What do you get when you combine a top ranked public university in a beautiful urban neighborhood with the perfect climate? UCLA. It is small wonder that year after year it is the most applied to school in the country. That is only one of several reasons UCLA is increasingly difficult to get into.
The enduring allure of UCLA is easy to understand. The campus buildings and open spaces are beautiful. The quality of the professors are top notch. The campus is a vibrant place with unlimited cultural and educational opportunities. The campus is ideally situated in the town of Westwood which is a perfect college town. Westwood is filled with coffee shops, juice bars, and all kinds of stores geared to college kids. And, of course there is the nearly perfect weather and appeal of Southern California.
While all of these factors explain UCLA’s enduring popularity. In the interest of balance, my review would be incomplete without including the not so sunny complaints noted by students and parents alike. One often stated comment is that the school is too big and lacks any sense of community. One parent who had a child attend UCLA commented that the school “lacks a soul”. Another often stated complaint is that due to to the budget cuts to higher education in California, classes are larger and it can be extremely difficult for students to get into the classes they need for their majors. Still others complain that the school lacks diversity and the large contingent of ethnic groups on campus do not mix well.
On balance UCLA is a terrific school for a highly competitive student looking for a large school in California who is aware of its few drawbacks.
