University of California-Los Angeles

I couldn't recommend UCLA more! It is a large campus with many areas to explore, run, study and relax. Not only is the campus, beautiful, but you have access to the greater Los Angeles area, including beaches, art museums, and shopping. There is something for everyone on campus, from acapella clubs to quidditch. This is all on top of incredible academics that will set you up for life!

Although I currently attend UCLA, I can proudly say that out of the 13 schools I got accepted to, this was the right school for me. As a black woman I was surprised to see how welcoming everyone was to me on campus. All the students here are very nice so it's easy for me to get along with everyone here. Like all schools, UCLA has its negatives. Some classes that I'm in have little to no black people. Sometimes I'm the only black person in my class so it can seem intimidating. Although this is a reoccurring problem, I have found that being my unapologetic self has helped my confidence in being in uncomfortable environments.

Students should be aware of "imposter syndrome". Imposter syndrome is the feeling of not belonging somewhere because of the performance of others or the lack of performance from yourself.

I love my program and I love my classes. The dorms are fun and the social scene is great! The dining halls are admittedly not as great as the school claims they are as we deal with understaffing but in general, not terrible. The campus is absolutely beautiful and there are so many cool opportunities to be found if you just look. Classes are really hard to get into; there are so many people and so few spots that for the first few years it's extremely hard to get all the classes you want. There's also the issue of limited communication from the school in times of crisis such as the pandemic or shooting threats, but other than these flaws everything is fantastic.

It's hard to get into the classes you want. The understaffing problem means that there are not enough professors and there are not enough people to ensure food is made quickly and perfectly in the dining halls. Maybe this will change with time. The area is really expensive and Westwood isn't always the safest place. We're always hearing about sexual assault at the frat parties or people being assaulted on campus every now and then. The quarter system is very fast and it can feel so fast-paced that you get left behind in your courses.

Though the University itself provides great recourses for students and has tons to see, do, and enjoy socially, it is not without its challenges. For those students that are aiming for a degree in psychology, know that you’re going to focus more on research than on the application of therapy or hands-on learning.

The 10-week quarter system is the biggest challenge in this university. You can start a semester and have a midterm due in less than two weeks. The psychology major can also be an inhospitable place. Though the professors and graduate teaching assistants will do their best to explain the material, in my experience, the classmates can be distant and group work can fall on one person’s shoulders.

UCLA is a dream school for many. Attending UCLA has been hard yet, rewarding. My experience, academic wise and social wise has been exceptional.

It is hard and time consuming. You cannot expect or desire to go to one of the best colleges in the nation without wanting to do your absolute best every day.

Wonderful campus with beautiful buildings. Strong teaching staff and helpful financial aid office.

I arrived during covid and the transition back from online could have been smoother