Senior Survey - UCLA College of Letters and Science

Curriculum (904 comments, 21% of all comments)

Every class was enjoyable, and every class spilled over into other areas of my life. I never once took a class at UCLA that failed to teach me something fascinating and enlightening—something I would then share with my friends and family. Being in the Honors Program and being a sociology major really made my academic experience special and enriching.
My small English seminar was just 10 weeks straight of active engaged discussion and interesting analysis, followed by biscotti and shared food and more discussion. It was a great experience in connecting with my fellow students and the professor, whose knowledge and experience and ability to conduct the class made it my best educational experience in UCLA.
My Classics Minor helped me, through the texts, to look inside myself and better define my beliefs, while introducing new ones that I hadn't considered before.
As a Chicana/o Studies major, I was able to learn more about my heritage, culture, language and history, which allowed me to re-connect with myself and my family.
Coming from a Catholic background, my LGBT courses were the most eye opening and made me open minded and more aware of the LGBT community.
My Chinese classes. Both academically and culturally, learning Chinese here has been one of the best experiences of my life, not just UCLA.
As a sociology major, I learned the most taking the Race and Ethnicity in American Life course. It not only highlighted the major events and trends in our societal history, but it made me more aware of the ongoing patterns and more contemporary issues that persist today regarding people in our community as well as in our society as a whole.
Without a doubt, taking math and statistics courses. I learned a lot from these courses and met some pretty great friends. They were difficult but there was a strong sense of camaraderie.
The course on Congress by Professor [name omitted] was amazing. His style of teaching was truly unique and effective, and the information I learned in that class made me a valuable asset in my internship on the Hill.
My most meaningful learning experience actually came from two classes: History of Medicine, with Professor [name omitted], and Evolution of Human Sexual Behavior, with Professor [name omitted]. Those classes made me grow as a critical thinker and as an academic. Hats off to those two professors. I will leave UCLA very grateful to have had those experiences.
I truly enjoyed the majority of my classes at UCLA. My favorite class, Advanced Psychology and the Law, changed the direction of my career goals. It was such a great class, and the professor was so amazing, that it made me want to pursue a career in forensic psychology.
UCLA, specifically the EEB [Ecology and Evolutionary Biology] department, taught me the skills I needed to know in order to conduct useful research. This was accomplished during my 199 courses and the Field Biology Quarter.
Academically, my most meaningful learning experience occurred during Chemistry 153L [Biochemical Methods]. That class has allowed me to understand my own work ethic and it really challenged me to be more organized, detailed, and apply my knowledge.
Exposure to the field of biogeography. I have come to appreciate the world's biodiversity and hope to spend the remainder of my life trying to understand it.
One of the Spanish 150 courses I took was incredibly rewarding. The topic was Chilean literature from the era of the Pinochet dictatorship, and as the daughter of Chilean refugees from this era, I consider myself so lucky to have had the opportunity to take this course. I am thankful to Professor [name omitted] for making this course available.
My most meaningful learning experience was taking Quechua at UCLA with Professor [name omitted]. The cultural knowledge I gained was extremely valuable. It was also an extremely small class, I loved it.
The most meaningful learning experience I've had here at UCLA is learning about anthropology. I switched my major because of a comment that Professor [name omitted] said in one of her Anthro 9 classes. She said to think about what you study and how it impacts the person you want to be. I knew then that I wanted to be someone that understands others and is able to understand the world around me. I think having an anthropological perspective has allowed me to do just that.
Astro 5: Life in the Universe was by far my favorite class at UCLA. It opened my eyes to the wonders of the universe and the amazement of human life.
It was actually in a GE class I took, German 59: Holocaust in Film and Literature. A Holocaust survivor came in to talk about her experiences. It is a day I will never forget and a reason why UCLA is the best school in the country, for providing its students with such opportunities.

