So I’m going into high school and I need to know what I can do to make myself look the most appealing to colleges. It’s my dream to go to UCLA so I would really like to know some of the things they look for in their students so I can invest those qualities in myself. Help?
This is probably not the answer you were looking for, but the advice I would give you is to invest your time in ECs that you enjoy and have a passion in. Of course, get good grades in school and have fun in high school. But I think the most important thing is to find a passion and do ECs around it (volunteering, work experience, leadership activities).
Completely agree with the person above me! Firstly, get good grades. And I’m a senior right now, but something I wish I knew before starting high school is to find a passion early on. Whether it’s service, music, coding, etc, find something you can do a lot with and enjoy. Of course, you want to be well rounded, but it’s important to have at least some “spike.”
UCLA is very grades and test-scores focused. Work on keeping a high GPA and scoring over 1500 on the SAT or 33+ on the ACT.
Work hard and do what stokes your passion.
If you’re out of state, keep in mind that UCLA probably won’t be affordable.
^^^^ Unless you and your parents have deep pockets, $60K/Year with little to no financial aid.
- Do you live in CA?
Yes? Continue
No? Are your parents rich?
Yes? Continue
No? Find another school - Read the UCLA Admissions Guide: http://www.admission.ucla.edu/prospect/Adm_fr/fradms.pdf Also look at the COmmon Data Set in section C to see what UCLA considers important for admisisons. http://www.aim.ucla.edu/profiles/cds2.aspx#cdsC
- Did you take Algebra in 8th grade?
Yes? Continue
No? Talk to your Guidance Counselor/Parents about doubling up on math one year so you can take Calculus by Senior year - Take as many honors classes as you can
- Find some good Extracurriculars and do them
I also am looking to UCLA as well, @Lucy M. Nice to see we want to go to the same place. I hope you don’t mind me posting something to receive email alerts about this thread. However, what everyone said above is defiantly believable because from what I’ve heard, GPA and SAT/ACT scores are the most important and then ECs boost your application more if your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are good.
Hope this helped! Have a good day!
Thank you all! You have really helped me find priorities so I can start off running.