UCLA Visitation (Nov. 10, 2007)

AVID SENIOR STUDENTS had the opportunity to experience the big university feel of UCLA. While UCLA boasts 3,800 faculty members, 5,000 courses, 109 Academic departments, 11 professional schools, 130 undergraduate majors, and 800 student organizations, it's drawbacks include 24,800 undergraduates, 12,400 graduate students, classes as large as 398 students, and a large campus.




PICTURE ABOVE: AVID students, Candice Rebollo & Graciela Anaya stand next to the Bruin statue at the center of the UCLA campus.



WHAT IMPRESSED AVID STUDENTS? Some of the things that impressed students about UCLA included:

1. Division 1 sports.

2. Active and fun college life!

3. Nice location of UCLA campus (next to Bel-Air, Westwood, Beverly Hills, etc.)

4. Beautiful and historical campus.




RATIONALE FOR VISITING UCLA: Compared to the small private liberal arts education offered at Occidental College, UCLA provided a complete contrast. The large campus boasts over 36,000 students compared to Occidental's 1,800. Also, class size can reach as high as 398 students per class at UCLA, compared to 25 students per class at Occidental College. And, classes are mainly taught by teaching assistants(graduate students) in lecture halls at UCLA, compared to having all classes taught only professors at Occidental College.




VISITING UCLA & OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE really gave AVID students a chance to compare and contrast the major differences between a big and small school education.



RIGHT PICTURE: While I grew up as a kid going to the USC football games with family and friends, it sent chills being on the UCLA campus. The picture of myself with the UCLA Bruin will be sent to die-hard USC fans in my network of family & friends as a holiday post-card...hehe!