Personal Growth (819 comments, 19% of all comments)

Learning that I have so much more in me than I had initially thought. UCLA pushes you to be better than you think you are. At the end of the day, after all the struggles and all-nighters, you realize that you are capable of things you didn't think you would physically or mentally be able to do. That's how I know I will be successful, because UCLA has pulled that out of me.
The best part of UCLA for me was the incredible balance between academics, athletics, and social activities. Attending UCLA helped me develop my own personal balance.
The challenge that commuting to school, working full time, and maintaining a high GPA has given me has been invaluable. Though at times I was incredibly stressed and overworked, the fact that I am completing my degree at a top-ranked university a full quarter early and with a high GPA has been so rewarding, and I am proud of what I have accomplished here. I have learned that I am capable of juggling several balls at once, and performing well under pressure when I thought I couldn't. The life experience I have gained at my time at UCLA is just as valuable as the degree I have earned.
I am thankful to both my friends and UCLA for helping me notice that I need to enjoy life. I have gradually learned from my friends to take life slower and take the time to enjoy it. I also recognized while walking around at UCLA how cool it was that I am here. I started to take the time to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful and awesome school rather than worry so much about schoolwork. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a student at UCLA and I am very blessed to be here. I will continue to work hard, but I am very glad to have been shown how to enjoy it. Thank You UCLA.
Getting through it! It has proved to me that I can accomplish great things and I can't wait for what the future holds. UCLA is a stepping stone and solid part of my life that I will always have and will always be incorporated into the things that I do in the future.
That no matter how much you DON'T think you can do something, trying anyway usually pays off in the end. This school was a dream.... It was the reason I migrated to California from my small town. I didn't expect to get into UCLA in the first place, but I did. I didn't expect to get into the grad school I wanted, but because of everything I had learned at UCLA, I did. Succeeding here taught me to set the bar a little higher. That if I was willing to put the work in, I could go places.
Allowing myself to be great. UCLA fosters young men and women becoming who they are meant to be, and at UCLA I became the man I am, of which I am extremely proud.
I have grown so much as a person. College wasn't just an intellectually challenging place, it also challenged me physically and emotionally. I believe that my most meaningful learning experience deals with that.... I've learned how to be the person I want to be for the rest of my life. I know I'll continue to grow and change, but I really like who I've become thanks to my experiences at UCLA. Thank you so very much.
It's not about the grade. It's not about getting a high GPA that will secure you a job in the future. UCLA has taught me that to be truly happy in life, you need to have a positive experience and experience as much as you can. That is what UCLA is all about.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA has been my self-discovery. When they say that you find yourself in college, you really do. I've grown to be more independent and to do what makes me happy instead of what makes others happy, because without being happy, you can't enjoy what little time you have left at this prestigious school. I am so lucky to be a Bruin.
Being a UCLA student has taught me how to manage my time, be extremely driven to reach my goals, push myself in all areas of my life, and to strive to do something with my life after college. The UCLA environment has instilled in me the idea that anything can be achieved if you are willing to put in the commitment. I grew as a person during my four years at UCLA and feel very ready to enter the real world as a true, financially-independent adult.
My most meaningful learning experience was when I learned I should experience as much as possible. This didn't happen at any particular moment, but there are always so many awesome things going on at UCLA, I have no excuse not to take advantage of them while I can. This is a lesson I intend to carry with me for the rest of my life.
My whole experience at UCLA was meaningful. I'm not sure that there has been one specifically 'most meaningful' time I can pinpoint. What I realized a few weeks ago is that suddenly I find I am not afraid to challenge ideas, to tackle something that could be intimidating, or to create a plan of action for something I know little about. I credit my whole 'going back to school' experience for giving me the above qualities, and certainly I think UCLA provided the most dynamic space for me to grow. I feel I'm leaving this campus as a more assertive person, a more interesting person, and a more passionate person.
There was no single moment that I consider the most meaningful. Instead, during my time at UCLA, I learned who I was, what I want to accomplish in my life, and how I want to live my life. These things came through personal hardships, motivation from excellent professors, and the inclusive atmosphere that UCLA offers every student. I remember being seven years old and telling myself that one day I would attend and graduate from UCLA. I kept to that dream of mine and when I finally fulfilled that goal, it provided me with overwhelming pride. UCLA has been a huge part of my life, even before the four years I attended there. UCLA allowed me to find myself. It prepared me not only intellectually but also emotionally for adulthood and life after college. UCLA was the best experience of my life.

