Admissions Blog :: UCLA Undergraduate Admissions

"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.

The Simpsons Movie

Stacy and I took a stroll down to Westwood Village yesterday afternoon because we heard that the Fox Theater and the Bruin were being taken over by the Los Angeles premiere of The Simpsons Movie. The movie already had its world premiere in Springfield, Vermont on July 22. D'oh!

Our walk did not disappoint. The street between the two historic Westwood movie theaters was taken over by a bright yellow carpet. Marge's blue hair-do festooned the Fox and Homer's bald pate topped the Bruin. Many movies premiere in Westwood -- and UCLA students turn out in droves to peep celebs as they pull up to the red (or yellow) carpet.

Here, Stacy gracefully motions to the sacred Simpsons-colored ground with Marge's blue hair rising above.

Here's Homer's dome on the Bruin Theater across the street.

UCLA Undie Run 2007

As I frantically scribbled the last sentence of my beautifully composed essay for my Korean 50 class, I threw up my hands like Rocky in victory.

I succeeded in finishing my last final and did so with flying colors.

As jubilant and euphoric I was for finishing my finals and looking forward to my summer break, it was nowhere close the flurry of excitement and emotions that I experienced the same morning at 12:00 a.m. precisely. It was something that everybody who attends UCLA or who is going to attend UCLA should look forward to. It's a beautiful and tear-jerking event where people from all over UCLA join together in this harmonious mini-marathon, starting from the intersection of Strathmore and Gayley, through the tunnel, around Ackerman Union, up Bruin Walk, and finally ending at the Shapiro Fountain  right next to Royce Hall and Powell Library.

What is this UCLA-exclusive event?

That's right, the UCLA Undie Run.

The UCLA Undie Run happens on Wednesday at midnight during finals week. It is a great way to relieve stress from finals, as well as have some great PG-13 rated fun. There were also many people who came in clever costumes like the Spartans from the movie 300, pro wrestlers, and even chicken outfits.

Have a great summer everybody! If you want to check out some more of my photos, you can see them at EricKimPhotography.com

 

 

UCLA Jazz/Reggae Festival 2007

Hello everybody! This is Eric Kim, UCLA Undergraduate Admissions' official photographer.

I was lucky enough to attend the 2007 UCLA Jazz/Reggae Festival on May 27th. Many artists showed up such as Lupe Fiasco, Les Nubians, Soulive, J*Davey, Dujeous, Cham, General Degree, Mr. Peppa, Triniti, Joseph Israel, Syren, and Eljai.

All of the artists were very talented, and their soulful music truly moved me. It was also amazing how many people showed up to the event. The entire Intramural Field was filled with fans from all over Los Angeles.

I recommend all UCLA students to attend the event next year. If you sign up early enough, you can even get the tickets for free!

If you want to check out more of my photos, you can head over to www.EricKimPhotography.com.

Enjoy! (Artists in order: Hélène Faussart from Les Nubians, Célia Faussart from Les Nubians, and Lupe Fiasco).

Transfers: Are You Coming?

Transfer students: You have just about a week (until June 1) to submit your Statement of Intent to Register [SIR]. Visit your New Bruins page, and follow the steps to accept our offer of admission. Transfer students like you make up an important part of the undergraduate student body at UCLA, and we're very proud that UCLA admits the most transfer students of any school in the UC system. If you have any questions, be sure to get in touch with us, either by emailing newbruins@saonet.ucla.edu, or, if there are changes to your record, course schedule, or academic performance, you should head to the New Bruins page and submit a Provisional Problem Form [PPF]. Daniel went over this in his post, but it bears repeating, you know?

Right outside of Murphy Hall in Schoenberg Quad, the UCLA Clothesline Project is up through tomorrow. Women (and their relatives) who have been victims of sexual violence created color-coded t-shirts about their experiences. It's an amazing, and incredibly moving, project. Stop by and check it out if you're on campus.

UCLA Spring Sing 2007

Hey guys this is Eric again, UCLA Undergraduate Admission's official photographer/techie. Sorry that the pictures from Spring Sing are a little late, but here they are! They were hand-selected from over 900 photos taken for your viewing pleasure.

Spring Sing was truly an amazing event, and I was impressed by how many people showed up and how great the events were. It was full of fun skits, amazing dancers, talented singers, and energetic performers. The entire tennis court was packed from the bottom all the way up, with even some Bruins waiting for the event for up to ten hours outside!

I highly recommend everyone to go to the event next year. You will not regret it.