University of California - Los Angeles - The Inside Scoop

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Facts

Slang

Black Sunday - The Sunday before fall rush where the frats allow everyone in for free and it seems like a campus-wide party.
Bruin Bargains - The weekly student swap meet that occurs via the newspaper.
Bruin Walk - The central walkway that separates North Campus and South Campus.
Buck Fifty - A student nickname for Subbies Roll-Inn.
Cluster - A group of classes that, when taken together, credit the student for multiple general education classes in different subject areas (e.g. humanities, social sciences), and sometimes shave off extra classes to take.
Fowler - The name of the classroom under the Fowler Museum.
Men’s Gym - The name of the gym across from Wooden.
Midnight Yell - Finals week tradition of screaming loudly one time to relieve stress at midnight.
North Campus Majors - A nickname for social science and humanities majors because most of these departments are located on the northern half of campus.
Rape Trail - The daunting name of the (now) well-lit walkway between the dorms and the apartments.
South Campus Majors - A nickname for life and physical science majors because most of these departments are located on the southern half of campus.
The Dungeon - A nickname for the basement area of Powell Library (one of the quietest areas to study on campus).
Wooden - Short for the John Wooden Center.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School

Get the 14 Premier Meal Plan. It has the perfect amount of meals and extras.
Get your own bed linens.
Go to the frats during Black Sunday.
Go to the frats during Orientation Week.
Some of the teachers are more interesting than the subjects they teach.
Someone in the dorms will have a microwave (and it’s best if it’s not you).
Visit the Career Center often to avoid being unemployed directly out of college.
Weekends should be used for getting away to local wilderness areas.
Your grades will plummet if you party more than you study.

Tips to Succeed

Actually go to class.
Always dispute bad grades.
Appear interested (even if you’re not).
Ask the TAs tons of questions.
Check your e-mail frequently.
Don’t ever fall behind.
Drink lots of coffee!
Go to office hours.
Pick classes you actually like.
Research your professors before choosing your classes.
Study with other people in the class.

Urban Legends

The Inverted Fountain was designed by a USC grad that made the fountain look like a toilet when looking at the fountain with Franz Hall in the background.

Traditions

Book Reading Marathon - This little jewel is an English lover’s delight, as the Undergraduate English Association sponsors a reading of a book in 15-minute increments. Many times actors will come out to read the first hour of the book and support the English department.
Farmer’s Market - Each Thursday, there is a large gathering of farmers that sell their produce (wholesale) on campus. Up until a few years ago, there were no grocery stores close to campus (this has changed with Ralph’s and Whole Foods moving into Westwood). Most students still keep up the tradition and buy strictly from the farmers. While the prices are not always an incredible bargain, the quality is out of this world. It’s worth a quick walk down to the market to indulge in some lore from the past and some quality from the present.
Inverted Fountain - All UCLA students are only supposed to touch the fountain twice in their entire UCLA career. The first time will occur during orientation, and the second will pass on the jubilant day of graduation (assuming you remember). The fountain ushers all students into the University and bids them adieu as well. It is a time-honored tradition that links all UCLA alumni.
Spring Sing - This Student Alumni Association sponsored event is a gala of the best talent that UCLA has to offer. Most students spend months preparing for this four-hour spectacle in late May. Four celebrity judges review the contestants, and there is one major music prize given to a top celebrity musician each year. Some of the past celebrity judges of the past include “Weird Al” Yankovich and Fred Savage. Some of the past musical prizewinners include Tom Petty and Frank Sinatra.

School Spirit

Students are proud to be accepted into UCLA. Most freshmen are thrilled to make it into UCLA, and they carry their excitement and expectations of the school with them throughout their first year. Almost all freshman students own a UCLA T-shirt before the first day of class. The dorms light up as the sports teams charge into the national spotlight. Although the basketball and football teams don’t always win the championship, students still gush about the lore UCLA carries with it. Most students engage in sporting events either by actually going to the games, or watching with friends at Maloney’s. If the big game against USC ever comes up, be ready for some real student spirit to spill. The Beat ‘SC Bonfire is a several thousand student event that even captivates the local media.

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