jujummm

Hi everyone,

I have been accepted to UCLA and Chapman (with a scholarship), and am still awaiting a response from USC. If I get into USC, I am definitely going there, but if not, I don't know whether to choose UCLA or Chapman. The most important things for me in a college are:
- good dietetics/music programs
- awesome social scene
- equal or larger ratio of guys over girls (lol)

(I loved both campuses...)

Please feel free to add info about either of these colleges you think could help me choose one! Thank you

SMCguy

If you got into UCLA, then you'll easily get into U$C

beyphy

UCLA definitely has the first two, although there's many more women here than men (with ~55% women)

jujummm

beyphy:Thanks, good to know! It's still better than Chapman which has about 58% women. SMCguy, I sure hope so!!! But it's not definite...my scores are slightly low for their standards, but I'm praying that I can still get in!

If anyone goes to either of these colleges, what can you tell me about them? Anything at all Thanks!

beyphy

UCLA has a very friendly student body, and you can find anything here from student dance crews to larpers. greek scene isn't small but it isn't overwhelming either. You can make friends in a number of different ways either through groups or the greek scene, or as i usually do, socializing with people in my classes.

I think the weather at UCLA is slightly better than the weather at USC due mainly in part since it's closer to the beach, and hence, gets more of the ocean breeze (although it isn't significant)

The campus is really gorgeous and has a lovely view of the surrounding areas.

Downsides:

It's LA, so traffic can be really bad at times. In rush hour, my commute home takes 90min; at nighttimes (after 8pm) it takes 30min.

Parking is scarce in westwood and unless you commute from far away it's unlikey that you're going to get a parking spot.

Westwood, and LA in general, is fairly expensive, so that's another consideration.

As someone who's also spent a considerable amount of time at USC, i can also give an informed (but nevertheless biased) opinion of it:

Campus is pretty nice. It's isn't hilly like UCLA and they have some cool stuff on their campus (like a bar on campus, which UCLA lacks.)

Surrounding area has been going huge development and the surrounding area's getting considerably more gentrified/modern.

Tha addition of the expo-line is going to make surrounding areas like culver city and downtown significantly more accessible when it opens in april later next month. And if you're starting as a freshman, the complete line should be open in your junior-senior year in 2015.

Cons:

located on the bad side of town (although generally pretty safe.)

tuition has been historically fairly high.

jujummm

Cool, thank you for the information! Anyone have any info on Chapman, or their experience their? Pros, cons..?

OCELITE

The differences between UCLA and Chapman:
UCLA is a large public university with larger class sizes, meaning you'll be in a large lecture hall with several hundred students and the classes are usually taught by TAs. The area is nice and the campus is nice.

Chapman is a mid-size private university with smaller class sizes, the average class size is 20-25 students, meaning you'll get to know your professor. The classes are taught by professors. It's located in the OC, nice area and nice campus, and only 15 minutes away from the beach. In general, traffic is less congested in the OC compared to LA. Chapman is growing constantly and is continuing to expand with new buildings and new programs.

You must visit the campuses in person to see and get the feel for yourself.

UCLA Band Mom

Not true. My son never once had a class taught by a TA, every single one of them was taught by a professor. And only a couple of his freshman science lectures were several hundred students, all other classes were much smaller.

OCELITE

"Not true. My son never once had a class taught by a TA, every single one of them was taught by a professor. And only a couple of his freshman science lectures were several hundred students, all other classes were much smaller."

On the contrary, I have friends and relatives who had kids attended the UCs including UCLA, they have said that the classes are much larger in the UC schools, without a doubt, average class size can range from 70 and up to several hundred students, depending on the subject. Comparing to many of the private schools, the average class size around 20-25 students. That's a big difference. Also from what I've heard, if a student missed a class at UCLA, no one knows about it. That's how big the classes are in the UC system. Not only that, I heard from my relative that he met his professor only once since day one, for the entire time he was taught by a TA. It would be rare to not have TAs teaching in UC schools. As I had said, it is best to visit the schools in person, and sit in for a day. That's the best way to experience the classes.

beyphy

Uh, there's so much misinformation here. TAs can't teach classes, they're not even qualified to do so. The only people who can teach classes are either professors or lecturers. TAs can "teach" classes under the supervision of a professor, but those classes are rare. (so far it's been 1/17, and will probably continue to be 1/21) There's no respectable department that would have a class that was taught mainly under TAs. And nothing like that would surely happen at UCLA. It certainly wouldn't be one of the most respected universities in the world if the classes were taught mostly by TAs and had the reputation for doing so.

Your relative wouldn't by any chance have taken classes at UCLA during the summer would he/she? In the summer, most of the classes are taught by TAs. This is because, as the head of my department told us, summer is purely for-profit as opposed to the rest of the academic year.

