From military to UCLA?

[LSCO06]

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I have currently be enlisted in the US Air Force for 2 years as of now and will be leaving in 2 years. In high school i was a rather average student but since I have joined I started to put things together. This is the current state of my military record:</p>

<p>Paperwork and Disciplinary Action: None
4 months in Iraq with a combat Mission(Makes me a Combat Veteran)
Stateside Mission: Provide Security for Minuteman III Nuclear Weapons
Coined by the Command Sergeant Major of Detainee Operations in Iraq for my educational achievements and being a squad Subject Matter Expert on the 240b Machine Gun(scored a perfect 600 out of 600 on an army firing range)
Distinguished Graduate from the Security Forces Academy
Attempted 9 College-Level Entry Program Exams in a deployed Environment(Unknown how many I passed yet)
Currently Enrolled in Basic Algebra and Trig Class</p>

<p>As for my future record by the end of this year I should and hope to have 12 college math credits(Basic Algebra and Trig,College Algebra,Trigonometry,Analytical Geometry and Calculus I) 3 physical science credits (Exploration in Physics) through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and 3 to 6 english credits(Writing Purpose and Research and maybe Writing Strategies and Concepts) through Park University.</p>

<p>I will likely receive an early promotion called (Below the Zone) and if I can keep my running up should be able to participate in the Air Force Marathon in a year. I plan to run 5k's and 10k's for charity while I am in too. If UCLA accepts recommendations I can definitely get a few from commanders.</p>

<p>My last ACT was 19(yea i know) but that was in high school and I plan to take the ACT 4 times next year and I think with the math and English courses I can get a 30. I am just hoping my military record can redeemed my high school one. Do I stand any chance? And if you haven't guessed I am aiming towards a math major :) If any of the material is irrelevant or would serve much purpose please tell me I have very little knowledge or wisdom in this area. And if you have any further questions for me please just ask.</p>

[mikemac]

<p>You stand a chance of being admitted once you have finished 2 years of college level courses and can apply as a junior.

If you graduated from high school but have never attempted any coursework at a college or university after graduating, then you would be considered a freshman. If you have ever enrolled at a college or university, then you must meet the requirements for junior-level transfer admission to UCLA (you cannot disregard college work and apply as a freshman).
[UCLA</a> Undergrad Admissions: Veterans](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Veterans.htm]UCLA”>Veterans | UCLA Undergraduate Admission)

You can transfer into UCLA from any Community College. One many choose because it is in the area is Santa Monica CC, but any will do. At many CCs students live at home and attend the local college, so you might want to pick a CC where more students are living away from home so that you get a sense of campus community. I don’t know if its the case at SMCC. One where students do so is near UCSB; I have a post about it at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/468098-backdoor-way-get-into-ucsb.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/468098-backdoor-way-get-into-ucsb.html&lt;/a&gt; You can probably find others if you look in smaller college towns such as Davis or San Luis Obispo.</p>

<p>While at the CC look into the guarantee xfer programs. Not all of the UCs have them, and UCLA does not. However while you are fulfilling the requirements for the UC system so you are eligible to apply to UCLA and the other UC schools, taking part in this program will give you the security that even if you don’t get into UCLA you’re sure to get into a UC campus.</p>

<p>You asked about letters of rec, and the UC schools do not accept them.</p>

<p>Finally, while UCLA is a fine school you should think about casting a wider net. Be sure you understand what its like to be a student at a large U like UCLA and if that’s really the best fit for you. And at many privates you can apply anytime rather than waiting until you’ll be a college junior. I’m not a financial aid expert, but since you’ve been living independently you’ll likely qualify for significant financial aid if you were to attend a private college. The cost of attendance out of your pocket might actually be less at a private than at a state school. Something else for you to look into.</p>

<p>Actually my best suggestion would be to take a step back and do the whole process of choosing a college from the start. This means getting a good book about college admissions so you can understand the whole process – how to find a college thats a good fit, how they make admission decisions, financial aid, etc. One book I recommend is called “Admission Matters” – [Amazon.com:</a> Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting Into College](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Admission-Matters-Students-Parents-Education/dp/0787979678]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Admission-Matters-Students-Parents-Education/dp/0787979678)</p>

