Where the Weather is Great and the People Rock

Introduction
The best advice I can give to a new or prospective student is to not let the laid back attitude fool you. If you are not serious about your education, you will find yourself in academic trouble very quickly. Everything at UCLA is based on a curve so if you are not serious about your studies, you'd better bet the person next to you is and they are your competition. Also living in the dorms is not your best choice; they are okay, but not great. You are better off either living in the university apartments (they are pretty nice and across the street from campus) or renting an apartment on your own in Westwood. But be ready to have a roommate since rent is high in Westwood and the surrounding areas.

Campus Life and Social Life
Social life at UCLA is great! Sports here are great as well and all you have to do is go to Paully Pavilion or the Rose Bowl and you will see some fantastic UCLA teams. Social life at UCLA is what you make of it. If you are antisocial, don't blame UCLA. There is always something to do every night of the week from school activities to sports, to parties and bars (within walking distance from campus), to nearby clubs and (best of all) the beaches, which are five minutes away. You definitely need to take advantage of the great location and great people. Academics
Academics vary by department. Science and applied science departments are great; others may not be as good. Read up on your major before applying and see if it promotes areas you are interested in. Professors here are great and most of them are very interested in teaching. However, like every school, some are not very good (there are those who are only at UCLA to do research). But you can go to bruinwalk.com and see students' ratings of professors before you sign up for classes...so take advantage of that. Also, this is a research school so if you are not interested in participating in or at least hearing about research for four years, this may not be the school for you. The classes are also very large (about 400 students per class), so if you want personal attention you will need to visit individual professors during their designated office hours. As you get into your upper division classes, however, the classes get somewhat smaller. Also it is a great place to make connections - I got my job through contacts I made at UCLA and when I graduate I feel confident I will have another great job with good pay and good benefits waiting for me. So making friends with your TA and professors will pay off.

Student Body
Students here at UCLA tend to be fairly open. It is a very diverse campus and there is a great sense of community. There is a very laid back vibe (out of the classroom), which is nice. Everyone is pretty friendly and it is easy to make friends here. You can hang out on campus or in Westwood Village and relax with fellow students. The weather is great so generally people are sitting around campus reading and sun bathing, which is definitely a great way to study...plus, the students here are HOT!

In Closing...
UCLA is a great. Once you come you will not want to leave. The weather is great, the people are fantastic and the campus is beautiful. Coming to UCLA is a great decision for anyone who wants to get a great education and to have fun doing it.