Faculty (490 comments, 11% of all comments)

The faculty at Anderson [School of Management] have impacted me, and provided me with tools I can directly apply to my philanthropic intentions, start-up ambitions, and my role as an employee at a financial institution. The faculty at the School of Management are beyond description. I hope that I can pursue my MBA at Anderson :) Nothing would make me happier.
I think my most meaningful learning experience at UCLA was when Professor [name omitted] gave a speech in a stern and straightforward fashion about Political Science, the Law, and the United States. Honestly, his words and teaching style made me change my dispassionate look at politics and made me believe I could make a difference, and that there are many things I could do other than just law.
I enjoyed working with some of the brightest minds in the country—the professors, TAs, and undergraduate students in my classes were incredibly intelligent. I am grateful for having the opportunity to interact with and learn from my peers and mentors.
I met a professor in the honors department that has been the most influential person in my life, second to my parents and family. She has influenced my character and helped me prepare for the challenges yet to come in life.
My most meaningful experiences at UCLA were during office hours. I had some truly generous and academically nurturing professors and instructors at UCLA.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA has been the entirety of my major. The professors that I have had have all been excellent, thoughtful, and extremely caring.… The fact that in such a large university, with so many students, there are professors that are so caring for each and every one of their students means a lot to me, and is such a luxury that I feel other students at other large universities do not have.
My most meaningful learning experience had to have been my first midterm, in my first quarter at UCLA. I overslept from studying like a madman, and due to setting my alarm for the PM instead of the AM. My professor was more than understanding, and let me take [the midterm] in his office. Even with all of the competition, compassion is what ties it all together.
My most meaningful learning experience was with an adjunct professor for our department. I went to his office hours and he was always well meaning and really cared about me as a person. He offered advice on how I should approach my major and really was the solidifying factor in pursuing my major. (I was considering changing but because of him I did not, and I am extremely happy I didn't!)
The most meaningful learning experiences that I got at UCLA were the stories of my professors. UCLA professors taught me how to network, the things to do in an office to get ahead, and the ways to make a professional life easier.
It was definitely taking the Math 103 series with [name omitted]. She taught me so much about the teaching field. She pushed me to think beyond what I thought I was capable of, and she definitely inspired me to continue to pursue my dream of being a high school math teacher.
Taking abnormal psychology with [name omitted] was my favorite classroom experience here at UCLA because not only is it my favorite topic in psychology, but he made the topic more interesting through his enthusiasm and his genuine desire for us students to learn. Additionally, he made the classroom as interactive as possible, so attending class was never boring.
[Name omitted] speech class. She taught us not to be at the university for grades and specific knowledge but rather to think. To use the skills taught in each class to make us better decision makers, better skeptics, better critics, and better people.
The wonderful professors of the psychology department helped foster a new perspective at looking at things/the world. Their passion for their subjects and concern for student learning (despite the very large class sizes) really made my experience at UCLA so much more meaningful.
The overall quality of the faculty and the TAs has been the best part of my experience.
[Name omitted] is the first person who has ever gotten me to actually love writing papers. Ever since my first class with him, I have loved writing.
Taking Phy Sci 138 [Neuromuscular Physiology and Adaptation] was wonderful, as [name omitted] challenged us to think about science and knowledge in entirely different ways than we had before. He told us never to take information for granted and that we had to think critically about every bit of information thrown our way so we could be truly informed and critically thinking scientists and citizens.

Extracurricular Involvement (380 comments, 9% of all comments)

