I'm starting to have second doubts

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
1

<p>I was so confident earlier that I'd get into UCLA/USC/NYU (my top 3), but I keep hearing that UCLA puts a lot of emphasis on test scores and mine aren't above 2000 (ACT converted isn't either). I live in LA and would do anything to go to UCLA, I might even go to SMC and transfer in if I'm not accepted. Could I get a chance?</p>

<ul>
<li>Low income single parent (unemployed)</li>
<li>First in the family to attend college</li>
<li>Ranked 31/516 UC GPA is 3.81. UW is 3.5 W is 3.91</li>
<li>Middle Eastern (lebanese)</li>
<li>Grades:</li>
</ul>

<p>9th</p>

<p>Global Issues Honors B+
Health A
Geometry H B, A
English H A, A
Biology A, A
French B, A
Journalism A, A</p>

<p>10th</p>

<p>English H B, B
Algebra 2 H B, B
Chemistry H A, A
AP European History B, B
Journalism A, A
French 2 A, B</p>

<p>11th</p>

<p>AP English A, B
AP US History B, A
AP Biology A, B
Trigonometry H B, B
Film 1/2 A, A</p>

<p>12th (estimated grades)</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC B+
AP Government A
AP Macro Economics A
Multicultural Literature B
Psychology/Sociology A</p>

<p>SAT
CR - 600, 680
WR - 600, 560
Math - 660, 610</p>

<p>1860, 1850. Super - 1940</p>

<p>Act - 29</p>

<p>Subject tests
Math 2 -650
World History - 670
US History - 740</p>

<p>AP Exams
Euro - 4
US - 5
Bio - 5
English - 4</p>

<p>Activities -</p>

<p>Bike Club member, 4 years on the newspaper (1 year Arts editor, 1 year Opinions editor, 1 year Online editor), Founder and president of the Student Union, I tutor in math, I am a part of the freshmen orientation committee, have a summer job cleaning my apartment's patio and the next door building's</p>

<p>I wrote my personal statements on how being poor has affected my career choice (politics) and on my campaign for ASB president which later resulted in losing and founding the student union (all about leadership). The UCLA admissions lady who read them said they were fantastic, especially the second one more than the first.</p>

2

<p>I’m afraid you won’t get into any of your “top 3”…</p>

3

<p>Not a chance?</p>

4

<p>i think you’ve got a decent shot</p>

5

<p>Well UCLA doesn’t superscore, so your UCGPA/SAT would be 3.81/1860. That’s pretty low for UCLA, but you never know…</p>

6

<p>Check this out…( it’s actually freshmen '09
[Profile</a> of Admitted Freshmen, Fall 2008 - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_fr/Frosh_Prof09.htm]Profile”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_fr/Frosh_Prof09.htm)</p>

7

<p>Trust me, GPA and Test scores aren’t everything. I know some people with 3.2s who got in and others with 4.0s. Although people hype up scores and gpas, it’s not all they look at. Extracurriculars and a kick-a** essay help, too.</p>

<p>Don’t stress out now, it won’t do you any good to freak out 2 months before decisions. Don’t let anyone here tell you you don’t have a chance. With your determination, UCLA would be glad to have you. :)</p>

8

<p>Based on that link, I fall into either the top two tiers for every catagory.</p>

9

<p>Yeah I used to just be indifferent, but for some reason its finally hitting me.</p>

<p>My ECs are good, they show dedication, leadership, and passion in government and being a leader. My second prompt is amazingly good (as I’ve been told by the UC reviewer at my school) and all about my main EC.</p>

10

<p>To clarify: are you the low income single parent?</p>

<p>Don’t let perceived low test scores keep you from applying. Just try, and make sure you work on your personal statement to bring out the best sides of you. Detailing how you overcame adversity and showing passion for pursuing education at UCLA will help. </p>

<p>While SAT scores do play a part in admissions, they aren’t an end-all with UCLA’s holistic admissions process. My GF had a 1550 SAT I, my friend had a 1320 SAT I; both got into UCLA and are quite happy here.</p>

11

<p>Well I submitted in November, and my mom is the parent.</p>

<p>My essays are not about specifically getting into UCLA since I applied to 4 UCs and they use the same app. However, I believe my statements accurately represent me and do a very good job.</p>

12

<p>“have a summer job cleaning my apartment’s patio and the next door building’s”
your job made me lulz.</p>

13

<p>The SAT or GPA are certainly not the DEFINING factors. My D had a 2000+SAT, 3.9/4.0 GPA ( and is a URM, FWIW) and did not get in. I suspect first gen, and EC’s in context are really important.</p>

14

<p>Hey a job is a job <_<</p>

15

<p>that’s more like a chore/act of generosity than a job</p>

16

<p>The fact that you consider USC to be a part of your top 3, let alone your top 100, means that you are hereby banished from this UCLA forum and all of its derivatives.</p>

<p>Also, dream on. You got about a 3-10% chance.</p>

17

<p>I would understand a 50% chance or even a 30% chance, but don’t you think 3-10 is a bit low? On what grounds do you base it on? SAT only? Is that the make or break portion of an application? I know you can’t get 1200 and have a high chance of getting in, but it has been done.</p>

<p>I cite this article
[Freshman</a> Selection - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/FrSel.htm]Freshman”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/FrSel.htm)</p>

<p>They really do not seem to make such a big deal out of the SAT. Obviously it means something, but they do not state that if you have a low SAT then good bye! Furthermore, my scores on the SAT and ACT fall into the middle % of students accepted into UCLA last year. However, my GPA falls into the minority pool.</p>

18

<p>you SERIOUSLY cannot consider putting down that job on your application or personal statement or anywhere for that matter…</p>

19

<p>My application was in November and I put the job down in the jobs section, only. Its basically a janitorial position, are you suggesting that custodial work doesn’t hold enough merit to be told? My personal statement #1 clearly indicates that my mom was low income (40k while employed with 2 children, unemployed for 2 years) and I needed money. I believe it is relevant to the application. What is a serious job? Cashier at McDonalds?</p>

20

<p>if you were actually an employed custodian or janitor, it would be legitimate to put it in on your app and perhaps write a rather good personal statement of it. but washing dishes, shoveling snow, or cleaning your apartment patio isn’t exactly a job. as terranoxic had mentioned, it’s more of a chore than anything.</p>

<p>just my opinion. others may argue but a lot of my friends actually had jobs in high school (like working at Starbucks, Target, the fire station…).</p>

<p>out of curiosity, why exactly were you “so confident” that you would get into UCLA, USC, or even NYU?</p>