Oxbridge takes Rodeo Drive!

The gang’s all here! Oxbridge UCLA in front of the sign at Beverly Hills Garden Park

Our students got off to a busy start today in their major classes, with some students already headed off campus for field trips! The communications class made their way to Westwood, while business and finance majors joined a campus tour at Loyola Marymount University, a private school just north of UCLA.

New campus, same palm trees!

Students had the opportunity to explore a new campus, and see how it differs from a huge university like UCLA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After their morning classes, the entire Oxbridge program drove down Santa Monica Boulevard to Rodeo Drive, a world-famous luxury shopping destination and the heart of Beverly Hills. Students explored the free Louis Vuitton exhibit, sampled Sprinkles cupcakes, and peeked into the rows and rows of designer stores lining the streets.

As if!

So many students ended up at Sephora and Sprinkles Cupcakes for facials and sweet treats!

Our camera couldn’t handle the insane designs on the walls of the Louis Vuitton exhibit!

After so many hours in the sunshine, students spent the evening relaxing with a spa/game night – many used our face masks or their own to nurture their skin, and our lovely activities director Camila read tarot cards. The evening came together with a massive card game, which they managed using two decks put together.

Friends share a clay mask

Sticky masks and big smiles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our very own Camila reads tarot cards

After a busy day outside, it’s nice to unwind…with an incredibly competitive card game!

We were so glad to be able to introduce our students to Beverly Hills this afternoon, and they loved getting to explore a new part of Los Angeles – it feels so different from UCLA and Westwood, but it’s only a few minutes away. That’s the beauty of being based in such a large city: there’s always something new to appreciate, and chances are, you’ve already seen it in the movies.

Games, Indoors and Out!

Today our students explored all UCLA has to offer, from the many sports facilities to the campus at large. Students had their first full-length major and minor classes, where they began to explore their subjects in earnest. To name just a few activities – our moviemakers learned about how to build a script around what their characters want, and the psychology majors got an inside look at the UCLA psychiatry labs!

After class, it was time for fun in the sun! Many students opted to take our swim test (and they all passed!), and are now able to use the amazing UCLA pool facilities at any time.

A glimpse of the campus as the students make their way to the pool

It was a beautiful day to use the pool!

Our activities directors were on hand to show students around the facilities

After their time in the pool, many students opted to move over to the beach volleyball courts in the recreation center. Their game may not have been standard volleyball, but it sure looked like fun!

A volleyball action shot!

Running to catch the ball – not as easy as they made it look

No hard feelings after the game – all in good fun!

 

 

 

 

Students relaxing by the volleyball courts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After swimming and volleyball, students dispersed to tour the sprawling UCLA campus, eat at De Neve dining hall, and even to explore the city of Westwood. Many students also joined us for a game night in the lounge later on!

Dinner together at De Neve Commons!

Students take a break from the campus tour to pose on the iconic Janss steps

Some late-night bananagrams in the lounge

It was a beautiful day in sunny Southern California, and we can’t wait for another one tomorrow.

A Visit to the Santa Monica Pier

Oxbridge UCLA kicked into high gear yesterday with an all-group visit to the world-famous Santa Monica Pier! We started our day with an assembly to officially welcome our students to Oxbridge, followed by hour-long introductions to their major and minor classes.

First meeting in the communications major

After class, all our staff and students headed down the 10 freeway to Santa Monica. It was a gorgeous sunny day, with a clear blue sky and not too warm, so it felt like most of the city had the same idea! Students explored the beach, outdoor mall Third Street Promenade, and a carnival on the Santa Monica Pier, including a special 80s-themed promotional event from the folks behind Stranger Things. The kids had lunch, played volleyball, shopped, took cute photobooth pictures, and got to know each other better.

Playing with our beach equipment while waiting for the bus

Success at the Santa Monica Pier photo booth!

Students on the pier – check out the crowd on the beach!

The iconic blue archway at the end of the Santa Monica Pier

We ended the night by finishing our screening of La La Land in our lounge. We even pointed out a shot of Santa Monica Pier during one of the movie’s montages – just one example of the Los Angeles landscape that the students will be able to explore in the coming month.

Major classes are already underway on this lovely Monday morning, and we can’t wait for the activities we’ve planned for the afternoon.

Arrivals Day!

Today was a busy day with all of the kids moving in. It went smoothly with staff and faculty picking up at LAX and the kids checking in on campus to move into their rooms, meet everyone, and explore UCLA and Westwood. Plus, we all got to enjoy an authentic LA lunch— In N Out! We ended the day with watching La La Land where we got to point out some places in the movie that we will be visiting. The kids had an early check in to be sure they are ready for a big day tomorrow!

