UCLA

30天解读30所美国顶尖大学 — 第17天：加州大学洛杉矶分校 (UCLA)

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第17天，我们继续留在阳光明媚的加州，从伯克利向南飞，来到洛杉矶最繁华的富人区。 这是全美申请人数最多的大学（没有之一）。它拥有好莱坞般的颜值、顶级的食堂和快乐的学生。这就是加州大学洛杉矶分校 (UCLA)。

地理位置： 加利福尼亚州，洛杉矶 (Los Angeles, CA) —— 韦斯特伍德 (Westwood) 富人区
中国留学生昵称： UCLA、洛加大
学校类型： 公立研究型大学 (公立常春藤，奥运选手的摇篮)

 罗伊斯礼堂 (Royce Hall) 与鲍威尔图书馆 (Powell Library)。这两座标志性的红砖建筑隔着草坪相望，那是著名的简斯台阶

(Janss Steps)。这里阳光永远明媚，学生们看起来都像刚拍完偶像剧一样充满活力。]

学校气质与“人设”

如果说伯克利是“愤怒的激进分子”，UCLA就是**“阳光的万人迷”。
这里的气质是乐观 (Optimistic)** 和 全能 (Well-rounded)。UCLA的学生通常给人的印象是：长得好看、学习好、还会打球。

  • 快乐教育？不完全是。 虽然看起来像度假村，但UCLA的学术竞争依然非常激烈（尤其是理工科）。只是相比于伯克利的“你死我活”，UCLA的学生更倾向于互帮互助。
  • 网红体质： 因为背靠好莱坞，这里是YouTuber和TikTok网红浓度最高的校园。

UCLA偏爱什么样的学生？

  • 六边形战士： 招生官非常看重综合素质。你不能只是个书呆子。你的活动列表里最好有体育、艺术或者社区领导力的体现。
  • GPA卷王： 和伯克利一样，UCLA是Test-Blind（不看标化）。这意味着你的GPA必须完美。对于中国学生，如果你的加权GPA低于4.2，机会就很渺茫了。

1. 录取：全美最拥挤的赛道

  • 数据恐怖： UCLA每年会收到约15万-17万份申请，是美国申请人数最多的大学。录取率已经跌破9%。
  • 分控： 虽然没有SAT，但它对高中课程难度（AP/IB）的要求极高。它希望看到你挑战了学校里最难的课并拿了A。
  • 艺术与电影： UCLA的电影学院 (TFT) 是世界顶级的，但它是单独录取的，且需要作品集，难度堪比哈佛。

2. “中国圈子”与生活 (图解)

 The Hill (住宿区)。UCLA的食堂常年被评为全美第一 (Best College Food)。]

  • 全美第一食堂： 这不是吹牛。UCLA的食堂像高级自助餐厅，有专门的亚洲台（甚至有麻辣烫）、健康的有机沙拉吧。很多学生不想搬出去住就是因为舍不得食堂。
  • 生活方式：
    • Sawtelle (小大阪)： 离学校车程10分钟就是著名的Sawtelle日料街，拉面、寿司、奶茶应有尽有。
    • K-Town (韩国城)： 全美最大的韩国城就在几公里外，那里是夜生活和烤肉的中心。
    • 无车难行： 虽然在Westwood走路可以生活，但想去洛杉矶其他地方（比如海边或迪士尼），你还是需要车。

 校门口的Westwood Village。这里有电影首映礼经常举办的剧院，还有Whole Foods和各种餐厅。治安非常好。]

3. 签证与职业前景 (硅滩与好莱坞)

  • Silicon Beach (硅滩)： 洛杉矶不仅仅有娱乐业，还有蓬勃发展的科技圈（Snapchat, YouTube, Hulu总部都在附近）。UCLA的CS和工程系毕业生是主力军。
  • STEM专业： 和所有UC一样，UCLA的理工科全部是STEM。应用数学、统计学也是中国学生的大热门。
  • 回国认可度： 极高。UCLA在中国名气极大（可能因为名字好记，且有很多明星校友）。

4. 安全与环境 (与伯克利的鲜明对比)

  • 安全系数： 4.5/5 (非常安全)。
  • 现实： UCLA所在的Westwood是洛杉矶著名的白人富人区。街道整洁，治安良好，流浪汉相对较少。这与伯克利的混乱形成了鲜明对比。这是很多家长倾向于UCLA的重要原因。

5. 奖学金政策

  • 政策： 公立学校，对国际生几乎没有奖学金。
  • 费用： 同样是全额州外学费。你要做好四年花费30-35万美元（约200-250万人民币）的准备。这是一所“昂贵”的公立大学。

