The year before college is characterized for many stressing over applications, visiting schools and deciding to move in the fall. We all decided on UCLA for a slew of reasons, but the main reason we came here, and the main reason UCLA exists, is for education. To this end UCLA is a great choice. Within this one square mile we call campus you can find cutting-edge research, award-winning professors and classes that are only taught at UCLA.
But do not let schooling get in the way of your education. Learning in the classroom is indeed the inherent function of a university, but going through four years of being at UCLA without taking advantage of everything it has to offer outside the classroom would be a terrible waste.
There are sporting events and performances to attend many times a week, student groups to get involved with and programs on campus to take advantage of.
UCLA’s athletics program has the most NCAA Championships of any school in the nation, and students can watch almost all of these sports teams compete for free. Thousands of people attend women’s gymnastics on weekends. UCLA men’s basketball is amazing to watch even in years we are not doing well because of Pauley Pavilion’s historic atmosphere and coach Ben Howland’s hard-nose style of defense.
But what I remember most from the sporting events I have been to are the 8-claps and the screaming fans annoying the opposing team when our team is on defense, especially at the end of a close game. Camping out for basketball games and being part of a roaring student section are probably what I treasure most of my time at UCLA.
If athletics is not your thing, there are all type of performances conducted through UCLALive that students get discounts to attend. Groups like the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra will be visiting us this coming school year, and watching such a performance makes for a great time. And even if you have no appreciation for the arts, you must attend at least one event in Royce Hall, simply because of the raw majesty of the performance hall. It is phenomenal.
And everyone should be getting involved with student groups, as UCLA has 955 registered student groups that cover pretty much every desired interest.
You can get involved with politically centered organizations like Bruin Republicans and Bruin Democrats, academically focused groups like the Geography Club and the Undergraduate Mathematics Students Association, cultural groups like Chinese Student Association and the United Afghan Club, or other clubs that focus on particular interests or causes like the Pediatric AIDS Coalition (which hosts Dance Marathon) and the Men in Nursing Club. I can say that the student groups I have been involved have given me some of my best friends.
With such a range of clubs and interests, there’s no reason for you not to join at least a couple that keep you interested in things outside of class. The list of student groups can be found at
www.studentgroups.ucla.edu, and many groups will be present at the Enormous Activities Fair, which takes place during Zero Week. The website also gives instructions on how to start a group, if UCLA does not already have it.
Lastly, take advantage of the awesome classes UCLA has to offer. Take classes that do not count for your major or for a General Education requirement, but take them simply because you are interested in them. If you are an economics student like me, take classes in geography just because you are interested. Take classes in life sciences (even if you have to take them pass/no pass) just because you are curious about evolution.
I can tell you from experience that UCLA has everything in the world to offer, but it will not come knocking on your door. It is up to you to take advantage of student groups, sporting events, museum events and arts performances.
Student groups will not show up on your degree and you will not list sporting events you went to on your resume, but they will introduce you to people with interests similar to yours and will help make your time at UCLA the best four years of your life.