So far I have been accepted to UC Davis, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. I was even invited to UCSB’s Chancellor’s Reception for I believe the top 10% or 15% of their applicants. As you can surmise by the title, UCLA has rejected me. Or, to be more precise, gave me the option to be placed on their waitlist, an olive branch a declined. To be honest, I am a bit irked at their decision considering my resumé.
I have a 4.3 GPA and an even 720-720 split on the SAT for a title of 1440. One of my classmates was accepted to UCLA with only a 3.9 GPA and 1280 SAT. Now I believe that this person is intelligent and doubtless deserves the acceptance, but, comparatively speaking, I am just as if not more deserving.
“Or, to be more precise, gave me the option to be placed on their waitlist, an olive branch a declined. To be honest, I am a bit irked at their decision considering my resumé.”
Too bad you declined the option to be on the waitlist. You should have accepted and written to them stating your reasons why you want to attend and how you’d contribute to the community. Instead, you’ve let your ego get in the way of a potential opportunity. Not everything is personal. There are thousands of qualified candidates and they can’t take them all.
you aren’t entitled for any spot at any college. Higher education is a privelge. College admissions are holisitc so posting just numbers doesn’t embody what the AO picked up on in your essays. And if it’s any indication by this obvious humble brag and entitled post…they didn’t pick up good things.
UCLA doesn’t have to accept you. The UCs you were accepted to are amazing schools. Many people are grateful to even get into one of those UCs.
I have minimal extracurriculars I will admit. I was involved in my school’s book club, out of school soccer, student government, and EAOP if you know what that was.
Right, it’s not all about stats. If you didn’t learn that, somewhere along the way, it may have affected the rest of your app. But with the immense competition, no one can self assure of an admit. It would be more productive to move away from this disappointment and focus on the options you do have.
To the people saying it’s not about numbers, the numbers offer an objective way to gauge candidates. Minor differences in the numbers can be overlooked by other factors, but this instance is a huge disparity. I was capable of a 1280 as a sophomore.
@lookingforward (sorry if the direct reply thing doesn’t work; my phone is misbehaving) Your name is fitting for your comment. Yes, I am looking at these schools, but I suppose I’m a bit of a shallow person and they don’t quite have the same brand appeal.
Obviously, 1280 meets UCLA’s minimum threshold. Beyond a minimum threshold, other factors often take precedence in college admissions. It’s not all about the test. You’re focusing on things quantifiable because it easy to compare those things. They aren’t the only or even the most important factor in admissions once a certain threshold is passed.
Numbers are a start, only. This is clear in their public documentation about how they and UCB review. And that’s holistic. You admit your ECs were minimal. We know nothing about how you presented in the app, including your writing. Did you know what they look for, besides stats?
There’s no getting around that a school with that volume of apps is free to cherry pick. You have other great options.
@doschicos@lookingforward@LAox98 The word holistic keeps getting thrown around. I can’t help but wonder if her being black and I white had anything to do with their “holistic” review.
@E17 UCs do not consider race in their admissions (I have heard this stated on this website numerous times).
College admissions are becoming increasingly difficult. You shouldn’t attack your friend for factors out of her control (such as race/ethnicity) because you are feeling the sting of rejection. You met the academic criteria, but the reality is top school receive thousands more qualified applicants than they could ever admit. It means nothing about you as a person.
@E17 Life isn’t fair, and you don’t deserve a spot. I suggest you get over it. Thousands of “deserving” students don’t get accepted into as many schools as you did.
Oh, c’mon. I don’t want to be harsh. I, too love UCLA. But you should know UCs are prevented by law from considering race. Skip the stats and ask yourself what promoted you as a candidate, did you show drives and stretch, any impact? Why so slim on the ECs?
But this shouldn’t be a postmortem. Over 100,000 applied for this fall. Many great kids didn’t get a spot. The important thing is to mourn a moment, then pick yourself up and focus on what’s next.
Your friend’s acceptance is not about you. Your acceptances are about you. You will make yourself bitter and crusty if you insist on picking apart someone else’s good fortune, especially when they haven’t done anything to you. Celebrate what you both have achieved.
@yonceonhismouth@lookingforward Prevented by law yes, but the UC schools used to practice affirmative action and have a large contingent on their campuses to reinstate it… I doubt it has absolutely no effect.
@yonceonhismouth I am not putting her down. I can tell she’s intelligent by the way she speaks and I have respect for her. As I said I think she deserved to get in to a quality school.
@doschicos Since I’m not entirely sure I chose just plain old Mathematics (I know boring). I do not know her choice, but unless she chose underwater basket weaving., I don’t know how big of an effect it would have had. I will ask on Monday.