University of California Los Angeles - UCLA Speciality : Politics
programme: Political Science

When I first arrived at UCLA, I was amazed by the sheer number of student organizations on campus. With hundreds to choose from, it quickly became a core part of the undergraduate experience to apply, get accepted—and sometimes rejected—from different groups. Through the clubs I joined, I built lasting friendships and gained hands-on experience connected to my studies in political science, education, and disability studies. Even at such a large university, these organizations made campus life feel much smaller and more personal.

My one critique, however, is that in some of the more popular majors—like political science—class sizes were often very large, which made it harder to build meaningful connections with professors.

UCLA is a truly great institution. As a graduate student, I feel motivated and encouraged to do great things. The bureaucracy is inevitable but I don’t think it’s something that should avert people from applying. The sheer amount of talks, opportunities and people here is impressive. I can’t speak about undergraduate however. The near area is not great (Westwood), it’s mostly for undergraduates. However, LA is an amazing city and there’s so much to do and see. I love living here.

The bad thing about being here is the mentality of some professors. They are very driven by their own research and their own accomplishments. For some, students and teaching are not only secondary, but of very little importance. I’m sure as a undergraduate, that can be very alienating. However, you learn to deal with the system and take advantage of what you can. You make it work for you.

Money is a big issue at UCLA. The facilities vary in terms of quality. It all depends on how much money the department or division has. Financing your education can also be a struggle. Especially for international students. Again, you do what you can to make it work.