给中国申请者的建议 (Verdict)：
如果你不仅学习好，而且性格开朗、喜欢大城市、热爱美食（尤其是亚洲菜）、并且希望在一个安全、阳光明媚、充满俊男靓女的环境里度过大学四年，UCLA是你的首选。相比伯克利，这里的生活质量是碾压级的。

30 Days Deciphering 30 Top US Universities

Day 17: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Location: Los Angeles, California (Urban) — The wealthy neighborhood of Westwood
Chinese Nickname: UCLA, 洛加大 (Luò Jiā Dà)
School Type: Public Research University (Public Ivy, Cradle of Olympians)

 Royce Hall and Powell Library. These two iconic red-brick buildings face each other across the lawn and the famous

Janss Steps. The sun is always shining, and the students look energetic, as if they just stepped out of a teen drama.]

The “Vibe” & The Persona

If Berkeley is the “Angry Activist,” UCLA is the “Sunny Heartthrob.”
The vibe here is Optimistic and Well-rounded. UCLA students are typically stereotyped as attractive, smart, and athletic.

  • Happy Education? Not entirely. While it looks like a resort, academic competition (especially in STEM) is fierce. However, compared to Berkeley’s cutthroat culture, UCLA students are generally more collaborative.
  • Influencer Hub: Being next to Hollywood, this campus has the highest concentration of YouTubers and TikTokers.

What kind of student do they prefer?

  • The Hexagon Warrior: Admissions officers value comprehensive qualities. You can’t just be a nerd. Your activity list better show sports, arts, or community leadership.
  • The GPA King: Like Berkeley, UCLA is Test-Blind. This means your GPA must be perfect. For Chinese students, if your weighted GPA is below 4.2, your chances are slim.

1. Admissions: The Most Crowded Race in the US

  • Scary Data: UCLA receives about 150,000–170,000 applications annually, making it the most applied-to university in the US. The acceptance rate has dipped below 9%.
  • Rigor Control: Without SATs, they look closely at your course rigor (AP/IB). They want to see that you took the hardest classes available and got A’s.
  • Arts & Film: The School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) is world-class but has separate admissions with portfolio requirements. It is as hard to get into as Harvard.

2. The “Chinese Bubble” & Social Life (Visualized)

The Hill (Dorm area). UCLA Dining Halls are consistently ranked #1 in the US.]

  • #1 Dining Halls: No joke. The cafeterias are like high-end buffets, featuring dedicated Asian stations (even Mala Tang) and organic salad bars. Many students refuse to move off-campus just for the food.
  • Lifestyle:
    • Sawtelle (Little Osaka): 10 minutes away is the famous Sawtelle Japantown, packed with ramen, sushi, and bubble tea.
    • K-Town: The largest Koreatown in the US is a few miles away, the center for BBQ and nightlife.
    • Car Culture: While you can walk in Westwood, to see the rest of LA (beaches, Disney), you need a car.

Westwood Village right outside the gate. It features historic theaters that host movie premieres, Whole Foods, and tons of restaurants. Very safe.]

3. The Visa & Career Pathway (Silicon Beach & Hollywood)

  • Silicon Beach: LA is not just entertainment; it has a booming tech scene (Snapchat, YouTube, Hulu HQs are nearby). UCLA CS and Engineering grads are the main workforce.
  • STEM: Like all UCs, science and engineering are STEM-designated. Applied Math and Statistics are also very popular with Chinese students.
  • Prestige in China: Extremely high. UCLA is famous in China (easy name to remember, many celebrity alumni).

4. Safety and Location (The Berkeley Contrast)

  • Safety Rating: 4.5/5 (Very Safe).
  • Reality: UCLA is in Westwood, a wealthy, white-collar neighborhood. Streets are clean, safe, and homeless encampments are relatively rare compared to other parts of LA. This contrasts sharply with Berkeley’s gritty environment and is a huge selling point for parents.

5. Financial Aid

  • Policy: Public School = Almost No Aid for Internationals.
  • Cost: You pay full Out-of-State tuition. Prepare for a total 4-year cost of ~300k−300k−350k USD. It is an “expensive” public university investment.

Verdict for the Chinese Applicant:
If you are smart but also outgoing, love big city life, obsess over food (especially Asian food), and want to spend four years in a safe, sunny, beautiful environment with attractive classmates, UCLA is your top choice. Compared to Berkeley, the quality of life here is superior.

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