The
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is perhaps the most famous school in Los Angeles, maybe even in all of California. It's undeniably among the most prestigious in the state, famous for its high-quality education that places it along the same ranks of the iconic Ivy League Schools. UCLA is not part of the Ivy League group itself, but it's in no way inferior to them. This academic institution not only serves as a school but also has a respected research facility and a safe space for learning and discovery.
Source: UCLA Facebook Page
History of UCLA
When state senator Reginaldo Francisco del Valle sent a request for a new school to train teachers in California in March 1881, the State Legislature authorized the creation of such an academic institution. This, the southern branch of the California State Normal School (now San José State University) was born in Downtown
Los Angeles. It opened on August 29, 1882, and served as the first iteration of what is now the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It wasn't until 1914, however, that the school officially became part of the University of California. On May 23, 1919, it was officially included in the university, becoming its second campus after UC Berkeley.
What Does UCLA Look Like?
The UCLA campus is spread throughout various
neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Among the university's four original buildings (from 1929) is Royce Hall. Located on Royce Drive in northern LA, it stands out with its Lombard Romanesque-style architecture, which is inspired by the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, Italy. Like Royce Hall, many of UCLA's older buildings, including its famous library, were built in the Romanesque Revival style that was popular during the 19th century. They're in contrast to the more modern buildings, such as the UCLA Medical Center, which leans more on a minimalist aesthetic.
Source: UCLA Facebook Page
The UCLA Student Body
UCLA is perhaps the biggest school in Los Angeles. Just in terms of its student body, the other, equally prominent universities aren't even close. The school welcomes over 48,000 students per year, including both new enrollees and those returning who haven't graduated yet. To break this down even further, UCLA has around 33,000 undergraduates, 13,500 postgraduates, and 1,500 other students. In terms of its diversity, the student body is also made up of around 26.6% White students, 26.2% Asian students, 20% Hispanic students, 6.5% Black students, 6.23% Multiracial students, and 0.7% Native American students.
UCLA's Best Programs and Courses
It's practically impossible to pinpoint UCLA's best programs and courses because they're all good. The university isn't considered one of America's best for nothing! UCLA offers tons of excellent majors that provide high-quality education, boast state-of-the-art facilities, and have produced some of the most prominent figures in their respective fields. Among the best-known include Econometrics & Quantitative Economics, Sociology, Political Science & Government, Psychology, Biological Sciences, and Film. These are the departments that have also produced the biggest number of graduates in recent years, which further proves that they truly excel in what they do.
Source: UCLA Facebook Page
UCLA’s Prerequisites
With only an 8.6% acceptance rate, it's pretty hard to get into UCLA. Does this mean it's impossible for you? Not necessarily. As long as you meet their standards and submit their prerequisites, your chances aren't zero. For one thing, you need to have a GPA between 3.9 to 4.0 to catch their attention. Graduate study applicants, on the other hand, only need a GPA of at least 3.0. In terms of your standardized test scores, you need to have placed within the 75th percentile on either the SAT or ACT.
How Much Does It Cost to Study at UCLA?
With how prestigious and famous it is, it's no surprise that UCLA is an expensive school. Its undergraduate tuition fees cost around $33,691.00 to $43,093.00 per year for local students and $67,891.00 to $77,293.00 per year for out-of-state and international students. For postgraduates, it's about $21,115.00 per year for local students and almost $36,297.00 per year for out-of-state and international students. It's worth noting that many of these prices already include housing fees for those who choose to live in the school's accommodations. If you prefer to live outside the campus, however, you'll have to pay more for rent and other
living costs in Los Angeles.
Source: UCLA Facebook Page
Where is UCLA in Los Angeles?
As already mentioned, UCLA's campus is spread throughout the city. Some of its original buildings, for example, are on the northern and southern sides of the city, while the more modern facilities are on the western side or right smack in the city center. Fortunately, this makes it fairly easy for you to get a place near your campus in the university. There are several
luxury homes to rent in Los Angeles and much like the UCLA campus, they're spread throughout various parts of the city. Some are also more affordable than others, depending on their locations.
UCLA's Famous Graduates
UCLA's alumni list reads like a who's who of the most prominent figures of various fields. The school has produced more than a dozen Nobel laureates, many Rhodes scholars, and two Turing Award winners (as of this writing). The Nobel laureates include Ralph Bunche, Elinor Ostrom, William F. Sharpe, Andrea Ghez, and Richard F. Heck, among many others. Considering that it's located in Los Angeles, many celebrities also studied and graduated from UCLA. They include Carol Burnett, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicholas Cage, Sean Astin, Sara Bareilles, James Franco, Rob Reiner, and more.
Source: UCLA Facebook Page
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is undoubtedly the most prestigious school in Los Angeles. It's the top university in all of California and has produced some of the most prolific graduates from any higher educational institution on the West Coast.
