Advice from a UCLA Student

Andrea is a fourth year Political Science major at UCLA.

ME: What's a negative aspect about college?
ANDREA: Its really expensive especially for minorities and undocumented students and I also don't like that a lot of them are discourage from going to college because of our society and its culture. Personally, a negative about UCLA is that it is on a quarter system so it goes really really fast so its really hard to take a breather. I took a year off which really helped but a lot of people want to finish fast but usually taking a breather helps.



Me: Do you think college prepared you for the real world?

ANDREA: Hmmmm....No. Some do, it depends. I would say joining organizations because a lot of them help you with social and professional skills. In classes, you really don't learn anything for the real world.

Me: How did you get involved with your school? orgs, greek life, clubs, ect? How did they help you?
ANDREA: One thing is orgs always are looking for people to join so they will search for you and it's all a matter of finding the right one for you. I would suggest looking around and testing the waters because there are so many different ones. There's like dance organizations, art organizations, community service organizations and ones that include all of that in one.

Me: What's the best advice you've gotten from anyone while in college or about college?
ANDREA: The advice that I always hear is to do internships and network. Usually that advice is from alumni who either regret not doing it or alumni that did it and it helped them a lot just because college is academic. Especially UC's, Cal states prepare you more with finding a job after college but UC's don't because they're very researched based and it's really not part of their curriculum. UCLA has this thing called BruinWalk where you can rate your professors. So search for a website at your school that rates your professors because a professor either makes or breaks your class. So if you can find our about a professor before you register for a class that really helps.



Me: What stresses you out the most in college?
ANDREA: Well I had a job, an internship, I was part of an org and I was taking classes so it was really hard to juggle midterms and finals. So balance your time and measure what you can handle.

Me: Do you regret not going to community college?
ANDREA: Yes and no. Yes because community college is cheaper and people who transfer from community colleges tend to have higher GPA's and they tend to have their shit together. Because when you jump into UCLA,  it feels like you have to catch up with everyone and it's a lot more competitive. Very very competitive, people are crazy there! So going start to college, you kind of have to learn as you go where as if you transfer you are already trained to be in college so it helps.

No because some transfers want to stay longer but they have a max of 3 years so sometimes they get kicked out.

Me: How was your colleges food?
ANDREA: Very very good! They're probably the number one in the nation but you have to be careful because you can gain weight...I gained weight. But some college campus' food is wack compared to UCLA...that's what I've heard.

Me: What are the professors like in college compared to high school teachers?
ANDREA: Some professors care like the ones in high school but if you go to a big school, you don't really get to know them. Until you get to the upper divs which are classes more into your major. The way they are, some of them are even more open because in high school you have age restriction so the teachers can't talk freely where as professors can tell personal stories...but it depends. Some are just really cool like one was like "I'm really hungover right now guys so just bear with me." but he was a REALLY good professor.

Talk to people, work in study groups...that helps a lot! Find your study vibe like I can't study in libraries because I fall asleep so I study in coffee shops. Find your destresser as well like some people do sports as their way to destress, some people party and others go home to family. It's all different but it's important to find your personal destresser.

Me: Any advice to people who are going to UCLA specifically? 

ANDREA:Do FSSP, the summer program. It's for minorities and people who are underprivileged. Also if you're South Campus (once you're at UCLA you'll understand), so if your major is more science based, people aren't going to be your friend like they won't share notes and help you out because they're more competitive . If your major is more social sciences and stuff people are much more friendly. So try to get to know people, get involved, its a really big school so don't get overwhelmed. Go to the Student Activities Center and it will make the school a lot smaller. It's a really good resource. Oh and go to football games...and that's it.