The extracurricular activities (campus clubs mostly) were the best and most enjoyable learning experiences. UCLA makes a great effort to support and inspire community outreach, and I took part in several such efforts and had a great experience every time.
My most meaningful experience at UCLA was my 4 years in the Solid Gold Sound of the UCLA Marching Band. I met the best people, made the best friends, and went on the best trips I have ever experienced through this amazing organization. The experience definitely had its ups and downs, but I am so thankful that I was able to give four amazing seasons to something I love so much in a professional and fun environment.
Being on the UCLA Swim Team taught me how to work as part of a team towards one collective goal, something that will be invaluable to me in my career and later life.
I was a member of Outdoor Adventures as a guide in the wilderness and a facilitator at the challenge course. I learned my most valuable lessons through this program. My most meaningful experience was transitioning through the different levels of employment, starting out as a novice and eventually working up to a leader and teacher within the program.
Joining my sorority. The effects of being surrounded by and knowing so many different women so well have positively changed my life and given me perspective I never could have found on my own.
I am involved with the Mentorship Program at UCLA and I learned more about myself in this organization than anywhere else. I am thankful that UCLA fosters such a strong development of the student groups, as I have gotten the most out of joining them. The school has worked well with the groups I have been involved in, in terms of helping them push their goals and make their efforts worthwhile.
UCLA Unicamp and Habitat for Humanity have shown me how generous and selfless Bruins can be, ORL [Office of Residential Life] has taught me that the school cares about the development and safety of its students, Club Sports has shown me the excellence that is expected and achieved in athletics, and the Career Center has reminded me that UCLA focuses on the future and what we can accomplish post graduation. In short, I can't pick one meaningful experience because everything I am involved in at this school is connected to my personal growth and has molded my overall experience.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA was becoming staff for Pilipinos for Community Health. I was super shy, but being part of staff definitely let me learn more leadership skills and how to apply them to the outside world. I also learned that a UCLA student group does not necessarily have to stay on campus to help others. PCH is dedicated to helping those locally and internationally, which really hit home for me (we help disadvantaged clinics in the Philippines).
UCLA Unicamp was by far my most meaningful learning experience. It taught me so much about other cultures I had previously known nothing about, and it taught me so much about the person I am and the person I want to become. It affected my life in a positive way.
As an undergraduate I had the opportunity to be a part of the Muslim Student Association. For my first year, as a member, it was a challenge to be sociable. During the current year, I had the opportunity to be a part of the club's board. This has helped me to learn leadership skills, have the ability to interact with a broad range of individuals, and confront challenges I would have not had the experience of confronting otherwise.
Joining the Nikkei Student Union at UCLA. I have made friendships that will last for the rest of my life. We supported each other through the struggles of finals and studying.
I believe my most meaningful experience was being Executive Director for NSU [Nikkei Student Union] Modern and contributing to the UCLA dance community that way. It was a special time for me to do what I love with a group of people who shared the same passions. I will never forget my time with NSU Modern.
Working as part of the UCLA Ally Week committee was a big learning experience for me. It greatly pushed me in terms of spearheading projects and improved my skills on firm decision making and management.
Generally, being a part of a student organization (Samahang Pilipino) has really been one of my most meaningful learning experiences at UCLA. I really got the chance to learn about myself, my community, my culture, and my history—and it has honestly changed my perspective on my life and my future career goals.
Being involved in the Community Programs Office has allowed me to grow as a student and as a leader for my community. I have learned the social, political, and educational skills to succeed after graduation through the work completed in the department.
My most meaningful experience has been singing in UCLA choral ensembles because I have developed as a performer and as a person, because [name omitted] program emphasizes excellent singing of excellent repertoire with a depth of feeling that touches the soul of the performers and the audience.

Diversity (364 comments, 8% of all comments)

At UCLA, you have the opportunity to encounter people from all walks of life. I may have been a science major, but I could count over 50 people who would cringe at the thought of science. I have also met individuals who could potentially cure a cancer or find the new, innovative lab technique. The interactions I've had with all these people is why I love UCLA. Our community truly seeks diversity and acceptance.
My most meaningful learning experiences at UCLA were the social/observation ones, such as meeting somebody my own age who was already a mother and taking 4 classes just like me...but she didn't complain. This helped to keep me in check and made me appreciate what I already have.
UCLA's diversity has helped me in many ways. I have learned to accept different values and perspectives. Also, I learned that difference means strength.
I strongly believe that the Bruin experience is defined outside of the classroom. Yes, many students come here for the superior academic opportunities that UCLA presents us. But to be a Bruin is to interact with the amazing diversity on this campus. It has been both comforting and awe inspiring to have spent four years at an institution that celebrates differences in race, gender, and cultures.
Being able to shed all my racism and prejudice towards groups of people different from those I was used to. I realize that is quite vague and perhaps cliché, but I mean it wholeheartedly. While I value the education I received at UCLA, it can never compare to the inside transformation I experienced, and I can confidently thank UCLA for that completely.
Overall, the curriculum that I chose to study in my majors and minor combined with my extracurricular activity provided the most meaningful lesson at UCLA: the need to embrace diversity. In my IDS [International Development Studies] and Southeast Asian classes, I was able to learn about different cultures that have been and continue to be oppressed or struggle while a privileged few pretend that those struggles don't exist. The exposure to new ideas and cultures has fueled my drive for bringing attention to issues of minorities not only in American communities but also abroad in third world countries.
Learning Korean language and culture during the winter quarter was the most enjoyable and meaningful experience. I took Korean language and drum courses, as well as attending lectures and activities about Korean heritage. Being able to interact with my Korean counterparts, understanding their cultural and historical difference was important to me.
Honestly, it was meeting new people, accepting their differences from me, and respecting them and myself more for having had that experience.
The most meaningful learning experience I had at UCLA was probably mostly social. I got to interact with such a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, and it really made me grow as a person. I'm sure it will help me relate to and work with more people in the future, regardless of their background.
I think just learning how to interact with people from all different backgrounds helped shape who I am today. The people I have encountered here have been phenomenal and I plan to keep in touch with them for the rest of my life.
Just learning to be open and accepting of people. Each individual has their own story and it's pretty interesting to just get to know everyone.
I think meeting a diverse group of people I never would have had the opportunity to interact with at home enriched the way I empathize and interact with others.
Just being surrounded by such a diverse and encouraging student body—it's been a joy getting to know the people around me.
The diversity and opportunity to learn about others' experiences/backgrounds is what makes UCLA so unique and exciting. I am proud to be a Bruin because I know I took advantage of all that UCLA had to offer (at least as much as I possibly could) and I was able to see and get to know many of the beautiful faces that make up this Bruin campus.

