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Hey. I never really heard much about UC's until I started visiting this site. Are they really that great, or is that just all they have to brag about in California? From what I've seen, Boston and East Coast schools easily trample the UCs. Seriously, there are so many people all over the country who come to Boston, New York, etc, but I hardly hear of anyone ever leaving the East Coast for a California school. What's everyone elses opinion?

By Blushingclover (Blushingclover) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 02:58 pm: Edit

The UCs are arguably the best public school system in the nation, namely UCLA and UC Berkeley. Both these schools enjoy international prestige and though they are by no means the equivalent of the Ivies, they do offer a quality education at a fraction of the price for in-state students.

By Drusba (Drusba) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 03:42 pm: Edit

People in the east believe the Ivies are best. People in the midwest believe places like University of Chicago, Northwestern, Washington University in St. Louis, and even some public universities are at least equal to HYP and well above the rest of the ivies. People in the west believe Stanford, UC Berkeley and UCLA, are better than anything. Your assumption that east is clearly better than west doesn't mean everyone shares your belief. In fact, being from the midwest, I just find it fascinating seeing so many people drool over the ivies on these boards, indicating, most likely, that eastern posters outnumber the rest. For any out of state student, the UC's are very difficult to get into and thus you are likely to see more going east than those who go west although I am not sure that is even true.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 04:10 pm: Edit

Specifically about UCLA:

there is opportunity for undergraduate research in fields like genetics, neuroscience, and bioengineering.

Research is only one of many facets by which you can evaluate a university, but UCLA is very strong:

In the year 2000, the most recent year for which data is available, UCLA was 3rd in the nation in federal funding for science and engineering research. UCLA has passed the likes of Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Michigan, and Penn, among others.

[wish I had more complete data...this is abstracted from data sent to me by someone who works at UCLA]

If you look at things like Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellowships, etc., UCLA is very strong and UC Berkeley is even stronger. It's very difficult for out-of-state students to get into the UC's. The Ivies don't have all that much to be snooty about...it winds up being a department by department comparison.

By Proudtobemom (Proudtobemom) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 05:42 pm: Edit

Thedad: Do you have any anecdotal or specific information about the math program at UCLA and research opportunities there?

By Pisces (Pisces) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 07:46 pm: Edit

From Drusba-
"Your assumption that east is clearly better than west doesn't mean everyone shares your belief."

I never said that everyone shares my beliefs, if i believed that I wouldnt have started this thread. This is also not an assumption. People come from all over the country and the world to attend East Coast schools. Like people have said, UCs are mainly Cali. students. Also, 32/50 of the top undergrad. schools (the US News rankings) are east coast. It's home to some of the best and the brightest in research, business, etc- DC, Boston, NY, so it shouldnt be a surprise that you can get an excellent education in the same place.

Obviously, the UC's are great too. And I'm not trying to bash them (much, but I did want some responses, so you have to get people mad) I was honestly curious as to why they are considered such great schools. So thank you to blushingclover and thedad for giving useful information instead of becoming defensive.

BTW- When I say east coast, i am not just talking about ivies. Yes, there are people who drool over the name, from east, west, everywhere. I'm not one of them. In the phrase "east coast schools"- i mean the ivies, the top liberal arts schools, MIT, etc, etc.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 07:49 pm: Edit

PtbMom, let me check. I don't know off the top of my head but there are a couple of people I can ask for an informed opinion. It may take a couple of days for a further response.

By Proudtobemom (Proudtobemom) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 11:55 pm: Edit

Thanks, Thedad. We'll appreciate any input.

By Justanotherguy (Justanotherguy) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 11:22 pm: Edit

I'm in the Air Force but I want to go to a Cal State when I get out. However, I've heard that most California colleges are very liberal and don't really like military. Do any of you think my military background will hurt my chances of getting in?

By Militarygrade (Militarygrade) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 01:19 am: Edit

Justanotherguy -

I'm a former Marine, and I'm about to transfer to Berkeley, arguably the most liberal school in the nation.

Students b*tch and complain non-stop about the gov and such, but I've never had any problem based on my military career. In fact, the only reason why I have a strong college career is because of the military.

Don't sweat it. It won't hurt you one bit.

By Crackcorn (Crackcorn) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 02:29 am: Edit

People in the East don't go to the UC's because of the cost. California residents get a quality education from a "name" school. Especially if they go to UCLA or Berkeley.

And while its not a UC. Stanford is right up there with Harvard and Yale as far as name prestige goes. A Stanford degree may not guarantee you a job, but it will guarantee you an interview. And people don't resent a Stanford grad the way they resent Yalies and Harvard grads for being snobs. (I'm not saying Yalies and Harvard grads are snooty. But that is a common perception of them.)

By Mansoor (Mansoor) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 02:48 am: Edit

UC Berkeley is considered by its peers to be the "public-Ivy"...as far as graduate schools are concerned it has the most departments (37) in the top ten, followed by Stanford (26? or 27?), then Harvard(21?)...after Harvard itself Berkeley is the most chosen destination for grad school by many harvard grads due to its prestige....Berkeley has the highest concentration of nobel laureates on the planet...16 elements on the table of periodic elements were discovered there...

and as far as CA for schools are concerned, Berkeley & Stanford share the spot for #1, and caltech and UCLA come in 3rd and 4th...

Ohh yeah, look at any prestigous East Coast school's list of faculty, for any department, and you will find more often than not that their curriculum vitae's are branded with University of California, Berkeley degrees....so as far as academia is concerned it is definitely at the cutting edge of thinking....

By Yourlocalmayor (Yourlocalmayor) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 11:08 am: Edit

rankings rankings...