Cynthia Ayala still had not decided which college to attend come fall, as she wandered UCLA’s many hills and walkways in Saturday’s overcast weather at Bruin Day.

Ayala, a senior from Northridge Academy, said she had narrowed her college choices down to two universities – UCLA and UC San Diego – but she wanted to explore UCLA’s campus and take a housing tour with her mom before making a final decision. Despite only applying to University of California and California State schools, Ayala – a California native – said she was worried about the school’s finances.

The financial situation of California and the UC weighed on the minds of Ayala and other admitted students viewing the campus at UCLA’s third annual Bruin Day. The event is meant to show newly admitted students what UCLA has to offer through free housing and campus tours, informational presentations and booths about academics and student organizations, said Maria Blandizzi, director of student services and initiatives. While the UC will freeze tuition in the coming year, the university’s future finances are still uncertain.

In November, California voters approved Proposition 30, which allows state funds to be freed up for public education. The proposition’s passage also prevented millions in automatic spending reductions for the UC, and allowed for a $125 million state “tuition buyout” for the 2013-14 school year, in exchange for the UC keeping tuition stable.

Ryan Klippel, a senior at Saint Monica Catholic High School, said the passage of Proposition 30 is an incentive to attend UCLA.

“The UC schools are a good choice when you evaluate them using a cost-benefit analysis,” Klippel said.

Sterling Klippel, Ryan’s dad, nodded in agreement as his son spoke. He added that he feels a UC education comes at a good value.

The Klippel family attended a presentation about the life sciences and mammal skulls during Bruin Day. This lecture was one of Bruin Day’s new features, which provided prospective students with a look at what life is like inside the classroom with sample lectures put on by professors from various departments, said Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management.

Ryan Klippel said the UC tuition freeze for next year would encourage him to stay in California longer. He said he thinks some East Coast schools could have more liberty to change their tuition rates because they are private.

But Klippel, who is still on the fence between UCLA, UC Berkeley and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, said he plans to visit other college campuses in the coming weeks before making his decision.

The university’s finances, however, were less of a concern for Haily Kil, a Cyprus High School senior. Kil, who attended a session about pre-medical curriculum on Saturday, said she submitted her Statement of Intent to Register soon after she received her acceptance.

“I chose UCLA because it is a prestigious university with a great campus,” she said. “Even if they hadn’t (passed Proposition 30), I probably would have chosen UCLA.”

Some students, including Kil, said before they were admitted, they were worried UCLA’s large applicant pool this year might limit their chances of acceptance. UCLA received almost 100,000 total applicants for fall 2013 – the largest number in the university’s history.

After the day’s festivities wrapped up, Ayala and her mom headed home to Northridge, about a half-hour drive from UCLA’s campus. She said she waited just an hour after getting home before submitting her Statement of Intent to Register and solidifying a spot in UCLA’s Class of 2017.

Admitted students must submit their Statements of Intent to Register by May 1.

Contributing reports by Yancey Cashell, Bruin contributor. 

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