Friendships (226 comments, 5% of all comments)

Learning from my friends. I am a completely different person today from the one that first walked onto the UCLA campus. I have learned so much about myself and that is definitely thanks to my friends.
My most meaningful learning experiences at UCLA were the interactions that I had outside of the classroom with other students from the school. I can learn school material anywhere else in the world, but the social environment of UCLA really prepared me for the future.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA is learning from the friends and people I have met here. The students that make up UCLA are the most incredible, most inspiring, and bright-minded people I know. I am proud to say that I was classmate to each and every one of them and it was an honor keeping up with them.
The most meaningful experience would be meeting the people that I have met here at UCLA. Every individual is empowering and extremely intelligent. Learning from my peers has been the most meaningful experience here at UCLA.
Social connections with coworkers, students, sources, and patrons have put me in touch with intelligent, kind, worthwhile people who have influenced me for good and with whom I intend to maintain lifelong connections.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA would be the friends I made here and how each of them shaped who I am today.
My most meaningful learning experience would probably be going here in general. The academics are clearly so amazing—so challenging—and with that I have gained so much. But even the community of people and the amazing friends I have made here have been a huge part in my learning and growth and I will never forget the memories I have made and people I have met at UCLA.
The friendships I have developed with some of my very thoughtful, mature peers are friendships which have shaped my experience of the university and my perception of the world outside.
I think overall, more than anything else, the relationships that I've built with people (both friends and faculty) and all the people that I have come to know while here at UCLA have been the most meaningful in terms of learning—it's the social experiences and what I've learned from them that have meant the most to me.
Meeting a lot of people with life experiences different from my own. It is also very exciting to have friends who are pursuing things they are passionate about, and I enjoy rooting for them.

Research Experience (195 comments, 5% of all comments)

