you can do. USC, Loyola Marymount, and Pepperdine are nearby, but I rarely interact with those students unless I went to high school with them. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

UCLJO says: University of California - Los Angeles 2016 History

Westwood is a really cool smallish... Westwood is a really cool smallish town in West LA. However, you're pretty much limited to movie theaters, restaurants, and some clothing stores here. Diddy Riese is a landmark/must-visit location made famous by its cookies and ice cream sandwiches at a extremely reasonable price. Our rival USC is considered "cross-town," and many Trojans can be found in Westwood in the evening as the environment as preferable to USC's neighborhood. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

UCLAG says: University of California - Los Angeles 2016 Undecided

Los Angeles is a huge city. There... Los Angeles is a huge city. There are many different sections, though, so it's hard to generalize about it. There are cultural areas, upscale residences, beach towns, and more. It's fun to go to Santa Monica (the Pier and the 3rd Street Promenade,) and it's easy to get to. You can go to Hollywood and see Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Wax Museum, the Kodak Theatre where they film the Oscars, and much more. There are places you should stay away from at night—especially alone, which is basically anywhere—and maybe also in the day, just like any large city. Our rival is the University of Southern California, also in Los Angeles, but in a different part of town. Some people take the rivalry seriously, but others do not. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

It’s cheerful; everyone is nice... It’s cheerful; everyone is nice and great. There are five big universities by UCLA. They are, by distance: Mt. St. Mary’s in Brentwood, Loyola Marymount by LAX, CSUN in Northridge, USC near Downtown/South Central, and Pepperdine in Malibu. I’d stay away from South Central; it’s a much better place than before the riots, but I wouldn’t go there alone, especially at night. The same goes for Hollywood; if you go there during the day, that’s fine; at night, go with friends. Other than that, the area is pretty cool. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Across town, you’ll find our... Across town, you’ll find our school rival: USC. Yep, those damn Trojans. Westwood’s a pretty cool city for a while, but it gets boring after you’ve seen all the places. There are quite a few movie theaters in close vicinity, so that’s always good. If you have people who drive, there are tons of places to go to in Los Angeles. Activities in Southern California are endless, as long as you have transportation. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about LA:
• Many famous actors and actresses live within a 15-minute drive of Hollywood Boulevard. It’s very likely you’ll bump into a famous person when touring the city and have a story to tell your friends back home.
• People trying to hike to the Hollywood sign can be arrested and serve jail time with a fine.
• Almost every prominent actor has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, and there are some extensions of this growing relic in Westwood.
• Movie premiers erupt in Westwood bi-weekly, so keep your ears open for a chance to catch the swanky red carpet strut of your favorite star!
• The majority of the actors and actresses that you see are not originally from Los Angeles. The majority are from other parts of America.

Famous Residents of LA:
Mark McGwire
Richard Nixon
George Patton
Robert Redford
Sally Ride
Adlai Stevenson
Venus and Serena Williams
Tiger Woods

Local Slang:
Coke – What a Los Angelino uses to refer to all carbonated beverages.
The Strip – The Sunset Strip.

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