Personally, I don’t think there is a gap between UCLA and Cal in terms of prestige. It is almost like debating between if you want to go to Yale or Harvard(Not saying that Cal or UCLA are in that conversation but, it is choosing a school). I didn’t apply to Cal last year, I am confident I would’ve gone in. I knew I was getting in UCLA, since my GPA was high, my essay was approved by my old English professor, and I traveled extensively, worked in the mortgage industry for some years, and in the health care, i felt I was well versed in terms of education and in life. I was well equipped to get into Cal, but for me, I wasn’t leaving SoCal. I wasn’t going to move 350 miles for something that I could get 20 miles away from my house.
For those that do not live so close to UCLA, I have friends that gone to Cal, said they wished they had picked UCLA instead, they missed LA. It is the life of LA and it’s energy, it is vibrant and did I mention the fantastic weather? Your college experience, especially if you are still in your early 20’s, is not all about hitting the books, it is learning life experiences. There is cliche that is said about NY, “If you could make it here, you could make it anywhere”, well, LA has this facet as well.
Concluding, terms of education, they are on a equal level, in terms of campus, outside of campus, and city, UCLA cannot be touched. Whichever school you decide, have a great experience, and good luck.