University of California Los Angeles — UCLA

• Year of foundation: 1919
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Age of students: from 17 years old
• Language of instruction: English
• Form of study: full-time.

California State Research University in Los Angeles ( UCLA ) became Southern, the second oldest branch of the University of California in 1919.

The University of California Los Angeles offers 337 undergraduate and graduate programs in 130 specialties, with approximately 31,000 students and 13,000 graduate students. UCLA is one of the most sought-after and prestigious universities in the United States: it became a member of the Association of American Universities back in 1974. The New York Times ranked UCLA as # 1 for economic upward mobility in the United States.

The University of California Los Angeles welcomes applicants from around the world to their multicultural educational environment. The university’s location, combined with its excellent faculty and extensive academic resources, make UCLA one of the most desirable places to pursue higher professional education. Innovations at the University of California created an active portfolio of almost 3000 inventions, and based on the technologies developed here, more than 140 companies were created. UCLA is more than a university: it is an economic engine.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

From the moment of application to employment or enrollment in the next academic stage, students are in an atmosphere of comprehensive support from teachers, counselors, and administrative staff. Various departments operate here, providing assistance with housing, psychological well-being, academic planning, internships and employment, extracurricular development, and more.

UCLA includes a preparatory college and 12 professional schools. More than 85% of undergraduate students study at the college across four academic divisions:

• Humanities,
• Social Sciences,
• Physical Sciences,
• Life Sciences.

Vocational schools focus on specific areas of study:

• Art, architecture,
• Education, information research,
• Dentistry,
• Engineering,
• Law,
• Management,
• Pharmacy,
• Music,
• Nursing,
• Public relations,
• Healthcare,
• Theater, cinema, television.

UCLA — #1 among the country's public research universities. Research activities play an important role in the institution’s operations and involve both qualified researchers and students of all majors.

Research is conducted at each of the specialized faculties: from humanities and social sciences to public health, law, and ecology. 

Almost all foreign students (97%) prefer to settle on campus for the duration of their studies, where on 68 hectares for this purpose 19 residences of four types of accommodation have been built, differing in comfort and price. Common lounges are provided for communication between young people, rooms serve as a place of concentration, basketball and tennis courts, recreation areas, and swimming pools are available to maintain physical fitness. UCLA student canteens are recognized as the best in the country according to the Princeton Review.

UCLA has created more than 1,000 clubs and student organizations, making the majority of students fill out their schedules. Young people are actively working in the Center for Volunteers, the Center for Learning and Management of Community Programs. Presented here is the diversity of sports, men's and women's societies, the editors of Daily Bruin, the student radio UCLA. For shopping lovers, there are many campus shops and restaurants on site.

• In 2018, Forbes described UCLA as the No. 1 educational institution in terms of combining high quality education with tuition fees with allowance for scholarship support
• US News & World Report rated UCLA as US State University No. 1
• 24 Nobel Prize winners, five Turing Prize winners, two main scientists of the US Air Force associated with UCLA as teachers, researchers or graduates
• Among the current teachers, 55 were elected to the National Academy of Sciences, 28 to the National Academy of Engineering, 39 to the Institute of Medicine and 124 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• "Father of the Internet" Vinton Cerf, who developed the TCP / IP Internet Protocol, Tom Anderson, who created Myspace, Susan Wojcicki, who occupied the position of Executive Director of YouTube - came from the University of California Los Angeles
• The opportunity to study on campus, which became the set of sensational Hollywood films
• 1st place in the world ranking of graduate programs in the specialty "Mathematical Analysis" and 2nd place - "logic", "applied mathematics", "psychology"
• The strongest sports teams: players and coaches in the history of the university have won more than 250 Olympic medals
• In the pedagogical part of UCLA - six holders of the Nobel Prize.

The UCLA campus is 163 buildings on a 419-acre area, including open spaces and sports facilities. The campus is located in the western part of Los Angeles, adjacent to shopping and entertainment districts.

• Academic buildings with lecture halls, specialized laboratories, computer classrooms,
• Libraries with reading rooms, book storage facilities, a computer room with access to online resources,
• A Center for Performing Arts with rehearsal rooms, performance halls, dressing rooms, and technical premises,
• Faculty buildings with specialized classrooms and practice rooms, such as medical wards, robotics studios, design studios, and sports research facilities,
• Research centers with professional equipment for project work and research,
• Four large residences with numerous residential buildings,
• Several dining halls, cafeterias, and mobile food outlets.