My independent research 197 class, sponsored by [name omitted]—after my research and interviews, I wrote a ten page paper on the evolution of the African American Middle Class. As an African American female who grew up middle class it was very enlightening to understand how the Black middle class came to be.
My most meaningful learning experience? That would have to be the hands-on work that I have done in research at the division of rheumatology and the fieldwork that I was required to do for my minor. It was this hands-on experience that allowed me to look beyond the academia of UCLA and towards my future and what it has in store for me.
Participating in laboratory research has taught me so much and has made me value my academic experience here at UCLA. It made me feel a sense of belonging and meaning and dignity in my work.
I think [name omitted] is a professor that UCLA should be proud to have. Working in her lab and interacting with her research group taught me a lot about the field of research that I never would have learned in lecture. I was able to get a closer look into how much effort is required to work on a given research project and how to move forward mentally and emotionally when experiments do not proceed according to plan. This experience helped me decide what I want after I graduate.
Participating in undergraduate research has been the best learning experience during my time at UCLA. I think that education is valuable and there is a lot to be learned in lecture. But we miss so much by not actively participating in research. We go to a research institute, it would be stupid of any student not to participate in research. There have been so many things I have learned from my faculty mentor that I never would have learned elsewhere (through courses, homework, etc.).
I think being actively engaged in a UCLA research project since my second year has been my most meaningful experience at UCLA. I have received great mentorship, a sense of belonging, and greatly enhanced my critical thinking skills. It has also greatly influenced my future plans and helped me grow as a confident person and scientist.
By far, my most meaningful learning experience was being involved in research, which put me in a better position to learn more about other people and myself than class-based learning possibly could have.
I learned the research process, how collaboration between labs and different departments is vital for medical research, how messing up once doesn't mean failure in labs like it does in class because you can just do it again after some adjustments and hope for better results. I also learned how large bureaucratic organizations function. Through one of my research teams, I had to communicate with multiple department heads in order to complete my project. It was a great experience in learning how to get things done in a huge organization.
Six years ago I could barely write a proper sentence, let alone add and subtract fractions. My major provided me with the challenging opportunity to discover what my learning capabilities are in comparison to my drive. The lab research and experiments I've been able to perform in my classes have far exceeded anything I ever would have dreamed as a little boy who grew up in the projects, seeing people shot in front of me, completely engulfed in gang life. As a biophysics major I have been involved in so many lab experiments that it would be unjust to consider any one of them more important than another.

Academic Gains (167 comments, 4% of all comments)

Getting a sense of intellectual self-worth. Discovering the pleasure of learning, principally when things start to come together. It was a great feeling I had never experienced before.
Striving to understand quantum mechanics—all the things I had learned had to come together to make it happen, including math, physics, and chemistry.
I learned to think more critically and skeptically, and engage more in dialogue with my classmates and professors. I also learned at least something about writing more like a scientist. I started to learn how to solve problems and troubleshoot, to be more independent, and to consider more creative ventures, but I still have a long, long way to go.
The most meaningful learning experience was learning about periods in time that I thought I already knew about. UCLA has taught me that asking more and more questions is a good thing to do because this is how you discover new things.
I was forced to push myself much harder than I ever had to at other schools or learning environments. I learned that I am capable of more than I had ever previously thought. Critical thinking related to reading and writing particularly stands out, as I think my education is directly responsible for the way I think and view the world.
I don't even know where to begin. UCLA taught me how to think critically about many really, truly, important issues that face our generation. It also helped me in so many ways to discover who I am as a person and what is important to me.
The whole experience itself was very meaningful. Being a part of such a great institution not only challenged me to think critically and analyze, but the overall environment on campus was great. There is definitely a sense of community and commitment to academic excellence and community service. As students, the knowledge we gain from our courses and professors will definitely prepare us to think and question larger society and what we can do to improve it.
UCLA has opened me to the beauty of the academic pursuit, and how education really empowers an individual to think and analyze beyond the realm of the everyday. My experiences at UCLA have instilled me with a hunger to know more, and a passion to learn as much as I can. My education is something that will always stay with me and can never be taken away, and I am extremely proud to say UCLA has been the source of this inspiration.
German M50 and the interest in the mind that followed. I began to think of the universe and the human mind as understandable and was inspired by the awesome things that must be possible.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA was the realization that it is important to learn broadly - not to be afraid to learn about topics and skills I hadn't known before, and not only to confine myself to my major. This lesson also applies to relationships and people.

Civic Engagement (108 comments, 3% of all comments)

