Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I am a current freshman at UCLA. Last spring I was given the option to attend UC Berkeley or UCLA. I loved everything about Berkeley- I loved the social atmosphere, the academic prestige, and I especially have always loved the bay area. However, it was farther away from home and at that time, I was reluctant to attend UC Berkeley due to the rumors of its fierce competition and its cut throat grading system. So UCLA kind of fell into my hands as default. Now that I'm here, I greatly regret my decision to not attend UC Berkeley. I know its still early in the game to make any harsh judgments, and I have tried my hardest to not compare UCLA with Berkeley, however, I still cannot help but wish I was attending Berkeley right now. I've never been partial to the city of LA. I thought I would be able to ignore some of the negative qualities of the city like the smog, the superficiality, and the huge intimidating city atmosphere and rather focus on the school, but I find myself already growing tired of these things. Now I realize that a large part of your college experience depends on the city you are in and I have never liked LA. The college itself is of course, a fine school but I never felt the same "connection" as I did at Berkeley when I first stepped foot on the campus. There was something very invigorating about walking around Berkeley that I cannot feel here. My decision to attend UCLA as you can see, was not well founded. I am wondering if I still have available options or if Berkeley is completely out of the picture now. I hear transferring to Berkeley is difficult and I don’t know their policy on accepting second year students.

By Ellemenope (Ellemenope) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 10:46 am: Edit

You should read this article--How to be happy with your college choice.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8058-2004Oct5.html

By Lame (Lame) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 06:35 pm: Edit

I am going to UCLA right now, too. I'm also a freshman. I wanted to go to Berkeley but was rejected, and for a while I was pretty upset about it (Berkeley has a lot of appeal to me also). I think really it took some time to come to accept that UCLA is a really amazing place. If Berkeley was really so great, don't you think more Nor Cal students would stay up there ;) ? Anyways, do the best you can in your classes and if you're still unhappy in 2 years you'll be able to transfer.

By Welshie (Welshie) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

I agree with Lame. I am going to BYU and was pretty bummed about it because I felt like I never really wanted to go but I "had to." I came up here and just felt worse. I thought that none of the schools I "wanted" to go to (Berkeley included) would have been such a disappointment as this place. Time went on and I started adapting and making the best of it and I'm halfway enjoying myself now. You make your own college experience. Create away!

By Yackityack (Yackityack) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 07:13 pm: Edit

I didn't get into UCLA but got into Berkeley (spring semester). I know more people, personally, who got into berk than UCLA. They both are awesome schools. seriously. Even some of my fellow honors kids at UCI didn't get into UCLA either.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 07:31 pm: Edit

Yeah, I got into Berkeley as well as UCLA. I picked UCLA, and so far, love it. It's a great place, but very different from Berkeley (in a good way IMO). UCLA is the hardest UC to get into because it gets the most applications-- I think that's the reason. Everyone wants to come here I guess (smug shrug).

By Liek0806 (Liek0806) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 09:19 pm: Edit

i've grown up in la all my life and even though i'm only applying to ucla from the uc's, i think if i were to have to make a choice between berkeley and la, i'd chose la. I'm sick of LA, it is a great city, but when you've lived here all your life you kind of shelter yourself by staying here, and thinking about going to la kind of makes me feel like if iwere going to my local high school because it would be a commuter. That would suck.
I'm only applying becaues the media design major is the best from the ucs.

By Sac (Sac) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

UCLAbruin,
My daughter went to UCLA and, like you, did not like LA as much as northern California (where we live), and was especially turned off by the fraternity/sorority scene. She had a good experience there,because there are also many other scenes, and she loved many of her courses. I wouldn't give up on UCLA until you seek out some extra curricular in which you can find people you like. My daughter, for example, got involved with tutoring at a detention facility for girls and made a lot of good friends (many of them Northern Californians). She also went on education abroad her junior year, which is another experience I'd really urge you to check out. UCs have an amazing education abroad program. UCLA has some wonderful language departments -- she took Italian and spent a year in Bologna.

Aside from the fact that transfer between UCs is difficult (most of the transfer slots are reserved for community college students), it's really too soon to write off the UCLA experience. At a large school, it takes a while to connect. But that would be true at Berkeley as well. Many people discover their reason for choosing a particular school was not particularly valid or was not based on good information. That doesn't mean that, if you allow yourself to make the most of it, you won't end up really enjoying UCLA. I'd concentrate at this point on exploring the aspects of the campus and city that could make your experience as "invigorating" as Berkeley.

By Mikemac (Mikemac) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 11:42 pm: Edit

UC schools only consider xfers for junior year, so you are stuck at ucla for 2 years. Since you've only been there a few weeks it may be too early to judge things, but too be fair many people know in their gut when something isn't right for them and if that voice is yelling and screaming maybe you should listen to it. UCLA is not right for everybody, nor is any school (even if its in the Ivy league). On the other hand, part or most of what you're feeling may just be due to buyers remorse (or, put another way, the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence).

By Kfc4u (Kfc4u) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 04:33 am: Edit

hey uclabruin

im an incoming freshman at ucla too and i chose ucla over berkeley. there are so many aspects and so many different activities offered and different people to make friends with here. so, to echo what others have been saying, since you can't really transfer until junior year (i think), you might as well try to find whatever youre looking for or get involved in something. i dont really consider westwood as real LA... go walk down to westwood and hang out, it doesnt have the big city feel. and coming from the southland, i'd have to say: what smog? hahah its a lot cleaner here than it is in the san gabriel valley... or at least thats what it seems

By Any1can (Any1can) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 08:34 am: Edit

My son is also at UCLA and loves it. I have two nieces at Berkeley (Fresh and Jr). Son ended up in a fraternity which he was positive he wasn't going to do because he was anti fraternity pretty much his entire life, and he it having the time of his life. It has given him a connection. UCLA is so huge. Niece #1 had a hard time at Berkeley her first year but has since joined a Christian sorority and feel much more connected. Niece number 2 got involved in clubs and activities right away and is having a great time. I think alot of kids feel the same way you do, esp their first year. Find a way to get connected with an activity of group that you enjoy and it will make UCLA a "smaller" enivironment and much more fun. You made your decision and life is much too short to live in regret so go out and enjoy yourself. Best of luck to you.