University of California - Los Angeles Reviews

"It is a great school with strong career services, good professors, and classmates coming from diverse backgrounds and smart."

"UCLA has the best location, climate and culture to bring wonderful opportunities to its students. I did not start to appreciate the opportunities to connect on campus until I took the class suggested for freshman students called Educ 92F. It was actually a class on how to be in college. As a freshman I was too arrogant to think I would ever need to take a class on how to be in college. I sure regret it once I compared my first two years and my last two years at the school after finally taking the class. The last two years I was able to contribute so much more. The stars all seemed to align my junior and senior years. I managed to get a job, lose 50 pounds to a healthy weight, raise my GPA, and organize countless non-profit theater events, a personal passion of mine. UCLA provides opportunities for everyone without feeling like you are in the city and yet is five minutes away from the city. It is also a short distance away from the beach and the mountains. And of course who could not enjoy the nice Southern California weather! The campus has something for every taste yet sustains an unshakable sense of social well-being and community. I wholeheartedly recommend UCLA to any high school senior contemplating being a Bruin. And please don't make the same mistake I did! Take the course of how to be in college. It will change your life!"

"UCLA is known for its research. It has a lot to offer, but you better be prepared to do the work and figure out how to stand out from your peers. It's very competitive, but if you're smart you'll be able to take advantage of their resources. Professors care more about their research than your education. So be mindful of the large classroom sizes and the lack of attention you'll receive. You have to really put in the effort to build relationships with many of the staff. It is possible, just be weary. My biggest advice is to really try to get as involved as possible in some form of internship or part-time job. You'll get a head start from the rest of your classmates, and you'll begin the networking process early for career-building. The university climate is changing. It isn't enough to just go to a big school like UCLA. You have to think differently. The way you do that is by networking. Going to a big school does have its advantages because it has more resources for you to take advantage of. Take advantage of them! The majority of college graduates don't end up using their degree. It's pretty typical at UCLA for this to occur. I personally believe that this is because the universities in general haven't provided enough support to network within your field while a student. Play things right and you'll be ahead of everyone by the time you graduate. I learned my lesson a little too late. UCLA is a phenomenal school, but you will be left on your own if you don't seek out your needs."

"This program was excellent. I fell into it by chance, as I wanted to study psychology, and ended up loving Linguistics. The program is a single degree that sounds like two, and is mostly within the Linguistics department. I was able to tailor the major to my own needs as I wanted to go on to study Occupational Therapy, as well as minor in Disability Studies. The professors are very attentive and supportive, and they really want you to succeed. I went through a rough patch in the middle of my studies, and all my Linguistics professors made sure to check up on me and do whatever they could to keep me on track and to make sure I was okay. I would highly recommend Linguistics at UCLA, especially one of their dual majors."

"The department of Education at UCLA is a great program if you are an educator interested in social justice and being an agent of change in your community. The program prepares you to serve in under-represented communities where you will be working alongside students with high needs. If you want to stretch your thinking about education then this is the program for you."

"The department of Community Health Sciences at UCLA is one of the top 10 well regarded Public Health programs in the country. The school is well connected with hospitals and organizations locally and abroad which allows one to network and also have great job prospects upon graduation. The department emphasizes on helping you develop professionally. There are always professional development workshops happening throughout the year, typically hosted by professors/faculty and/or alumni. The professors are well versed and they teach interesting topics that are typically about current events. Although the class sizes can be large, the professors make themselves available and are very welcoming. If you have interest in training abroad, you can, and they also offer a global health certificate. Although the program is costly, they do offer funding in various aspects. For example you can get your tuition paid for along with a stipend, if you serve as a teachers assistant. There are also many scholarship opportunities open throughout the year that also can help offset the costs as well."