The sports infrastructure includes:

• Drake Stadium — a 400-meter track with nine lanes, javelin throwing areas, jumping facilities,
• Basketball courts,
• A full-scale athletic field for various competitions, events, and summer activities,
• John Wooden Center — centrally located, equipped with several gyms, dance and martial arts studios, racquet sports courts,
• Kinross Recreation Center — a center with gyms, an outdoor fitness area,
• Los Angeles Tennis Center — offers six lighted tennis courts, the Straus Clubhouse, and serves as the home venue for the UCLA Tennis Club,
• Marina Aquatic Center — is a premier UCLA waterfront facility located just 10 miles from campus in scenic Marina del Rey. MAC provides a variety of inclusive boating programs, equipment rentals, youth programs and competitive events at both the university and youth levels,
• Pauley Pavilion Presented by Wescom — is considered one of the nation’s premier multipurpose student facilities, serving as the venue for numerous landmark events. It is a primary hub for men's and women's basketball and volleyball training, as well as women's gymnastics,
• Rock Wall, located on the first floor of John Wooden Center (JWC), is a multi-story climbing wall. People with any level of experience are welcome to climb the Rock Wall, including beginners,
• Student Activities Center — The Student Activities Center features a gymnasium, several intercollegiate sports fields, locker rooms, showers, and an outdoor pool,
• Sunset Canyon Recreation Center — includes two pools, tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, basketball courts, and more,
• Sycamore Park — regularly hosts tennis practices,
• Wallis Annenberg Stadium — the stadium seats 2145 people and covers approximately three acres, serving as home to the UCLA men's and women's soccer teams, rugby and lacrosse, and various special events.

The campus has a bicycle shop and a rental center for equipment and gear for various sports and tourism activities.

UCLA does not provide scholarships or financial assistance to undergraduate students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. International students must prove that they have enough money to pay for education and living expenses.

Expenses during 9 months of study:

• Cost of education
• Room, food *
• Books, consumables
• Transport
• Personal expenses
• Medical insurance**

* The cost of living may vary depending on the type of room and the chosen meal plan.

** Canceled if proof of insurance is provided.

To start the admission process, applicants need to complete a detailed registration form, provide the required documents and pay the application fee. The admissions committee reviews applications on an individual basis, gradually inviting candidates for an interview, and if necessary — for entrance tests. Based on the results of these checks, applicants receive an official invitation to enroll, after which they need to make a deposit to reserve a place in the residence hall or group. Then the future student can arrive at campus and begin their studies.

The number of applicants admitted to the college departments in recent years has been approximately 28,400 people. Specialized schools are recruiting fewer new students, limiting themselves to 12,900 bachelor's and master's degree students.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the largest number of applicants entering medical schools are UCLA graduates; more than half of them successfully secure places in highly competitive specialties such as dentistry, surgery, and public health.

Some UCLA graduates continue their academic path in research at leading universities around the world, find employment in their field of study, and start their own businesses.

• To qualify for admission to UCLA, international students must complete high school with a grade above average in academic subjects and receive a certificate of completion, which allows them to be admitted to the university of their country.
• Standardized tests will be required, including ACT plus Writing or SAT with an essay, any AP or IBHL exams. Test results will be evaluated in the context of all other academic information in the application.
• A complete applicant's record of high school grades in college is required, including the number of courses completed and the grades received.
• Candidates in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Henry Samuel strongly recommends passing the following SAT subject tests: level 2 in mathematics and the scientific test (E / M biology, chemistry or physics), which is closely related to the candidate’s intended specialization. Test results must be sent directly to the UCLA undergraduate admissions office.

Applicants can apply for admission after completing a college level course. UCLA prefers students (including foreign students) coming from California colleges: in fact, three out of four international applicants attend a public college in California at the time of application.

UCLA requires a record of all secondary schools visited, with an indication of the items and grades received, as well as national or state certificates received. Documents of all coursework of the college or university should also be sent in the original language along with the translation into English. Knowledge of English is crucial to the success of admission: applicants whose first language or language of instruction in the past three years is not English must pass an English test (TOEFL) or (IELTS).

UCLA students have access to four types of funding:

• Scholarships — awards based on academic merit, achievements in sports, creativity and other extracurricular activities. Some scholarships provide support to students who find themselves in a difficult financial situation,
• Grants — a type of financial aid that recipients must repay over time. Grants are provided by the federal government, state governments and UCLA itself based on student need,
• Loans — financial support from the federal government, state governments, and the Department of Education. Awards must be repaid within a certain timeframe and accrue interest,
• Part-time study format — can help pay for textbooks and daily living expenses. Last year, more than 9500 UCLA students worked on campus while balancing work with their studies. Some students are eligible for Work-Study scholarships, which can make it easier to find a job both on and off campus.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision