Admissions Blog

Photos By Eric

Hey everyone! My name is Eric Kim and I work as a tech support for UCLA Undergraduate Admissions. I am also the Admissions staff official photographer, which allows me to contribute photos to the Admissions website and other publications. I also do a lot of photography outside of work, which can be viewed on my personal photo website:  http://www.erickimphotography.com. I am originally from Northern California but decided to come down to UCLA for my undergraduate degree. When I first arrived in Los Angeles, I was amazed by the variety of urban landscapes as well as architecture. One of my favorite places to go is the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It is just a bus-ride away on the #2 Big Blue bus line, which Bruins can board at the Ackerman turnaround on campus.

On the Promenade, there is a huge stretch of street closed to the public that is lined left and right with stores of every type. Whether your style is urban, preppy, hip-hop, you will find a store that has clothes to fit your palette. In addition to the variety of stores, you will find a variety of people from all over. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you will see students, tourists, couples, and street-performers aplenty. There is definitely something that feels magical about the place, especially in the evenings. The flashing lights as well as the fancy storefronts make me feel like I'm truly in the heart of LA.

The photo I took of the Third Street Promenade was made with my DSLR camera (Canon 5D) mounted on a tripod and processed with an “HDR” technique. More can be read about at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging. I hope to explore more of LA and deliver you these images as well as writing about them. Stay tuned!

What they had to say.....

When asked "What do you think is the most surprising thing about UCLA?," Undergraduate Admissions student workers had the following to say.

• How friendly the people are and how great the professors are.
• I am still waiting for a surprise.
• You really feel like you’re at the center of the action.
• The diversity of the staff and instructors. There’s much more diversity among instructors than expected.
• It’s always so clean. There’s never a stray leaf on campus.
• That more people don’t know how amazing we are.
• The surprising thing about UCLA is that every year it feels that the year goes by so quickly. Before you even know it, you’re already a sophomore and then a junior after your freshman year.
• That we have around 800 student groups/clubs available on campus.
• Parking is ridiculous.
• Links. I find the campus to be very powerful with resources and the opportunities available beyond the initial contact. One can easily become active in a personal interest to develop into a passion.
• How small the campus feels. How accessible and friendly the faculty are.
• People go home on the weekends.
• The amount of resources available to students.
• Something new surprises me every day.
• So many different things going on at the same time.

I'm curious to know what surprised our readers that recently tackled the application process and are waiting for admissions decisions. Let me know by sending your comments!

When Your Professor is a Former Univesrity Chancellor

This quarter, one of the classes I've taken is called, "The 2008 Presidential Election."  I remember sitting in a hotel lobby in Spain over the summer, enrolling in courses and I saw the name of the instructor listed on the course.  "Who is this 'C.E. Young?" I asked myself.  It dawned on me a few months later that it was Charles E. Young - the same former chancellor whom a research library in the north part of campus and a road that wraps around camp is named after.

Young was chancellor of UCLA from 1958 to 1997 and was responsible for developing the school into one of the nation's top research universities. He was the youngest person, at age 36, to run any American university and retired after an almost 29 year career.  I had known that he was still involved at UCLA through the School of Public Affairs and last year, he was a guest speaker in one of my classes. However, I did not know he was still teaching.  In fact, up until this semester, he was not teaching. Chancellor Young came out of retirement (for the third time) to teach the course, because, as he said to our class, "it was such an important historical election."

For the curious......

I recently conducted a mini survey of our student workers. First, you should know, that our UARS students workers are very much appreciated. They are a wonderful dose of relativity for our staff.  As such, I was curious to know their perspectives on academic and campus life at UCLA.  Over the next few weeks I will share the results.  Enjoy!

What is your favorite UCLA memory?

• Living in the dorms, learning the 8-clap, beating USC, seeing President Clinton speak, tasting Diddy Reese (www.diddyriese.com/home.php) for the first time!
• UCLA game against USC and winning
• Fall 2007 rush week parties
• Taking summer school here in 2006 and when UCLA beat USC that year
• Beating USC Fall 06
• Hanging out with dorm mates
• Finishing the year as an ally to youth in the community through a community service project I was able to be a site coordinator for a project at Hawthorne High School. A year of hard work culminated into great youth participation.
• Beating USC in football in 2006
• Finally finishing my most difficult quarter
• No one particular memory, just fun times with new friends I’ve made
• Dinner with 12 strangers (www.uclalumni.net/CalendarEvents/d12/home.cfm) and Spring Sing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCLA_Spring_Sing) are really fun
• Meeting international students during the summer and talking to them about life at UCLA.
• Dancing for 26 hours at UCLA’s Dance Marathon (http://bruindancemarathon.org/) to raise money for pediatric aids.
• Meeting Jordan Farmar and James Franco
• Blue and Gold week 2006
• First year dorm life

Study Abroad

This is Edward, a student worker in the Public Response unit.  Summer at UCLA is filled with an interesting mix of people – including many prospective students and their families touring the campus, people taking summer session courses, and visitors from various camps and programs roaming the school.  But many UCLA students, including myself, take the break to travel the world and go abroad.  Studying abroad is a very popular option at UCLA and we have three different programs: the Education Abroad Program (EAP), Travel Study, and Quarter Abroad.

I participated in Travel Study, enrolling in the Spanish Language and Culture program.  I spent 6 weeks in Spain and during the course of my adventure abroad I saw Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, and Barcelona.  If you are ever in Andalucía (the autonomous Southern region of Spain), you must visit The Alhambra—it’s amazing. Also known as “The Red Fortress,” it is a palace/fortress complex built by Moorish rulers in the 14th Century; today it is one of Granada’s major attractions.

The temperatures reached up to 40 degrees Celsius (or 104 degrees Fahrenheit), but we were exposed to so many beautiful historical sights and places and met and interacted with tons of interesting and new people. I even found out that some people from my program were also student workers in Admissions’ systems unit!

What is cool about Travel Study is that you get to take classes too. I enrolled in an intensive Spanish language program that covered Spanish 2 and 3 in just four weeks, thus fulfilling my foreign language requirement.  I'm the "busy-bee" type, so it was neat to be able to sort of take a vacation, but still be productive. Also, where better to sharpen my Spanish skills then in Spain?

A lot of my friends also had their own travel experiences away from Westwood.  While I was in Spain, other people I know studied Italian in Florence, did research with a professor in Greenland, worked for the U.S. consulate in Thailand, and interned at the Associated Press in New York City.  UCLA offers its students a variety of different options so you can spend part of your summer abroad, or spend the quarter (or even a whole school year) studying in a different country.  Often times, the cost of the program is comparable to the normal cost of attending UCLA and the classes are guaranteed to transfer as credit.  Students are also eligible for financial aid.  Most college students agree: going abroad is one of the most unique and memorable parts of their four years in school.  For more information on the different study abroad options, visit the UCLA International Education Office at www.ieo.ucla.edu.

"Blue and Gold Week"

To most people, 8:47AM is just another minute during an early morning hour. To the Bruin faithful, 8:47AM is a daily reminder of the glorious defeat that was handed to the Trojans at the Rose Bowl last year. Why is this? Because 8:47AM is just another way of saying 13 to 9.  13 to 9 was the final score of last year’s UCLA vs. USC football game.  After seven long years of watching the Trojans run over the Bruins, our football team brought its “A” (-mazing) game to the Rose Bowl last year.  The Mighty Bruins stifled the lowly Trojans by upsetting their nearly perfect season and trampling their national championship hopes!  Go Bruins!

From the moment we become Bruins, we are taught to detest the Trojans.  Each class of Bruins must uphold the tradition and pride that is the reason many of us chose UCLA.  Each fall, we devote one week to beating our cross-town rival. Every night of “Blue and Gold Week” students sleep next to our statue of the Bruin to protect it from those unscrupulous Trojans who may try to cause it harm.  Each day of “Blue and Gold Week” is filled with random outbursts of the 8-Clap and annual events like the “Get the Red Out” blood drive.  The week culminates with a parade through Westwood and a bon fire rally at the main quad. 

As a student, the bonfire rally was the highlight of my year.  What could be better than gathering together with thousands of your closest friends, hearing the band play our melodious fight song, screaming the 8-clap over and over again, and watching some students light an 80 foot wooden tower on fire? My heart swells with Bruin pride just thinking about this glorious tradition. 

The 2007 football season has been tumultuous for the Bruins, but I feel confident that we can defeat the Trojans again this year.  I optimistically and confidently predict that after December 1, 2007, the time that will bring me great joy will be 2:39. 21-3 UCLA. Go Bruins! Beat SC!

Welcome New Students! Welcome Back Returning Students!

It's the first week of school and the UCLA campus is a completely different place than it was even a week ago! Summertime on a college campus is an interesting thing. On one hand it's nice because I  almost never have to wait in line for anything (a slice of pizza from Ackerman, a cardio machine at the Wooden Center to work off that pizza from Ackerman...), but it's impossible to shake the feeling that something's missing.

That something is you, of course! The students: new and returning, first-years and transfers, it's great to have you here on campus again (or for the first time). Yesterday I went to the UCLA Store and saw so many excited students purchasing academic planners (an excellent tool for succeeding in the fast-paced quarter system!) and UCLA sweatshirts, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, I got a little teary, I'm not going to lie. I'm so envious of all of you who are just beginning your college experience this week; this is such an exciting time in your lives. Study hard and enjoy every minute of it!

                                                

UARS student workers Deborah Wong, Edward Truong, and Sarah Keo compare course schedules.

Check out the Daily Bruin!

Hi there, my name is Edward Truong and I'm a student worker in Public Response. I work in the front desk, where I interact with prospective students, as well as current students, faculty and anyone else who drops by.

When I'm not handing out maps, I have a second life as a reporter. I'm a bit like Clark Kent, but people don't mistake me for a bird or plane. I write for the Daily Bruin, UCLA's student newspaper. Also known as “The Bruin”, we publish Monday through Friday during the school year and this year, we were named "Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper" by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Aside from being an award-winning publication, The Bruin serves an important role on campus. The journalism department at UCLA was closed in the 1970s and Student Media (which also includes seven newsmagazines, UCLA Radio and Bruinlife, the yearbook) is unrelated to the Communications department. Thus, we are the only avenue for students to pursue their interest for journalism. Participating in the Daily Bruin prepares students for careers and we've had many alumni go on to work for professional publications including The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and The Los Angeles Times

Even though I'm just starting my second year this fall, I'm on the Bruin senior staff as an Assistant News Editor. My position on staff allows me to really have a deep understanding of the complex issues that face the university and the surrounding community.

I was able to get involved right away, and you can too. We offer internships every quarter, including Fall and applications are available now on the Student Media web site. We have internships in various departments, including writing, design and photography. Interns complete four weeks of training on Saturdays during the quarter. Don't worry if you don't have experience, we're looking for enthusiastic and dedicated writers, even if you haven't ever written for a publication. During first week, we will have an Open House in Kerckhoff Grand Salon. Keep a look out for the day and time, and see you there!

Life gets sweeter on the Hill

Tasty changes are underway on “the Hill,” UCLA’s residential  community. The quick-serve restaurant Puzzles Café, included as a meal plan option, will soon be converted into a dessert café, complete with  pastries, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and tasty toppings. Delish! Puzzles will also serve  fair-trade coffee and have a tea bar to keep students perky through studying  sessions. Puzzles’ old menu included more traditional fast food fare, and  similar items will stay, including mini-pizzas and evening munchies. I have fond memories of chowing down on Puzzles’ burritos and curly fries when I lived on campus way back when. But now that I'm such a frozen yogurt fiend, I'm happy about the changes. I'll have to make the trek across campus to test out the new menu in September. (I can still eat in the residential and quick-serve restaurants of my student days by loading some cash on my Bruin Card and swiping as I enter the eateries.)

In other food news...There are currently some  Kosher foods offered on the Hill, and quite a bit at Hillel across the street from campus. Students keeping  Kosher can now sign up for a special meal plan with increased options in the  residential restaurants. UCLA Dining Services is also  introducing more vegetarian and vegan dishes in the fall.

But really, who needs to eat meals when there's frozen yogurt to be had?

Watch this space for delicious changes...

The Wheels on the Bus (and the Bike and the Scooter...) Go Round

Hey everyone! I'm Andrea Gutierrez, an Evaluator over here in Undergraduate Admissions. My job is mostly making sure you get credit for transferable coursework completed outside of UCLA, in addition to reading the seemingly endless supply of freshman and transfer applications every year.

Though a lifelong Bruin fan (my father was a UCLA student in the '60s), I earned my bachelor's degree at a tiny women's liberal arts college of only 800 students. You can imagine my culture shock of coming to an institution as big as UCLA. It's been like a second college experience for me, and there have definitely been some perks that blow my mind.

For example, the transportation options are surprisingly endless and relatively painless. It's no secret that parking at UCLA has long been tricky at best.

But why worry about keeping and maintaining a car when UCLA Transportation offers up a slew of alternatives?

In the '60s, they called it the Bruin Bus Tram (5 cents a ride!).

In the 21st century, we call it the Campus Shuttle (FREE rides!).

Getting around the LA region is easier than you think, with Westwood as a major hub for multiple bus lines (Metro, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver City). It's also one of only two locations in Los Angeles where the new FlyAway bus to LAX picks up and drops off ($3 each way) 24 hours a day. Most, if not all buses feature bike racks, and though Westwood sports a hilly, huff-and-puff inducing terrain, there are plenty of racks and lockers and bike lanes around campus. Motorcycle parking is free, and for those of you planning to live at home, there's always the option of a van- or carpool.

Best of all, most of these options can be had at a deep discount for UCLA students and staff. Bus passes are very reasonably priced, and Santa Monica and Culver City buses are only 25 cents with your Bruin Card during the fall, winter and spring quarters!

So get on board! Anything to not deal with traffic and parking...

P.S. To all of you applying for transfer to the School of Engineering for Winter 2008: It's less than three weeks until your application is due on August 17. Get crackin' on those apps!

Black & white photos courtesy of UCLA Library's nifty digital photo archive, Changing Times: Los Angeles in Photographs, 1920-1990.