Classes, in my experience, have averaged probably 40-80 students; not small, not huge. This is nowhere close to the 'several-hundred' students you were talking about.

As someone who actually goes here, i can tell you that you are gravely misinformed. Sorry to tell you, but Chapman doesn't come anywhere close to being as respected as UCLA, and UCLA offers opportunities Chapman doesn't have the resources or the reputation to offer. (look at it's endowment for example.)

Chapman's a fine school, but to try to say that it will offer you opportunities unavailable to you at UCLA is laughable.

OCELITE

beyphy, Not sure what your major is, but my relatives who had attended the UCs were in the sciences. UC schools are known for research, they said the professors are busy with research work so they are not doing all the teaching. Whether the classes are taught by TAs or lecturers as you call them, they're not the actual professors. As I have indicated in my last post, the size of the class depends on the subject, when classes are held in the lecture hall, it's usually large, and yes, they meant in the hundreds. These information were given to us from students who have graduated from the UC schools. BTW, I have also toured the UC campuses when DS was searching for the right fit. I have seen the UC's lecture halls so I know how big they are. My relatives recommended Chapman to us because they know it's the right fit for us. We wanted a more personalized education where the professors know the students by their names. You can't get that if you only see your professor for a couple of times or just a few times. As for endowment, Chapman is a small to mid-size school with fewer students, therefore the endowment is smaller. That has nothing to do with the quality of the school.


That being said, I thank my relatives every time I see them. Chapman turns out to be the perfect fit for us. Also, Chapman has excellent science programs along with their Arts programs. Excellent school. Great merit-aid. Loved their facilities, it's absolutely gorgeous! Great location and neighborhood, and great food, too! Chapman has a great reputation and is ranked 7th in the west in the USNR.

jujummm

Thank you for your replies!

Still waiting on that USC decision, it should arrive tomorrow... *bites nails.* Even after reading your answers, I'm still unsure of whether I would rather attend Chapman or UCLA. I think I'm leaning towards UCLA but my inkling keeps switching back and forth. ARGH so difficult. For those of you attending UCLA, what is your favorite aspect of it? Feel free to list multiple things...

beyphy

I'd say nice friendly people, preeminent professors, lots of majors, etc.

This video sums up the great aspects of UCLA quite succinctly:

Welcome to UCLA! - YouTube

OCELITE

jujummm, Have you visited the campuses yet? If you haven't, you must take a tour of the campuses to see for yourself. Chapman has amazing dorms and dining facilities. They have excellent cook to order food. First class all the way. DS said the UC friends who came to visit were amazed by the Chapman dining experiences. The dorms are much nicer also. They have their own swimming pool by the residence halls. To give you a view of the Chapman campus, here's a quick video tour of A Day At Chapman created by the Chapman's film students. A Day At Chapman (Tilt Shift Video) on Vimeo

BTW, In case you haven't heard, Chapman is building a Filmmakers' Village with additional dining that houses their film students. Chapman's Dodge College is already ranked among the world's best film schools by Hollywood Reporter, and among best 4 year film schools by Screen Junkies 2012 SJ Movie Awards Best 4 Year Film Schools | Screen Junkies

If you love music program, then you will love what Chapman's plans for the new Performing Arts Center (with an 1,100-seat, professionally tuned performance facility that will be able to accommodate full-scale Broadway style productions, full ballets, symphonies and operas, as well as chamber performances, jazz and more). For those who love the sciences, Chapman is building a new Science Center that will house their Schmid College of Science and Technology for their sciences programs, and the Chapman-KGI School of BioPharmacy. Upcoming Projects | Chapman University

As all of us can see, UC schools are not the only research schools around. The difference is Chapman's professors do the teaching because they have the resources. It's a private institution. They don't have the state budget cuts which the UC public schools have to deal with. UC used to be inexpensive to attend, but it is no longer. If you received good merit-aid from Chapman, that's the place to be. Otherwise, my UC relatives wouldn't have recommended my family to go there. Chapman is truly an amazing school! If you also like USC, you'll love Chapman! It's funny, but many people in the OC are referring Chapman as the USC of OC. Haha. Best of luck in your decision!

jujummm

I watched both videos, they were both helpful, thank you.

OCELITE: I have visited both campuses and loved them both, which makes my decision that much harder! Since it was a while ago though, I will be visiting again soon.

I thought the Chapman campus was a bit small yet very pretty, but the surrounding area is a bit boring, but I would probably take a car with me anyways so that wouldn't be a problem. UCLA seemed extremely "well-kept" and beautiful, although I don't know how big it is because I only walked around one area of the campus. The weather was great in both regions!