"UCLA is what you make of it. The best way I can surmise my experience is to compare it to city living. The university is in a bubble inside a metropolitan city, but functions similarly to its host. No one is going to go out of their way to mold a cookie cutter life for you. It is up to you to create the life that you want. In many ways this helped prepare me for life outside of university. Worry not though, UCLA has a limitless pool of student groups, entertainment, and educational opportunities. I managed to carve out my community, identity, and path in the middle of all the moving parts. I entered UCLA as a closeted small town gay Latino male unsure of the world. I left empowered, educated, and employed in the big city. A lot of my undergraduate experience was rough. I had to battle depression, being the first in my family to attend college, and my own sexuality. But the school provided me with great mental health and medical care, which vastly changed my life for the better. On top of that the campus was very welcoming to diversity. I came out to my dorm mates half a year into my freshman year. I can happily say that they are all still my friends 7 years later. I felt safe on campus with my newfound identity. Student services were a godsend for me as an undergraduate. They provided me with tutoring, test banks, food closets, and even free printing. Originally I had no financial aid, but after sending an appeal to the school they relented and I was afforded a great financial aid package. I graduated nearly debt free. You can continue applying for scholarships throughout your time at school. I suggest going to the financial aid website once a quarter to find scholarships. Courses are also geared to provide you with the flexibility you need to take internships. By the time I was finished at UCLA I had over 5 internships under my belt and over 100 hours of community service. There is always a way at UCLA. People often ask why I choose Anthropology. The degree expanded on my critical thinking abilities and even writing. Without realizing it, my education in Anthropology made me a better communicator. The major helped me understand worldviews that are vastly different than my own, techniques that I still use to this day in my day job. I run global operations for a global company, Anthropology has given me a unique advantage in the input and value I am able to provide that my peers severely lacked. We live in a globalized world, despite our accessibility to it; we still have trouble understanding those in other countries, regions, or cultures. In some odd way the major choose me. I fell in love with Anthropology when I walked into my cultural anthropology class and the professor began to scream at us that we were all culturally conditioned just for sitting there in silence. If indigenous people were to walk into the room they would have no idea what to do in that space, that's culture. He then threw a book across the room for a dramatic effect. Or in my archaeology class when the professor picked up a wastebasket dumped garbage on her desk and said, this is archeology then proceeded to explain how even garbage can provide insight into a society and way of life for people in the past. Professors at UCLA know how to engage you intellectually, for they are leaders in their fields. My degree laid a solid foundation for my next level of education. Without this educational experience I would not have been able to be accepted to all of the graduate schools I applied to after. There are no wrong choices at UCLA only a lack of action that will haunt you afterwards. I still regret not being able to do more. But like I said in the beginning UCLA is what you make of it."

"UCLA School of Dentistry is an amazing and competitive program for anyone who is interested in pursuing Dentistry as a career choice whether that be general dentistry or going into any of the recognized specialty programs. All of the faculty are at the top in their respective fields and have an immense desire to teach students with passion and vigor. The curriculum excels in both didactic and clinical aspects in preparing the students for the not only the national board exams but also to succeed after graduation. UCLA SOD has one of the highest pass rates for the board exams and extremely high match rates for specialty programs, which speak to the investment that the school makes into each of the 88 or so students that are enrolled. Furthermore, if you are someone interested in pursuing research in the future this is the program that you need to be looking into for your future. It is one of the premier research facilities in the country where countless faculty are working on cutting edge research that is making huge strides in the field of dentistry. For those interested, UCLA SOD offers a combined program between the dental school and a Ph.D. in oral biology, which is highly sought after and extremely competitive. Overall, if you are looking to succeed in your career as a dentist, regardless of whether you are in the private or academic setting, the School of Dentistry at UCLA is the graduate program that will help you realize your dreams."

"Ucla Law provided not only a rigorous legal education but more importantly provided me with invaluable networking opportunities with leaders in the legal world. I was able to secure my dream job with the help and support of the school. I would highly recommend UCLA."

"UCLA furnished me with a world-class education and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I obtained during my college career. I met incredible professors who provided me research and internship opportunities. They prepped me for graduate schools and helped me tremendously with my graduate applications. The networking opportunities was phenomenal; many employers went on-campus to recruit UCLA students and held on-campus interviews as well as career workshops. It was beneficial that UCLA is based in Westwood, which is the center of many great companies based in LA."

"The Sociology department at UCLA is exceptional. The professors are definitely up to date with what is going on in the world. UCLA provides with a wide selection of topics within the Sociology department that is hard not to like. The great thing about a Sociology major it that it gives you a whole view of society and helps you target your future interests in your career."

