UCLA Luskin 2017

[Dreadfulbard]

Anyone considering UCLA? Are you attending the admitted students day on the 10th? What are your thoughts so far?

I'm still deciding between USC (full ride) and UCLA. UCLA has the concentration I want to pursue and more courses/faculty/research centers that appeal to me, but I am concerned about their career services and, to be honest, the quant. curriculum.

USC didn't blow me away at their merit scholars event and their courses/faculty don't really match my interests, but the full ride is tempting. 

 I'm pretty torn right now!

[sfab]

4 hours ago, Dreadfulbard said:

Anyone considering UCLA? Are you attending the admitted students day on the 10th? What are your thoughts so far?

I'm still deciding between USC (full ride) and UCLA. UCLA has the concentration I want to pursue and more courses/faculty/research centers that appeal to me, but I am concerned about their career services and, to be honest, the quant. curriculum.

USC didn't blow me away at their merit scholars event and their courses/faculty don't really match my interests, but the full ride is tempting. 

 I'm pretty torn right now!

I'm not seriously considering UCLA, but I'll be there on the 10th, mostly because I am local and I just want to feel confident in my decision.

Do you get in-state tuition at UCLA? Coming out of grad school without debt is still a huge deal! I didn't look into USC's program at all, but is there curriculum fairly flexible? Are there opportunities to study with other professors on campus that match your specific interests?

Edited April 6, 2017 by sfab

[StressTwitch]

I am also stuck between Luskin and Price and have similar concerns.  I have a half scholarship to USC and am from LA, so the cost is basically the same.

I'm interested in the intersection of gender and policy, so the social justice/social policy bend of UCLA is quite appealing.

I'm nervous about networking for the first job or two out of grad school because that's really when a large network can be impactful. Price students all talk about the Trojan Network. Luskin has significantlly less alum. Also there's one person in charge of career services at Luskin. 

The quant I wouldn't panic too too much about.  I was not at all a quant person in undergrad, but I've spoken to students that also lacked the quant background who all mentioned the communal struggle and the support system that will get you through the heavy quant and come out being stats/econ-literate at a minimum. I'm nervous, but feel confident that it is managable for a non-quant mind. They are too because otherwise they wouldn't have admitted us!

I'm going Monday, and am reading everything that exists online until then.

UCLAs program (9 electives and Global Public Affairs certificates), research centers, and left-leaning politics really win for me. The USC alumni network// $$ and the talk of USC as practical and UCLA as theoretical/academic does make you think.

Also quick detail: the  UCLA APP requires you to find your client, while the USC practicum hands you one. 

[Dreadfulbard]

8 hours ago, StressTwitch said:

I am also stuck between Luskin and Price and have similar concerns.  I have a half scholarship to USC and am from LA, so the cost is basically the same.

I'm interested in the intersection of gender and policy, so the social justice/social policy bend of UCLA is quite appealing.

I'm nervous about networking for the first job or two out of grad school because that's really when a large network can be impactful. Price students all talk about the Trojan Network. Luskin has significantlly less alum. Also there's one person in charge of career services at Luskin. 

The quant I wouldn't panic too too much about.  I was not at all a quant person in undergrad, but I've spoken to students that also lacked the quant background who all mentioned the communal struggle and the support system that will get you through the heavy quant and come out being stats/econ-literate at a minimum. I'm nervous, but feel confident that it is managable for a non-quant mind. They are too because otherwise they wouldn't have admitted us!

I'm going Monday, and am reading everything that exists online until then.

UCLAs program (9 electives and Global Public Affairs certificates), research centers, and left-leaning politics really win for me. The USC alumni network// $$ and the talk of USC as practical and UCLA as theoretical/academic does make you think.

Also quick detail: the  UCLA APP requires you to find your client, while the USC practicum hands you one. 

Thanks for pointing out that UCLA requires you to find your own client--I didn't realize that. It sounds like we have many of the same concerns. 

For me, it boils down to the fact that UCLA is a better fit academically, but USC has more resources to offer.