Does the UC system actually care about essays?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>One of the things I was wondering is, do the UCs actually care about essays or not? </p>

<p>I just submitted my application yesterday and afterward realized that there were two grammatical typos. It's amazing how these things can go under the radar. I had a couple of people look at that and they didn't catch them, and I didn't either. But it's done. </p>

<p>Do the UCs actually look at the essays? Or is it all about numbers? It seems like GPA has a huge play. Or maybe only certain UCs care about essays?</p>

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<p>First they look at grades. If you pass the first filter, then they look at your essays.</p>

<p>Speaking of which, I need to write mine.</p>

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<p>they don't even look at your essays for the most cases</p>

4

<p>All UCs do not care too much about ur essays except for UCB and UCLA.... this doesnt mean that you bomb your essay.. ex if your applying to davis and you have a 3.0ish gpa, your essay can push you over the fence.</p>

<p>If you are on the borderline essays DO MATTER. for UCB and UCLA the are extremley IMPORTANT</p>

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<p>^ Crap. Why am I applying to UCB and UCLA. :(</p>

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<p>^^ i dunno?? lol thats a good question you are asking espicailly since its deadline day today.. lol</p>

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<p>i doubt it's extremley important for ucla cuz i know my essay was a waste kkk
just get the avg gpa for your major, pre-req done, igetc done, and complete over 60 units. it will do the whole works.</p>

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<p>^^ i know ppl with all pre reqs done with a 4.0 gpa who got rejected to ucla. dont underestimate the essay.</p>

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<p>I thought my essay was good...and then i saw a typo... </p>

<p>"in my all areas in my life" </p>

<p>:(</p>

<p>I don't have a low gpa though and I think most of my essay is pretty good... </p>

<p>You think this could really effect their decisiion?</p>

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<p>^ I don't think it'll affect their decision. Making a careless typo is one thing, but what they <em>really</em> hate are authentic grammatical misunderstandings, such as writing "effect" instead of "affect". :)</p>

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<p>hahha oops :D</p>

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<p>^^^^ yeah that does happen sometime.. but i was saying about the common case</p>

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<p>^ I've seen some essays with bad grammar that have been accepted to UCLA and UCB. However, that person also had a high GPA, etc..</p>

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<p>wlfkfrkrls, sorry for being nosy,
when did you apply to LA & what was your GPA?</p>

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<p>Check this out: <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/educators/counselors/resources/materials/ETS08/08%20Tran%20Matrix.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/educators/counselors/resources/materials/ETS08/08%20Tran%20Matrix.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>On the last page, it says that only Berkeley, UCLA, Merced and Irvine review the personal essay as part of the application. I would bet that it is an important part of the application for those schools, especially Berkeley since they really want unique people.</p>

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<p>^ Never would have thought Merced, never!</p>

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<p>The essay is HUGE for Berkeley. My daughter had great stats but her essay was really memorable according to the Alumni Association (who ultimately gave her a merit scholarship). I wouldn't worry about two little typos, but it really needs to tell an interesting story or make them see a snapshot of who you are...One of her friends who got in with not the best of stats wrote about a grilled cheese sandwich.</p>

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<p>pskate // last year, gpa was around the avg for my major</p>

<p>i just wanted to say that.. c'mon it's not like entering as a freshman. for us academic records play huge role not the essay. i mean you can turn over your low gpa with excellent essay if you apply as a freshman, but i highly doubt that works for transfer students as well.</p>

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<p>i dont get why they act like they read it then. why would reps from all different uc's go to community colleges and hold workshops and events like that?</p>

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<p>^ If anything, $</p>