My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA was this past fall that I spent with the CAPPP program in Washington, D.C. I was able to immerse myself in a new environment, make lasting friendships, conduct a significant independent research paper using primary data sources, and intern 30 hrs a week at the U.S. Department of Justice Solicitor General's Office. I had the opportunity for heavy interaction with the D.C. UCLA Alumni network, to meet Chancellor Block, to meet the Australian Ambassador, to meet the U.S. Solicitor General, and to attend Supreme Court Oral Arguments with DOJ.
My most meaningful learning experience was participating in Alternative Spring Break by the Community Service Commission. I went to Salinas for a week and volunteered at a homeless shelter. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences I had as an undergraduate and I'm very happy that I got the opportunity to participate in it. And taking the follow-up class, Civic Engagement 102, I have been more and more interested in becoming more civically engaged and keeping up with the current news.
My most meaningful learning experience came from working with an educational outreach project in the Community Programs Office called SHAPE (Students Heightening Academic Performance through Education) where I tutored and mentored and engaged high school students in low-income areas into critically thinking about their communities. Through this experience I learned a lot about both myself and the economic disparities that marginalize specific groups of people in the world.
My experience at UCLA UniCamp. I had been so ignorant of the social issues out in the world and how prevalent they truly are, especially as they affect inner-city youth. I'm very glad that I went through UCLA UniCamp and have gotten that exposure to others' experiences so that I am more knowledgeable about the issues out there.
The most meaningful experience occurred in my intro to urban planning course. My professor had students go out into the city to research specific communities. That project taught me how to engage with government officials, and it taught me how local politics and governance works.
While I was enrolled in service learning classes within my major, I was able to take two classes which allowed me to go back to my community and assist students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I was in their position when I was a student. By working together with them, I gave them the confidence they needed to pursue higher education.
Being a member of JusticeCorps and participating in the program for two years game me a great hands-on learning experience. I felt what I learned in my classes about social justice, the government, the Latino community, etc., I was able to experience as a volunteer in the Los Angeles Superior Court assisting low-income families with their court forms. I feel this was a really meaningful experience at UCLA that I will never forget, and the lessons I learned have shaped who I am today and what I want to do in my future.
Being involved in the Community Programs Office was the most meaningful experience during my entire UCLA career. Having the opportunity to help the greater Los Angeles community through the different community service programs that are housed in the CPO has meant everything to me. Without the Community Programs Office I would not be the person I am today.
Learning more about community issues has been most meaningful. UCLA provided many opportunities to really get involved in the community, for which I am grateful.
There are too many to name just one - I think the one that has impacted me the most over the past four years would have to be my involvement in Dance Marathon during my freshman year. I participated as a dancer that year, which prompted me to volunteer doing HIV/AIDS work in Tanzania the following summer. Upon my return to UCLA as a sophomore I applied to be on the Pediatric AIDS Coalition committee (that puts on Dance Marathon), and have been on it ever since… The experiences I have had and the people I have met as a result of that organization are incredible.

Travel Study (94 comments, 2% of all comments)

It is extremely hard to choose one, but my Travel Study experience in London, England with my UCLA professor and other UCLA students was so meaningful because not only was I able to learn the history of English literature first hand, but I had the opportunity to get to know a diverse group of people in an amazing setting.
Getting the opportunity to study abroad through UCLA's EAP [Education Abroad Program] was the most amazing experience I've ever had. I was able to travel extensively and learn about different arts and cultures while I did so. I will probably never have an opportunity like that again, and I am so thankful that I took it when I did.
I think it is hard to pinpoint one meaningful learning experience at UCLA, but I will mention when I chose to study abroad during the summer in Spain (part of UCLA International Education Office). I was exposing myself to another culture and experienced culture shock, but ultimately it broadened my outlook on the world, and I loved it! It was great being able to talk to the locals in Spain.
My most meaningful learning experience at UCLA was studying abroad one summer in Paris with a UCLA professor. Taking classes outside by the Eiffel Tower, studying in famous parks, and walking through the streets while learning history was an unforgettable experience.
Study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark showed me what I wanted to do in life and what I wanted to do after graduation.
My most meaningful learning experience was my research trip to Puerto Rico in the summer of my third year. I went with my professor and another student who have since become some of my closest colleagues and friends.
Studying abroad in Shanghai for the Global Studies summer abroad requirement was the single most fulfilling thing I've done at UCLA. It was there that I formed lifelong friendships with people in my major, and I actually got to apply theoretical concepts instead of just sitting in a classroom to learn them. Overall, the program was a great experience.
When I studied abroad in Brazil through UCLA's EAP [Education Abroad Program]. It was my first time traveling outside the United States. I learned a new language and met so many new and different people while I was there. UCLA gave me a chance to experience this and I am forever happy and grateful.