[LSCO06]

<p>Thanks a lot for your help! Disappointing to see I can’t apply till i am a junior but i will be sure to check out private schools as well. I am looking for schools with majors in Computational Mathematics so I will be on the look out. As for the cost of a private school it may be a little more because I believe with the new G.I. Bill there is a cut off amount for private schools but its still in the range of 80,000 I believe! Thanks again for your help and I will be sure to check out that book!</p>

[Deuces]

<p>I remember hearing about special circumstances for which you may apply, however not sure if you would even qualify or if it exists. If you’re looking at engineering, the person to e-mail is <a href=“mailto:erkki@ea.ucla.edu”>erkki@ea.ucla.edu</a> Good luck.</p>

[mikemac]

<p>

I believe with the new G.I. Bill there is a cut off amount for private schools but its still in the range of 80,000 I believe!

I’m not a FA expert so take this with a grain of salt, but this cutoff may not be the limit you’re thinking. There is the Mongtomery Bill support, and then there is financial aid supplied directly from your college.</p>

<p>As a broad overview, colleges calculate what is called your “need” by taking their expense estimate and subtracting what is called your “expected financial contribution” or EFC. If you are a dependent on your parents tax return then they are expected to contribute to your education. If you are independent then parental wealth & income is not taken into account. The percentage of your personal savings that you’re expected to spend on college (both for kids that are dependent and not) is pretty high. You can see an example EFC calculator at [FinAid</a> | Calculators | QuickEFC](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Quick EFC - Finaid) </p>

<p>Once you know what the financial aid office determines your need to be (and schools tend to tweak the formula, so numbers won’t necessarily be the same from all schools) then that is what they’ll meet with financial aid. Financial aid is a combination of jobs on campus, loans, and grants (eg. free money). Even if the total dollars are similar, the composition of the package can vary significantly from school to school; that’s why I wrote earlier to at least consider private schools. On this site there have been many reports that a more expensive school gave that family a package that required fewer dollars in loans than a less expensive state school.</p>

<p>As to how your military aid affects you, I found this link on the web [GI</a> Bill FAQ - Education - Military.com](<a href=“http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/gi-bill-faq]GI”>http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/gi-bill-faq) which says in part

Q: Is the Montgomery GI Bill considered Financial Aid?</p>

<p>A: Not in the traditional sense. In most cases, the school’s financial aid department does not considered the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. Most schools will require you to sign a promissory note or apply for student loans to pay them upfront.</p>

<p>This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the Montgomery GI Bill. But it is important to note that your MGIB income will reduce the amount of student financial aid you are eligible to receive.

So don’t rule out a more expensive private school right off the bat w/o finding out what your actual cost of attendance might be. Your financial situation doesn’t match the circumstances of many on this forum since you will be independent and have the military benefits; its worth it when the time comes for you to delve deeper into what aid you’ll qualify for.</p>

<p>Again, though, since you have 2 years to prepare, take your time and don’t rush any decisions! Read thru a book on admissions such as the one I mentioned earlier, then start exploring and finding out what college(s) are right for you. It may very well turn out to be UCLA is one of your top choices, a school many are proud to attend :)</p>

<p>One more piece of advice; over your remaining time in the service try to do as well as you can in the classes you take because your recent academic record is going to weigh heavily on your admission. It’s ironic that while you take 12 years of classes thru HS and 4 more in college, there is no class about studying! Fortunately there are books about how to be a better student; one I like is “What Smart Students Know” and there are doubtless many other good books. A web site that’s not nearly as comprehensive as the book but with some good links is [Helpful</a> Study Skills Links](<a href=“http://www.stthomas.edu/academicsupport/helpful_study_skills_links.htm]Helpful”>http://www.stthomas.edu/academicsupport/helpful_study_skills_links.htm) It’s worth taking some time reviewing your study skills and seeing if there are ways to improve. Another resource (especially for math and science) that not that many kids seem to know about are books called “Trigonometry Problem Solver”, etc. The “Problem Solver” series are worth their weight in gold; they have thousands of problems with the solutions given. You just find the chapter matching what your class is currently studying, cover up the answers, and practice. These books are under-$20 investments that make it seem like you have a tutor sitting at your elbow.</p>