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University of California - Los Angeles
- Local Atmosphere

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University of California - Los Angeles - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Local Atmosphere

A-
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Local Atmosphere Grades:

Quick Stats

Points of Interest
  • Bel Air
  • Beverly Hills
  • Disneyland
  • Hollywood
  • Hollywood Sign
  • Knott's Berry Farm
  • Magic Mountain
  • Malibu and surrounding beaches
  • Sunset Strip
  • Universal Studios
  • Venice Beach

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Though many might envision fake breasts and spray tans galore, UCLA's immediate environment is a quaint, funky, and down-to-earth little town. Westwood is a teensy bit of sanity in the midst of wild LA, and all you need to enjoy it is your student ID and a pair of walking shoes. Younger students like to hang out here because of the trendy boutiques, varied cafés, and three movie theaters. Movie stars are often spotted shooting scenes in Westwood's narrow streets or picking up dinner at Whole Foods market, ensuring that LA's buzzing vibe is constantly felt.

With a car, everything changes. Loyola Marymount, Cal State Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California (UCLA’s sworn rival) are all within a 20-minute radius. However, although they're close by, students from each university don't usually mingle because of LA's roaring traffic and sections that tend to feel like universe-sized pockets. As for the UCLA galaxy, there are quite a few sights worth checking out that are only a short (cheap) bus or car trip away. LA's clubs are famous in the celebrity world, and there's guaranteed to be an establishment for everyone's interests in town. Legendary theme parks, breathtaking beaches, and historic sites abound, from funky bikes on Venice beach to classy brunches at the Beverly Hilton. The city's jam-packed scale of activities can leave some students feeling overwhelmed, but with a car and some street smarts, Bruins can certainly conquer LA.

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UCLA Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at University of California - Los Angeles

flipperzippy

'15

Physiology

4.2
A-

Los Angeles Has Lots to Do, but Transportation Is a Pain

There is so much to do in LA that it's almost over whelming, but if you don't have a car it's really hard to go anywhere. Westwood is really nice, but just has a lot of shopping and restaurants to hang out in. You have to use the bus system to do anything fun, which is fine, but it takes forever.

Feb 13, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of California - Los Angeles

jessicaxxtran

'15

Biological Sciences

4.2
A-

Westwood

Westwood is a pretty good college town, and the bus system makes it easy to go to Beverly Hills or other nearby cities.

Jan 16, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of California - Los Angeles

kasanion

'15

Nursing

5.0
A+

The Ideal Location for College Students

The UCLA campus is centered between Beverly Hills and Westwood. It is only a twenty minute Blue Bus ride to Santa Monica. The close vicinity to Beverly Hills provides an amount of safety for students while Westwood and Santa Monica serve as primary entertainment for everyone. Local eateries, boutiques, and the occasional sighting of a movie star are all found in Westwood. More popular shopping destinations such as the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica provide a relaxing atmosphere to students with the beach within eyesight and only walking distance away. Every student and person who attends UCLA will be able to find everything they are looking for and more.

Jan 08, 2012

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Third Street Promenade
  • Westfield Century City
  • Westside Pavilion
Major Sports Teams
  • Anaheim Ducks: NHL
  • C.D. Chivas USA: Major League Soccer
  • Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: MLB
  • Los Angeles Clippers: NBA
  • Los Angeles Dodgers: MLB
  • Los Angeles Galaxy: Major League Soccer
  • Los Angeles Kings: NHL
  • Los Angeles Lakers: NBA
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities San Diego: CA: 2 hours
Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Los Angeles:

  • The Playboy Mansion is about a two-mile run from campus. Students have been known to jog by in search of bunnies.
  • Clint Eastwood lives in Bel Air, across the street from the dorms' exit.
  • Dozens of movies, from the Twilight saga to George Clooney classics, premier in Westwood each year. Bring your autograph books!
  • Westwood was home to the largest concentration of movie theaters. Today, many of the historic theaters still stand, including Fox Theater and Bruin Theater.
  • The Janss Investment Company has left its mark all over the Westwood area, from the Janss Steps on UCLA’s campus to Westwood Village.

Famous People from L.A.:

  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Christina Applegate
  • Jamie Lee Curtis
  • Kate Bosworth
  • Leonardo DiCaprio
  • Dr. Dre
  • Jodie Foster
  • Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal
  • Dustin Hoffman
  • Kate Hudson
  • Angelina Jolie
  • Diane Keaton
  • Heather Locklear
  • Shia LaBeouf
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Olson twins
  • Gwyneth Paltrow

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

AMC Avco Cinema
10840 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood
(310) 475-0711

Landmark Regent Theater
1045 Broxton Ave.
Westwood
(310) 281-8223

Mann Village and Mann Bruin
961 Broxton Ave.
Westwood
(310) 208-5576

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at UCLA

Name: Suzy Strutner

Hometown: Newport Beach, Calif.

Major: Communication Studies

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