GOT OFF THE UCLA WAITLIST! UCLA (oos) vs UIUC (in-state) [computer science / and engineering]

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COA: ucla will be more because it’s out of state, but it’s not a signifiant amount. my parents are willing to pay for either

major: UIUC: computer science UCLA: computer science and engineering

I’m really interested in doing a film minor no matter what, so UCLA sounds amazing for that.

edit: I’m not 100% on doing computer science as my major. I just know I wanted to do something math related.

I’m definitely interested in getting a doctorate after undergraduate.

The class size is about the same so that wouldn’t bother me. Although, from what I’ve read about UCLA so far, it sounds a lot more competitive (con). I’m used to the weather in IL so that doesn’t bother me. I’m not interested in Greek life. My biggest con for UCLA is how far it would be from home. Also, the class registration makes it sound like you can’t get most classes you want?? I could have my car and a single at UIUC, I’m assuming that won’t be the case at UCLA. However, from reading more about students and their experience at UIUC, it sounds miserable outside of the great CS program. Also, it would be nice to be far from home to have more of a “fresh start”, but I would also appreciate having familiar faces on campus at UIUC. I’m attached to my family and hometown, so I will definitely get very homesick.

I don’t really know a lot about UCLA since I just got in and am still researching. Any advice would be helpful!!

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What kind of film minor? Production or Cinema studies.

Both work.

Do you have a roommate lined up, a comfort, etc.

Did you visit UCLA? If so, thoughts?

UCLA is on trimesters, not semesters - have you considered the impact of that? UIUC will start and end earlier and have just two semesters vs. three in an academic year.

Good luck.

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Congrats!

A few thoughts…

First of all, the financial difference between UIUC in-state and UCLA OOS is… at least $140K over four years. That’s a significant amount for most people; but if your parents are willing and able to pay for ULCA, that’s wonderful.

Secondly, the film minor at UCLA is accessible only by a competitive admissions process. I don’t know what the acceptance rate is, but that would be something to investigate; don’t assume it’s something you would be able to do. You might find access to film classes to be better at UIUC; definitely do some research on this before putting “film minor” in the “pro” column for UCLA.

Thirdly… if I were admitted to CS but not 100% sure about it, I would find the range of academic options at UIUC more attractive. At UCLA, CS is in the engineering school, and staying in it or not is pretty binary. There is the “Mathematics of Computation” major in L&S (plus the Linguistics+CS major) but those are pretty different. At UIUC, on the other hand, a CS student who began to feel like like “all CS all the time” was too much, would have the Mathematics & CS major, the Statistics & CS major, and entire wide range of CS+X majors, as options to switch into. Starting out in straight-CS keeps all of those options open, which is great flexibility to have.

Also, yes, you’re correct - course registration in the UC system can be quite challenging, if you’re not an athlete or a Regents Scholar who gets priority registration. I’m not familiar with what UIUC is like by comparison. But it can be a bitter pill to be paying $75K/year and not getting the classes you wanted.

All that said, yes, there are reasons that UCLA is so widely loved. It’s a great school in a great location. UIUC is very highly-regarded for CS, so I don’t think double the cost would buy you any reputational boost with respect to CS specifically, but UCLA does have a mystique in the public imagination, that UIUC does not, and I don’t doubt that you would enjoy your time there.

I would start with the academic differences, and examine those closely. There’s a lot to think about. Congrats on two very difficult CS admits!

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UIUC will give you a lot more flexibility if you don’t stick with CS – and if you do, you’re golden since UIUC CS is world class. In addition, the film studies/production dept is fantastic but wouldn’t be as capacity-limited as at UCLA. In addition, I assume you’re in Honors at UIUC which comes with nice perks youd be giving up. Basically UIUC meets your stated academic criteria better.
Wrt quality of life, no you wouldn’t get a single, especially this late, and you could get a triple.
The only advantage I see for UCLA is good weather and with the money you save, you could spend Spring Breaks in California or even study abroad on the French Riviera, in Cataluña or Tuscany for your fill of good weather … and still be ahead financially. Your UIUC CS program may even commonly lead to junior summer internships in California.
To be fair, re reading your OP, it sounds like you list lots of downsides to UCLA yourself :wink: so perhaps you can keep that elated “OMG i got into UCLA” feeling… keep it inside… and still go to UIUC just knowing you got into UCLA.

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Few thoughts on UCLA:

  1. housing is guaranteed for 4 years, but majority of people I know when I went to school there choose to move out: Santa Monica, Century City, Palm, and Westwood are popular destinations which have convenient buses will drop you off right inside campus. Students move out after 1st year, mostly to save money but also they want to have a car. Dorming gets old after a while. You and 15k kids living in close proximity while paying almost $20k for 9 months of room and board just to become homeless for the summer (if you choose to stay for job/internship).

