Very fun! Any questions specifically?
When are they supposed to sign up for the 2-day summer session? Is it May 15? Will there be an email reminder please or is there a link?
Reservations begin May 15, 2025 at 11:00 am (Pacific Time) via MyUCLA .
Last year my S24 and I found all the timelines and information for parents and students here
https://newstudents.ucla.edu/
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Any converts to UCLA from UCB, based on Bruin day.. same may happen on Cal day!
Every kid we know who got into both is picking UCLA. One exception in our case. Mine got into both. Dragging him to CAl day by force.
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Just curious, any reason (s) why the preference for UCB?
My S25 is trying to decide between USC and UCB. Follow his big brother or chart his own path at Berkeley.
In D22’s class this was also true. Most choosing between Cal and UCLA chose UCLA. Probably the fact that we are in the Bay Area makes UCLA more likely—UCLA is a nice distance away from home. One person we know chose Cal because the program she got into there was very aligned to her interests and UCLA didn’t have a similar program. She is happy at Cal too!
I do think UCLA has the social experience/quality of life thing nailed. It’s such a fun place and you can sense that right away. People are smiling, probably wearing shorts in whatever month you are visiting, and there are many lawns where students are getting some sun between classes. Those #1 public school banners are everywhere, too, reminding you that it’s a top tier place for academics. And they’ll house you for 4 years if you want. And the food wins awards. It’s a hard combination to beat.
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No preference for UCB. Everybody wants UCLA. I just want my kid to at least see Berkeley.
I think the reason that one girl wants Berkeley is because her entire family went there.
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Food is out of this world. Campus is gorgeous. Housing is guaranteed. Weather is perfect. And not as rough at Berkeley.
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This is why our D25 will not be attending UCLA: U.S. judge says UCLA failed to protect Jewish students, orders fair access to all of campus - CBS Los Angeles
D24 chose Berkeley over UCLA. She’s enjoyed her time and feels it’s been a good decision for her.
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To each their own. Both are great choices but offer different environments. Right now, UCLA generally wins out among cross admits by about 63% of the time (there’s a chart somewhere on UC website). The reverse is true for most of the past history and I don’t know what switched. Most people I know who are 40+ and haven’t had kids apply to colleges yet are surprised that UCLA and Cal are now considered on par. I know I was.
I get the sense that Cal wins out more often than not for kids from N. Cal and UCLA wins out by a greater percentage by SoCal kids.
We know 2 friends who were cross admitted and visited last Saturday together. One was undecided and will likely choose UCLA because she got to sample the dorm food and liked the vibe better. The other will probably choose Cal because it’s a better fit for her.
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I think guaranteed housing (UCB is also at least $5k more expensive in housing) at UCLA, weather, prettier campus (according at least to my kids), perception of better study/life balance (I think this is a myth given what I see in STEM at UCLA) are all helping tilt the balance to it. My first kid was persuaded when we realized he could change majors even into engineering if he so desired. He was on the fence about his major. Plenty of his friends transferred from physics and math into engineering. I have seen kids transfer into CS. I am not sure this is even possible at Berkeley. I think this sort of flexibility is the most desirable attribute of UCLA if you are hesitating about your major.
We live not far away from UCB. My second kid although going to Cal Day this weekend, also much prefers ucla.
I think semester system is most definitely a plus for Berkeley, but even then my kid likes the quarter system since he gets to take more classes.
I will also add that my kid who isn’t a CS major has taken all of lower division CS classes and had no trouble getting into them at UCLA. He also added Data Engineering Minor and can register for any upper division CS class he wants. I am not sure you can register for CS at Berkeley if you aren’t in the major.
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From my understanding, it is very difficult to transfer into UCLA engineering if you were not admitted as an engineering major. You have to take certain Prerequisite classes and maintain a certain GPA and it is doable, but it is not easy to transfer into CS or engineering from other majors. I’m sure there are exceptions but I don’t believe it happens often. Obviously, you are aware of situations where it has occurred.
The same is true at Cal. I think both Cal and UCLA tell applicants they have to get in as engineering majors, but there is a way in. Again, I don’t think it happens, but I know of one girl who was able to transfer into computer engineering at Cal who was not originally admitted into that major.
Anyone can take intro to CS at Cal – as evidenced by the fact that the class has 1500 students (no exaggeration) and the final examination takes place in the basketball arena and five or six other large classrooms.
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This is good to know because we were told it was impossible to switch into engineering at cal.
1,500 kids in a class? I think CS classes were the largest my kid experienced at around 250. Wow, 1500!
So yes, you need to do prerequisites, but if you can’t survive math, physics, and CS lower divisions, you probably won’t survive upper divs either. But for a kid capable of doing well, transfer into engineering isn’t that hard at UCLA. Now if you are an English major…. that could be harder.
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Not sure if this has been asked before. But does anyone have insights on the Cluster Program? Are there certain types of students who shouldn’t enroll in the Cluster Program? My D25’s pre major is Data Science, wonder if the Cluster Program or Fiat Lux seminar is a good option. Thanks.
My D22 took a cluster class her freshman year. She is a humanities major and took the science cluster as a way to knock out a those required GE classes and Writing II. Back when she was selecting her classes, the advice was to choose a cluster that was different from your intended major, as you’ll end up taking the major classes anyway (so, humanities taking stem, stem taking humanities cluster).
The other benefit of the cluster is that it’s a guaranteed class all 3 quarters of freshman year. That means you can use your First Pass (the first round of registration where everyone gets to register for 10 units) to get your other classes.
As well, the cluster counts as 4 GE classes when only 3 are taken. A GE freebie, if you will.
The clusters are also smaller classes with pretty well known professors, taught on the hill. A quarter of my daughter’s Cosmos class was taught by the person who found the Kuiper Belt—very cool.
As far as cons go, you do have to work around the cluster meeting times to choose your other 2-3 classes. So if another class you want spring semester is only offered during the cluster class time, you can’t rearrange your cluster time/days. It is a year-long commitment. This wasn’t too difficult for my daughter, but she did have friends who were annoyed by this.
All in all, she was happy she did it.
She also look a Fiat Lux every quarter freshman year. She loved those. They are easy, 1 unit classes taught by some beloved and respected professors. She took a walking tour of LA first quarter and it was a great way to learn more about her new city. Fiat Lux allows you to learn for the sake of curiosity, with literally no pressure.
Hope this helps!
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Does anyone have insight on how difficult or easy it is to get around LA (specifically reach the financial district) without a car for someone interested in finance/business internships?
Your feedback is invaluable. Thank you. Would the advisor from summer orientation give any advice during the 2-day session? I read that the 2nd day is their course enrollment. My D25 is interested in the cluster but not sure how to go about it and which one to choose; meanwhile, we are reading up on the UCLA Cluster Program website.
My S24 is majored in DS as well, and he chooses Cluster 70 (Evolution) for his freshman year to meet 4 GE classes (18 units), lab and writing II requirement. Once he signs up the cluster for Fall quarter during orientation, it is almost guaranteed that he can sign up the rest cluster 70 class for the Winter and Spring quarter during 2nd pass. The class is not hard and easy to get A.
Below are the cluster GE classes that you can take:
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