Current Students:What helped YOU get in

<p>UCLA is my no. 1 choice, and as a junior I was wondering what tips you all have for getting in. What made you stand out? What were your stats?</p>

<p>Start your essay early, possibly even now. It's the primary way to differentiate yourself.</p>

<p>just don't **** up high school too much and you'll get in. this school is not that picky.</p>

<p>honestly i dont think i stood out at all....</p>

<p>community servce + reconigtion + spotlighted on news +++ taking buses @ night to take extra comm coll classes to augment courses @ HS and ease mny weaknessessdasdsa</p>

<p>They sent me the supplementary app in... January? So I think that means I was borderline. I sent in my first semester grades (4.3), my scores for the Academic Decathlon county competition (a couple of golds, a couple of silvers, a couple of bronzes). I think the medals may have helped get me in. Very unsure.</p>

<p>Or maybe it was just high GPA, SAT, SATII scores. Boring-ass numbers. Blah blah. </p>

<p>I am nothing special. :'(</p>

<p>numbers. i had few ECs, but i was dedicated to them. however i was mostly a numbers person (4.3 cumulative GPA, 2240 SAT, and AP tests of 4s and 5s).
in my essay i wrote about my leadership experiences with drill team, and my continued interest in colorguard, and idk what else.
if you have the numbers, make sure to supplement it with a solid essay. to all applicants: HAVE YOUR ESSAYS READ by many many people. take their advice. get it proofread for simple errors, and make sure your essays SHOW and don't TELL. telling is a fundamental mistake that's easy to make because it takes fewer words, but, doesn't show you off in the best light.
solid essays can help anyone, no matter how strong or weak you are in other areas. numbers sure don't hurt much either, so keep those junior grades up and sign up for a challenging senior year.</p>

<p>lots of leadership and strong grades/rank</p>

<p>eagle scout, school site council president, NHS president, etc. I thought I wrote a pretty interesting essay - started the thing in early fall.</p>

<p>above average looks</p>

<p>hibiscuspink, I'm sorry if this comes across as rude or something, but were you a first-generation or poor or otherwise disadvantaged in some socioeconomic manner? I heard they only send supplementary applications to people in that situation?</p>

<p>No, no, and no.</p>

<p>Huh, how weird.</p>

<p>Aren't supplementary apps that are issued out in January based on what major you applied under?</p>

<p>If it is because you are borderline, elaborate please :)</p>

<p>Make sure and write an essay that sets you apart from the rest of your application. Don't regurgitate your resume.</p>

<p>Also, don't try to hard to sound impressive. Writing an essay that is lighthearted and genuine can be just as valuable.</p>

<p>As far as how I got in, dedication to one extracuricular (high school/town newspaper), solid grades.</p>

<p>
[quote]
just don't **** up high school too much and you'll get in. this school is not that picky.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You really need to reevaluate how you look at things. Maybe amongst the top 25 or so schools it isn't picky, but compared to the vast majority of colleges in the US, it's VERY VERY picky.</p>

<p>don't even bother with fastmed.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Aren't supplementary apps that are issued out in January based on what major you applied under?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I applied under Biochem, dude. Nothing special.</p>

<p>not my grades haha. here's how i think i got in: leadership in my ec activities, volunteer work, holding a job that most teens don't have (i worked in a law office for 2 years), and essays that outlined my personal (not academic) strengths. all the girls i have met, have all been through horrific things and live on as strong women. that's what we talked about it our essays and i'm pretty sure thats what got us in. don't stress though. i kind of still don't understand why i'm here but i am so... i dunno haha</p>