  2. Parking permit is impossible to get as an UG living in the dorms. UCLA uses a point system to grant parking. Impossible for any UG to have enough points to get a parking permit while living on campus. Commuters may get points based on distance from campus.

  3. You mentioned competition. I don’t think UCLA is anymore competitive than elsewhere. I bet people may be more intimidated by you than you are them.

  4. Everyone wants to double major and/or minor, but the truth is very few people actually find the time. There are a lot of things in college and they all take time. There are certain majors at UCLA where you will almost never see them on campus. You know they are there, but just don’t see them: Architecture, Film, Music, Nursing…

  5. Difficulty getting classes. Any big public will have that problem. Usually the “popular” classes will be filled. But you will be engineering, you will have protected enrollment to your core classes. GE: as long as you have several options and be flexible, there should not be any problems.

But there is a thread right now about a Freshman student from VA looking to transfer out. Check that thread out. For some OOS students, the struggle is real.

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I’ve heard that course registration at UIUC for CS is pretty bad. Seniors who are majoring in data science and other related majors need to take introductory CS courses in order to graduate, and that blocks freshmen CS majors from registering for those courses.

Also from what I’ve heard, there’s not much to do at UIUC, even if you are not an outgoing person. There aren’t too many options for things as simple as food.

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Not sure where you heard this as it is definitely not the case. There are over 40 restaurants in Campustown plus many others in Champaign and Urbana.

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In general, I suggest posters avoid sharing second and third hand information or at least acknowledge that is what it is. That is not helpful. People post here asking for first hand information from those with real knowledge of the school in question. (FYI “Real knowledge” does not come from gossip. Take any comments starting with “I heard” with an appropriate level of skepticism.)

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I’m a parent of a second year at UCLA and my daughter’s experience, and that of her roommates and extended friend group has varied some from your assertions. In the spirit of adding a perspective here:

  1. My daughter has lived on campus the last 2 years. Most sophomores she knows also live on campus or in their Greek house if they went Greek. Many juniors move off campus but they don’t go far. Westwood is full of apartments and the vast majority of kids go from dorm to Westwood apartment. They often continue to share bedrooms in these apartments (2 to a room). Price is on par with dorms but leases are 12 months.

That said, there’s a huge transfer community at UCLA, so tons of juniors live in university housing, usually apartments owned and managed by UCLA. So you can easily spend your later years in UCLA-managed housing and many do

  1. Yep, not gonna get parking on campus. People do get rented garage spaces but it’s an added cost. My D will have parking at her apartment next year. 2 spots for 6 girls.

  2. UCLA is competitive when it comes to clubs. Many clubs are highly selective and you have to interview in multiple rounds. My daughter was rejected many times before she found a few clubs to join. Some clubs are not this way at all (ie, anyone can join the hiking club or the surf and ski club). Business or professional clubs are the most competitive.

In the classroom, things are more collaborative. People at ucla are by and large happy, confident and friendly. My daughter has always made friends in classes, shared notes, formed study groups, etc. It does not have the same “cuttthroat” competition reputation that Berkeley has.

  1. My daughter is double majoring in History and Communications. Depends on the number of pre-reqs and requirements — some majors are short. Others are not. But she came in with a bunch of AP credit, tested out of a few GEs and has had time to study abroad and double major. She has taken some summer classes, though.

  2. Registration can absolutely be a challenge. You’ve got to be flexible, you’ve got to get Coursicle, you’ve got to be willing to take a summer class once in a while bc it’s the only time you can get a class you need. OOS students pay in state rates in the summer and I see many OOS kids stick around summer after freshman year to pick up a couple of classes over 6 weeks.

Beyond this, I want to say that my kid is super happy at UCLA. She’s made amazing friends, has taken courses with magnificent professors at the top of their fields (including a current class on Israel and Palestine, taught by a well-respected academic and author), and has found her extended communities in a literary journal, pre-law fraternity and a hiking club. She loves the food and it has contributed to her high quality of life. The weather is mostly perfect (May gray and June gloom is real though).

As for whether or not it’s worth it for you to pay out of state fees—hard to say. I think you have to be willing to accept UCLA’s flaws without getting resentful of the money you’re spending. It’s a wonderful place but it’s not perfect. And no one will hold your hand and guide you. Some may look at that and say… for 10-20k more I could have a private school with lots of handholding. And I want my hand held if I’m shelling out 75k a year. And that’s valid. But if you’re a self-starter with a lot of energy, and a healthy amount of persistence, it’s a hell of a good time :slight_smile:

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