High achievement, no leadership, contradicting interests; chance at UCLA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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First off, thank you to all the people that respond on this forum and help ease our uncertainty… I’m feeling very lost with what to write for my ECs and essay, but here are my stats and what I have planned:

Asian female, middle class
Unweighted GPA: 3.92
Weighted GPA: 4.28
ACT: 35, Essay: 8

AP Exams
Calc AB (5), Calc BC (5), Bio (5), Phys (5), Studio Art (5), Eng Lang (3)
Chem, Literature, and Comp Sci in progress

Subject Tests
Math (710), Biology (700), Physics (610) retaking this Oct.

Extracurricular Activities

  • Powerlifting (8-11), 6 hours/week, entirely self-motivated bc of traditional parents, did my own programming/nutrition & went to 24-hr fitness, eventually was lucky enough to be offered free online coaching from a very kind person.
  • Journalism Editor and Cartoonist (9-12), 15 hours/week
  • Personal drawing and animation (3-12), 0 to 40 hours/week (??) I mentioned a popular animation I made about a video game and gave the link to my YT channel… is that acceptable? I’m afraid I’ll look too childish. Here’s the link, actually: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQ0YzzhG_wcsJmR8ZyVvQw?view_as=subscriber
  • Volunteering at US Arts, 60 hours
  • Volunteering at the San Diego food bank, 40 hours

Honors/Awards
National Squat, Bench Press, and Total Record, US Powerlifting Association
California State Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift, and Total Record, USA Powerlifting
National Honors Society (11-12)
AP Scholar Award
Honor roll (9-12)

I’m intending to major in physics, which I feel sorta comes out of left field. I’m brainstorming for essays, and none of them have to do with physics - mostly art, powerlifting, and existentialism. Also, a major motivator for me to go to UCLA is because LA is the heart of the animation industry, which is my dream… But me and my parents are on the same page; get a good degree and a good job to make sure I can support myself first, then I can try to break into the industry. I have also tried to engage in ECs involving leadership and socializing, even starting my own club about cartoons, but my shyness and anxieties always overcame me and I quit. Are these things I should tell them?

Thanks again for taking the time.

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Your stats are solid. Your ECs are interesting (female powerlifter and artist) and meaningful (volunteer works). It is very normal to feel a little lost initially in crafting a college application essay. I recommend “On Writing the College Application Essay” by Harry Bauld, or Alan Gelb’s “Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps”.
Leadership does not come only from assuming the positions of president or vice-president of a club, rather, leadership can be best demonstrated from: building trusts; resolving conflicts; providing support for others; initiating new ideas. Perhaps in your volunteering and exercising experiences you have learned to do some of the above, and you can refer to those in your essay (not as a list, but narrative).
The ECs you listed do not include activities outwardly related to physics; however, it seems that you have been navigating across the different cultures of art and the physical world. An essay topic perhaps might include some of the following: Why do you want to study physics? Have you been inspired by the desire to understand the physics behind powerlifting? Were you attracted to physics by the beauty (art) of physics? Do you see connections or parallels between apparently unrelated subjects, such as, physics and existentialism, or physics and art? As an aside, you mentioned that your other interest is animation, check out this site for demonstrating physics through animation.
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics

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I’ll definitely be taking your advice on leadership experiences and finding a connection with physics. I chose physics because I’m interested quantum mechanics, and I think I’m seeing some connections with what I wrote about being existential. Thanks so much!

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Addendum (ad nauseum :))
If you decide to write about connections with physics, do keep in mind that the admission officers who read your essays are most likely unfamiliar with quantum mechanics, so explain in layman terms, and of course with clarity, to highlight YOUR cross-cultural perspective. The college essay should tell others about you; and no one else can write the same essay.

5

I am no expert, I am a parent who’s daughter was admitted and is starting this fall. First, congratulations on your success. You look like a very interesting applicant and I think you would be an excellent candidate for any UC campus. I think the key for you right now is to pull together your academics, personal stats and EC’s into an interesting way to answer the questions. What got you interested in weight lifting or animation? Being willing to follow your interests outside the normal box shows initiative and uniqueness. lLike was mentioned, leadership takes many forms, it doesn’t all have to be “president of X”. Do you mentor other girls in weight lifting or animation? Talk about what it is like to follow your passions in areas that there are few women. I might suggest that it would be a good time to get some help, from a friend, adult or even find a good expert who focuses on college essay writing.

One thing good to know about UCLA, your essay will be read by admissions officers and readers, not specialists in the physics department.

Gook Luck!