University of California - Los Angeles

Overall ExperienceWhat's This?

Smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles and on the list of America's top colleges, UCLA is a school for those who want to have a blast while focusing on schoolwork. Although course registration is a battle, classes are crowded, and the registrar is impersonal, students praise the wisdom of their professors and feel that a UCLA degree will open major doors in the job market. The quarter system moves fast and tests tend to sneak up stealthily, but this allows for more experimentation when choosing courses and far less boredom. With more than 100 majors to choose from, the campus is bustling with students of all ideologies, races, and academic interests, making rousing discussions an everyday experience.

One of the nation's few top-notch universities that isn't private, UCLA is a place for those who want to learn more than a textbook contains. There’s pressure to shine socially and academically among the approximately 25,000 high-achieving Bruin undergrads, but there are plenty of campus organizations that give students a go-to friend group in the midst of the giant student body. However, it's up to the students to scout out and take advantage of all opportunities because nothing is handed to UCLA students—they must learn to navigate around red tape, persist through budget cuts, find parking and housing in Westwood's winding streets, and steer toward success. And how do they celebrate their successes? Parties! Whether through the semi-dominant Greek system or at a laid-back dorm gathering, UCLA students know how to put the books aside for a night. Overall, Bruins play nearly as hard as they work, making UCLA one of the most well-rounded schools imaginable.

UCLA Student Reviews