ClearlyNow

I just want to say that most of the warnings about transit being terrible and not having a car being debilitating are complete nonsense. I was terrified of moving to LA because everyone was repeating this spiel, but it's absolutely overblown. I live in West Hollywood and can get to campus within 30 minutes taking the bus, and having a transit pass allows you to get pretty much anywhere as it can be used on Metro, Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus, LADOT, etc. If you're going to UCLA, I urge you not to worry about having a car. Live in a reasonably close neighborhood that has direct access to campus through public transit and you'll be more than fine.

I know having a "POI" is imperative when it comes to selecting a Ph.D. program, but how important is faculty fit for an MA program? Would it be unwise to choose a school that seems to have a great program but whose faculty's focus doesn't really align with your primary interests? Would this make it difficult to write a thesis?