"Going to UCLA has been a life-changing experience. I not only had the opportunity to conduct my own independent research as an undergrad but also was supported by an amazing faultily knowledgable and inspiring faculty. I had a wonderful cohort of like-minded peers who I still keep in touch to this day. Also, being an UCLA alumni provides with recognition and prestige when looking for a job and applying to graduate school. Overall, I am a very proud Bruin for life."

"As a former transfer student I commuted to campus which provides a different experience. A car rider that was 20 minute without traffic would take 2 hours at time thanks to the 405 freeway. A parking pass was very expensive, and not guaranteed but was worth it for a commuter. I eventually started taking classes at a later time to beat the morning commute and it made a great difference. The school is very transfer friendly, there is a whole transfer center and Facebook page available for resources. I was surprised as to how many students were actually transfers in my classes, as well as a mixed age variety. Although UCLA is in a great location and one of the most applied schools, I do think it is a bit overrated. Many people attend for the prestige but Westwood was very bland. I do not regret commuting at all, there was not much to do for a California native. It is still drive on the 405 to the beach, and there is only one bar of walking distance from the campus. It was not adult friendly, everything was fit to adhere to the younger population of students. The campus itself is beautiful, and safe. I had never felt scared walking back to my car no matter how late it was. Be aware that if you live around the campus the parking is horrible, so prepare for that. I loved my transfer experience at UCLA but would question if it would have been a right fit for me as a freshman."

"UCLA is a great environment for undergraduate studies. The campus is stunning, attracting people from not only all corners of our country but other countries as well. While the instruction in the beginning has large lecture halls and seems a bit impersonal, when reaching your upper division coursework the classes are more intimate and the professors along with their TA's are very focused on individual progress and learning. Their engineering program was great, fun and challenging syllabi."

"UCLA is a fantastic place to pursue an undergraduate degree. Located in the heart of Westwood, it has the perfect environment to have a varied breadth of experiences. There are a wide number of courses to choose from, and it is convenient to know which classes to take through bruin walk.com"

"I loved my time at UCLA as an undergraduate - I grew a lot as a person from being able to interact with a diverse set of students, take advantage of on-campus opportunities and challenge myself with a difficult major and a heavy courseload. I majored in Physiological science and minored in English - getting the best of both North and South campuses. Ultimately, after graduating, I realized that my intended career path into medicine was not for me but taking the science classes at UCLA I believe was still worth it. I learned a lot and I think it differentiates me from the rest in my intended career path now - into publishing."

"The Sociology Doctoral program is quite rigorous, but not diverse enough - though that is changing as the department slowly hires more faculty of color and recruits students of color. Experiences in the program vary greatly by advisor and funding support. If you are lucky to find 1-2 supportive faculty and outside funding it can be a very rewarding experience, but without such support and funding it is very challenging--particularly in the second year when students without outside funding must TA, take a full course load, and write a Master's thesis. Taing in the department is also quite intense as compared to other departments and programs, with TAs essentially doing all of the teaching while the professors just lecture (though this varies somewhat)."

"UCLA is a renowned university that caters to all walks of life. With over 125 undergraduate majors in six different academic divisions, students can explore various subjects to find what they are most passionate about. The presence of a quarter system enables students to maximize the number of classes they may take in an academic year to either complete their degree in a timelier fashion or explore additional courses that may peak their interest. The comradery amongst classmates and colleagues fosters a sense of teamwork and support amongst students, ensuring the academic excellence of the students. In addition to the diverse academic course offerings, UCLA is an inclusive university that respects and takes pride in its diverse student and faculty population. The Student Activities Centers offers services that cater to transfer students, non-traditional students, members of the LGBTQ community, war veterans and much more. This institution also offers a wide variety of extra-curricular activities that enable students to develop and discover their passions outside of school. With over 800 clubs, students are bound to find one that suits their interest. Moreover, students also have the opportunity to collaborate with one another as well as faculty members to create new clubs."

"UCLA was a spectacular place to pursue my studies. I do wish they offered more specialized degrees as I am pursuing a masters degree in occupational therapy and needed to take a few classes after I graduated in order to be able to apply for the program. In that aspect, I was not prepared since my degree was in linguistics and psychology. Regardless, I would not change my place of study!"

"UCLA is an amazing campus. I really advise everybody to apply because it is really worth it. The programs are really helpful in guiding the students towards their career and the faculty is completely dedicated to the stuff- it's really a great school, great study body!"