Why would anyone want to come to UCLA?

[Wikipedian]

<p>

I got a 1 on the AP Java test and knew essentially nothing about real programming when I came in as a freshman. I got A’s in CS 31 with Rohr/CS 32/CS 33 with Rohr, so it is most definitely doable if you even just try. So like I said before, I don’t feel your pain, the projects definitely are not that hard if you just think about them and try instead of leaving them until the last day.

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<p>I am assuming you took CS 31 in the winter and CS 32 in the spring. No?</p>

[zzzboy]

<p>should have gone to Upenn man.</p>

[JW_Muller]

<p>

If I could change back the hands of time I would have gone to a Cal state school and then a better school for grad school.

</p>

<p>The world little notes nor long remembers graduates from Cal State schools. These colleges are a black void. Look at the [CC list of colleges](<a href=“College Confidential Forums - Admissions Discussions and Threads”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/c/&lt;/a&gt;), only a few are listed, and Cal Poly is the only one with any posts. Fresno State, with 22,000 students, has 7 posts total all time. UCLA will have 7 posts per hour. It is reflective of the total lack of energy emanating from the Cal State system.</p>

<p>Do you think Adcoms at better graduate schools sit up and take notice when they see an A-laden transcript from Hayward State? Think again. You’d be on the pathway to oblivion. Stop your ideation of being a shining star amid mediocrity, and double down on your time at UCLA.</p>

[Deuces]

<p>Hrmm, I took Rohr Spring last year for CS31, got an A-, worked my butt off - it really was just a matter of starting early on projects and asking the TAs for help.</p>

[imrightuarewrong]

<p>

I am assuming you took CS 31 in the winter and CS 32 in the spring. No?

</p>

<p>Nope, I’m a CS&E major, I took CS 31 Fall then 32 and 33 the next 2 quarters.</p>

[qipao]

<p>

@Wikipedian

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

As if you’re so much better, plebeian. :rolleyes:</p>

[passerby]

<p>

Originally Posted by mobilemayhem
Going to UCLA will destroy your GPA.

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<p>“Going to UCLA” is not capable of destroying your GPA. The only thing capable of destroying your GPA is you. </p>

<p>Maybe I’m wrong here. Or maybe you’re just making excuses.</p>

[bruinboy]

<p>^you are EXACTLY right. people who’s gpa is low are literally making excuses if they claim it’s because ucla is inherently hard. This is disproved by the fact that nearly 50% of the class in any of my upper divs (and im not in a ******** major either) get some form of an A or a B. Lower divs, it’s around 30-40%.</p>

<p>There is NO reason for anyone to do bad here. the professors, for the most part, are friendly. You can basically, with email and discussion boards, ask any question you have. You can go to covel tutoring for your lower divs. You can ask TA’s for help. There are literally more resources than you can use. Past exams, bruinwalk…the list just keeps going on. If you can’t do well, even AFTER getting help from ALL these different sources, then you have a problem. 99% either do well because they use the resources available or do poorly because they don’t use all the resources.</p>

<p>i swear, it’s sad that people would even complain about their gpas. I mean, it’s understandable for engineers because their classes are ridiculously hard with very tough curves, but it’s NEVER the engineers that complain. It’s usually premeds…sad…</p>

[Fasttrack]

<p>I have posted this at Berkeley’s thread, but I will post it here too:

I went to UCLA for undergrad and currently attending Berkeley for grad school, but I personally prefer UCLA more. Here’s why:</p>

<p>1. In terms of prestige, they’re both pretty good
According to US News and Report (National Universities Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report), their national overall ranking only differs by 4 places (Berkeley at 21st, and UCLA at 25th), so its not a very big deal in terms of prestige. UCLA is slowly catching up to Berkeley in terms of national rankings. They are both world class universities. According to QS World Rankings (QS Top Universities: Top 100 universities in the THE - QS World University Rankings 2007), UCLA is even ranked HIGHER than Berkeley (Berkeley at 36th, and UCLA at 30th). So the bottom line is - neither is really more prestigious. </p>

