If you decide to go to college when you graduate high school, you have a lot to think about. Thousands of American students throw their hats into the ring every year, hoping for admission to the higher education institute of their choosing. With so many applicants vying for the same positions in elite institutions, it’s a numbers game: your scores and the number of people wanting the same spot you do. The obvious first choice for any would-be collegiate student is one of the Ivy League schools — Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell — because these are considered the places where you can receive the highest quality of education in North America. Since the competition is so stiff, questions have arisen about which other schools might be an option on par with any of these legendary, hallowed homes of learning. UCLA, in particular, has had tongues wagging recently. Let’s explore the reasons for this.
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Lodgings
UCLA and all the Ivy League schools offer on-campus accommodations in the traditional dormitory style. There’s also the option to live off campus in the areas surrounding the school buildings and commute in and out for classes and activities. Off-campus UCLA student housing offers students a chance to grow and come to grips with living in the big, wide world away from their parents. The surrounding campuses are diverse areas like West LA and Westside Village. Many gorgeous new buildings include amenities like safe parking and are just waiting for a new crop of students to reside in. Ivy League universities offer beautifully restored and maintained dormitories that have often housed students for hundreds of years. It can be tough to find housing off campus, as the options are often snapped up quickly, but as the Ivys are built in picturesque locations, it’s well worth a try.
Location
While UCLA is located in gorgeous Los Angeles, California, the Ivys are spread out across the rest of the country:
– Harvard University is in Massachusetts.
– Yale University is in Connecticut.
– Princeton University is in New Jersey.
– Columbia University is in New York.
– Brown University is in Rhode Island.
– Dartmouth College is in New Hampshire.
– The University of Pennsylvania is, as the name suggests, in Pennsylvania.
– Cornell University is in New York.
The question of which location is superior or inferior to the next can only be answered by the person who is looking for a place to live. Which location works best for you will change depending on the lifestyle you like: your preferred activities, your preferred climate, and things of that nature. LA, for example, has warm summers and reasonably mild winters. If you like a real range of weather, you could try Connecticut or New York. Massachusetts offers a taste of East Coast life, while LA is West Coast. Whichever location is the best is entirely up to you.
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Learning
The last and most important question we have to answer is whether UCLA can compete with the Ivy League in terms of the education that the schools offer. UCLA has a prestigious reputation that has been well-earned since 1919. The school belongs to the UC group – a conglomerate of public colleges and learning institutes made up of ten campuses. Obtaining any degree from UCLA carries a lot of clout, with employers nationwide looking to hire freshly graduated college students. It’s ranked second among American public universities and 9th overall for global reputation in 2020. Students who earn a place at UCLA are taught by seasoned professionals in the relevant fields. Prof Thomas Gillespie in the Department of Geography and UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and Prof Ian McLean in the Department of Physics and Astronomy are ranked as two of the best professors in the country.
The Ivy League schools all have reputations beyond reproach, except for recent accusations of unfair admission processes. College representatives have taken great pains to assure all prospective parents and students that their processes are constantly being refined and that their admission processes include as diverse a range of criteria as possible. In terms of learning, though, you can find no finer education in the States — except MIT, which comes in as the number one American university. Professors like Fiery Cushman (Psychology) and Zhiming Kuang (Atmospheric and Environmental Science) offer students an open door to entirely new worlds.
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So, Is UCLA on Par With Ivy League Schools?
The answer to this question is yes. We believe that UCLA offers just as enjoyable and enriching a learning experience as any Ivy League school. The only thing left is to decide which school you most want to attend and get your application in on time. Good luck!