Snuggling up to end the day with a screening of La La Land

Tour of the UCLA campus

 

Meet our Faculty!

Yesterday afternoon, we welcomed our eleven amazing faculty members to our office for the first time! We introduced ourselves and prepared for our students’ arrivals this weekend, as well as for the four weeks of classes ahead. These talented teachers will lead major and minor classes on everything from the the entertainment industry to psychology, script writing to sports science. Whether these faculty members are returning for their fourth summer or joining us for the first time, they’re already planning engaging lessons, field trips, and projects to keep students engaged this summer.

We’d also like to welcome our program director, Peter Tregear (top row, second from left), who has come all the way from Australia to lead our high school program this summer! Now that our whole team is assembled and prep week is coming to an end, we can’t wait to welcome the last piece of the puzzle – our students! – and get the summer underway.

Welcome to Oxbridge at UCLA 2019!

The UCLA Oxbridge staff have arrived, and we’re so excited to welcome our students this weekend! We’re spending the week making sure everything is in order for the summer – setting up our office, getting your classrooms ready, and planning lots of exciting activities all over Los Angeles. We can’t wait to meet you!

Our program phone number is +1 (434)531-5599, and our program email address is losangeles@oxbridgeprograms.com. We’re located on the third floor of Sproul Landing on De Neve Drive, your new home on the UCLA campus.

Feel free to contact us at any time before the program begins. We’re here to help! We’d especially like to know if you have any trouble with flight cancellations or delays, as we’re also preparing for the logistics of your arrival day and need any information you can give us.

Here’s to a wonderful summer in Los Angeles!

Last Day & a Stellar Surprise

Sadly, today was the last full day of the 2018 Oxbridge at UCLA program. We are all grateful to have spent the summer with our amazing students, faculty, and staff. This has been a summer to remember. All of us here at Oxbridge at UCLA know that we had some incredible students on our program. Our students were enthusiastic about school, about activities, and about life. These high schoolers were mature beyond their years and showed that each and every one of them will go on to have great, great achievements.

For our final night, we surprised the students by taking them to Dockweiler Beach and having a bonfire, complete with pizza, s’mores, glow sticks, and lots of photos. It was bittersweet for everyone though, as it was the last big hurrah before departure day tomorrow. Our students laughed, cried, and laughed some more on one of the best trips of the entire program. A few courageous kids even went into the water! Needless to say, it was a special evening with a stellar group of students. It was a truly fitting way to cap off an awesome summer!

Big Bets & Big Wins

Tonight was a night full of big bets, big losses, and even bigger wins! Poker night was a massive success! The students were so excited to be playing with real poker chips, playing games such as roulette, blackjack, and Texas hold ’em. Some of the braver and more experienced Oxbridge students were our dealers. There was snacks, cookies, Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider, and lots of fun. Our big winner of the night ended up with $4,595 in poker chips, giving him a special prize. Everyone there was dressed in cocktail attire as well, adding to the atmosphere of the entire event. What an incredible way to enjoy our second-to-last night of Oxbridge at UCLA! Today was one of the best days of the program and we are so glad everyone had so much fun! We’re all in!!

Preparing for Final Projects

Although we do have fun and spend time exploring LA, Oxbridge is still about learning and education. Our students have the valuable opportunity to gain knowledge in a field they are interested in, picking up important skills along the way. Today was a day dedicated towards classes. As the students gear up for their final project presentations tomorrow, all of them were hard at work in preparation. The business major even had a professional panel come in to discuss student ideas, as well as the struggles and successes of student-led projects. Students from all major and minor classes gathered together to put the finishing touches on their projects. Tomorrow will be a day of educational celebration, as the students will find out what each other have learned. Each Oxbridge participant will have a chance to tell their peers about their experiences in the classroom, and we honestly can’t wait!

Sunny Sunday!

A day at Venice Beach? Why not! Our last beach day of the program was a rousing success as almost our entire student body headed to the beautiful sandy shores. It was a full day in the sun, complete with soccer, football, volleyball, and even some swimming! It was also a way to relax and spend valuable time with the friends that each student has made during the Oxbridge program. The Boardwalk was in full swing as well, showing off the many vendors, performers, and athletes that Venice has to offer. A few of the kids even did some minor digging in the sand!

The rest of the group went to the Melrose Flea Market for the second time, a huge hit with our students. It started in 1997 and features over 300 local vendors! Whoa!

Our last Sunday was something special. Happy to have spent it under the sun!