Intellectual Interactions with Classmates (87 comments, 2% of all comments)

My most meaningful learning experience was being able to learn from my fellow students and from my professors. Everyone here is bright and intellectually stimulated. There is no place that is short of learning. There is no place that is short of expression. Everything about UCLA is a constant learning experience.
I grew and changed so much during my time as a UCLA student through my interactions with my peers - in the classroom, in clubs, volunteering etc. I am most thankful for the diversity of people at UCLA and the type of student that comes here. Everyone is unique and passionate and they are willing to share this with others.
Just being in small classes of my peers and being able to learn side-by-side with people that had the same interests as me was really helpful and inspiring.
My most meaningful learning experience occurred while I was in the Education 92C/D/E series. I learned a great deal about myself and other students during those courses. They were courses where I was able to get to know other students on a personal level.
They were all meaningful. I can't pinpoint just one. I feel so honored to have been accepted into this school and to be a Bruin. Being in classes with people from all different backgrounds, and sharing our opinions and stories about our lives, was so gratifying.
It is hard to pinpoint a specific experience, but overall going to UCLA made me face many challenges, both personal and academic. Overcoming these obstacles was a huge learning experience. In addition, there are some really great and brilliant students on this campus that make coming here a really great experience.
My learning experience came from the people I met. Fellow students opened my eyes to things I did not know before that will always be of value to me.
My most meaningful learning experience was to be able to interact and be among students who have the same drive and passion for education and success.

Residential Life (68 comments, 2% of all comments)

Living in a residence hall freshman year. This is not to take away from the academic portion of the UCLA experience, as most of my classes and professors have been wonderful. But going from living at home, being significantly dependent on my parents, and being surrounded by a relatively homogeneous population to living mostly independently with 100 other kids my age, all from different backgrounds and with different belief systems, was a life-altering and intensely formative experience for me.
Living with three new people in the university apartments really allowed me to learn how diverse this school is, and I began to embrace and understand other people's cultures better.
My most meaningful learning experience was working in ORL [Office of Residential Life] for three years. It is through this job, and through the people that I have come into contact with, that I learned most about myself, what kind of team player I am, how I act under stress, and how I am a leader. Furthermore, I've learned what it means to serve others with purpose, what true friendship is, and how powerful accountability is… The experiences that I've had and the lessons that I will take away have made my time here at UCLA more than worthwhile.
ORL [Office of Residential Life] was my place at UCLA. Here I learned to respect people, to be more tolerant, to love individuals for who they are.
I believe my most meaningful experience was living in the dorms my first year, as I was given the opportunity to meet people I probably would not have otherwise known, and because it was a theme community dorm, I think the experience was amplified—because we had the opportunity to participate in many different programs and events.
Living in the dorms was similar to living in a bubble like the one I lived in back at home with my parents. The only difference was the diversity in opinions, creeds, backgrounds, and goals. For this I will be eternally grateful.
The whole experience was unbelievably amazing, but I think I learned the most from living in the dorms and interacting with people from different backgrounds on a daily basis.

Challenges (60 comments, 1% of all comments)

The most meaningful learning experience was succumbing to the pressures of succeeding and taking part in an act of cheating that I deeply regret. It was this experience that led me to the office of the dean of student affairs, where I was able to talk about the extreme pressure I was feeling. I learned that UCLA's staff is put in place to help students succeed. I left feeling a lot better about myself and about the support system that UCLA has put in for its students.
The most meaningful learning experience was when I retook an introductory economics class. The first time I had taken the subject was as a sophomore, and I failed the class. I went through my UCLA career feeling defeated by that subject and believing that I wasn't good enough. I finally decided to take it again as a senior and I got a passing grade. Even though I still didn't do as well as the rest of the class and I only got an average grade, it helped me to realize that learning is more than understanding things right away.
Even though I am at a prestigious university, I will not get the one-on-one attention I could have gotten at a smaller school. Even into my senior year, my smallest class so far has been about 100 [students] with discussions of 15-20 people in only a few classes.
Failing made me realize that I was taking my academics for granted and needed to work harder.
I've learned that UCLA didn't give a damn about the Class of 2012. Renovating Pauley Pavilion occurred concurrent with our senior year, and the Athletic Department didn't seem too interested in fielding a competent football team either. A large portion of school spirit is born from athletic prowess, and UCLA has been severely lacking in that department for the past four years.
Not getting a decent job despite a year of sending resumes. Thanks, UCLA, for NOT preparing me for success after graduation.