<p>**2. Location and Surrounding Areas **
Los Angeles is usually more lively. UCLA is located in Westwood, near Hollywood, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Anaheim. The area is filled with exciting attractions, like Universal Studios, Six Flags, Disneyland, and etc. Its near the ocean and the desert, so you can basically go to the beach in the morning and then the desert in the afternoon, and still be back at UCLA for dinner. Since going to UCLA I’ve learned what it means to “have fun” =) the campus was beautiful and I found the environment fresh and exciting. UCLA is 2 hour drive away from San Diego, so you can hang out with your friends at UCSD during the weekends or visit Seaworld, San Diego Zoo, or other popular places. Berkeley is located in the city of Berkeley, which is near San Francisco, Oakland, and Richmond. Oakland and Richmond is probably the two worst and most dangerous cities in California (although Berkeley is relatively safe). San Francisco isn’t as lively as LA. The only things that makes SF good is the food. The only attractions nearby is the beach, San Francisco’s Pier 39, and the Golden Gate Bridge - which isn’t as nearly as fun as Hollywood and Disney. Bottom line - I’m not going to say that LA is better than Berkeley, but I suggest you go visit the campuses (and surrounding areas) and see which environment is right for you. making a visit makes a difference. You are going to spend your 4 years (or maybe more if you’re planning on going to grad school) there, so be sure to choose a place in which you can enjoy yourself.</p>

<p>**3. Competition at Berkeley **
The competition in Berkeley is DEFINITELY more fierce and harder than UCLA’s. For most engineering majors, the average GPA is around 2.5 (compared to UCLA’s average of 3.0). The classes are hard - so expect a lot of hard work. Remember that most people in Berkeley are top of their high school class and are the very brightest - so don’t expect to get on the Dean’s List or even get Honors. In spare time, some students study and get ahead in their classes (which is necessary to get a really good GPA). In UCLA, however, the competition is still pretty fierce, but it is definitely easier than Berkeley’s. Most students there take double majors. It is not hard to get a 3.0 GPA or even get onto the Dean’s List or the College Honors Program. In free time, most people get jobs, internships, do their hobbies/talents, or participate in Community Service activities. Most employers don’t want the smartest kids they can get their hands on, but instead they want people who are not only academically strong, but also have strong ECs (such as previous work or internship experience, doing community service shows that you care about your environment and your surroundings). You can still do all that at Cal, but most students have lesser time to do that than at UCLA.
I previously have gotten a lot of questions on the semester vs. quarter grading period. Berkeley follows the semester grading period (meaning you get units for a semester - or half a year). UCLA follows the quarter grading period (meaning you get units for a quarter - or aprox 11 weeks). I personally prefer the quarter grading period better, because you can take more variety of classes. I’m a person that doesn’t like to be stuck with one thing.

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[DunninLA]

<p>OP – don’t know exactly how to respond…</p>

<p>You are now comparing yourself to students who primarily occupied the top 1-3% of their high school graduating classes. As a poster above noted, it is MUCH easier to get in as Junior Transfer, and the quality of this cohort is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the originally admitted freshmen – probably top 15-20% rather than top 5%.</p>

<p>I don’t really know what would have been a better choice… a nationally ranked university wherein you struggle to stay eligible, or a lesser ranked school where you could get mostly As for the same effort…</p>

<p>That’s really a psychological question… which environment brings out the best in you? High performer among good students, or average performing among superlative students?</p>

[DeMoN]

<p>I feel your pain TC, with my 2.6 GPA, I can’t find an internship because they all require a 3.0 (and the average GPA is just a 3.1? That’s reassuring but also pretty scary). </p>

<p>Make sure you go to [url=<a href=“http://www.bruinwalk.com%5DBruinWalk%5B/url”>http://www.bruinwalk.com]BruinWalk[/url</a>] to check out your profs before enrolling. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t necessarily go to a different college, but I would definitely use bruinwalk. </p>

<p>Contrary to popular belief, there are such things as “good” professors and “bad” professors.</p>

[MadeInChina]

<p>

Contrary to popular belief, there are such things as “good” professors and “bad” professors.

</p>

<p>I thought it was popular belief that there are both good and bad professors?</p>