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<li><p>you only feel like a number if you let yourself be treated like a number. there are many ways to avoid this, which are discussed in detail all around this forum, and include common-sense things like going to office hours, finding small classes, getting involved, etc. also, you make your own communities. there’s dorm floors, study groups, and whatever clubs/teams/groups you go out and join. there are SO many opportunities here- the thing is, you’ve got to find them.</p></li>
<li><p>school spirit definitely exists, and does seem to center itself around football/basketball but we also have spring sing and other campus-wide events that help draw the school together. however i’d say it’s more that each group has its own traditions that get passed on (ie, marching band has a ton of them). </p></li>
<li><p>traditions… well there’s undie run, if that’s your thing. and midnight yell, sort of. spring sing is more of an event than a tradition but it’s a huge deal here! i’d say traditions really do come out more during football/basketball- that’s the place to go if you want a taste of UCLA spirit. and football games have been some of the best times (since i’m in the band lol) and we have our own set of traditions on top of bruin ones.</p></li>
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<p>i guess one way to sum it up is that at UCLA, you can do anything you want and take part in any organization under the sun- you just have to find your own way :)</p>