Should I apply to UCLA engineering?

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

First off, before I get to my scores and what not, I would like to let you guys know that me getting into UCLA is my first priority, not necessary engineering. I would like to be accepted into engineering, but I know that it is harder to get into than the other programs.

My SAT: 2230
M:710
CR:720
W:800

My 10-12 GPA(W): 4.76

APs/Honors Classes: AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Lang, APUSH, AP Euro, AP Physics, AP Comp Sci. AP Chem, AP Econ Micro/Macro, Honors Precal, Honors Chem, Honors Bio, Honors Lit 1, Honors Lit 2, Honors Comp Sci 1, 2 and 3

AP scores:

AP Calc AB: 5
AP Lang: 4
APUSH: 4
AP Physics: 4
AP Euro: 5
AP World History: 4

SAT Subject Tests:
Math 2: 770
Physics 780
US History: 770

Essays: I feel that my essays are very strong for the UC App, I would rank them a 9/10

Notable ECs (Not all of them):

Boeing Engineering Internship for 7 weeks (140 hours)
Congressman Internship
Club President of Surfriders for 3 years
Club President of Interact for 1 year but member for 2

Honors:

National Merit Commended Scholar
National Honors Society
AP scholar with distinction

Anyway, I know that my test scores in math especially are a bit low for UCLA engineering, but I would like to know if I should apply to it or not.
If I have a bad chance then I probably will just apply to the school of letters and sciences. My biggest priority is just getting into UCLA.

2

UC-calculated GPA?

Desired engineering and non-engineering majors?

3

@ucbalumnus UC GPA: 4.83

Electrical Engineering

Biology or Economics or Political Science

4

First off, choose wisely I don’t think coming to UCLA is worth it if you sacrifice your chosen major. It is in prep for your life long career. That being said you seem like a strong applicant for HSSEAS. I’m a freshman EE who had a similar GPA but much lower test scores and my main EC was in sports so I had no engineering experience. If you are admitted to L&S keep in mind switching into engineering is next to impossible. UCLA admits engineers directly to the major so all spots are taken. You can only apply in when spots open up and that requires you to take the engineering plus your regular major courseload be get a near 4.0 GPA because of only a handful of spots.

5

1/2 or more of those starting in engineering at most schools drop out of the engineering program. It’s hard to get accepted as an engineering major, so for most of them it isn’t because they can’t do the work. They decide it isn’t worth it. They see friends having a lot more fun and spending much less time studying and doing homework, and they throw in the towel.

When you say your main goal is to get into ucla and you’d be willing to give up engineering if that’s what it took, it suggests to me you don’t have the requisite commitment to make it thru even if you were accepted in engineering. So I’d say apply to L&S.

6

I agree with @Mikemac, engineering takes a certain kind of individual who wouldn’t give up the major he/she wants just to get into a school. Our son got into UCLA engineering and the competition was fierce. He had several good engineering school choices and he ultimately attended another university (Caltech) but we were very impressed with the upper division engineers who presented at the orientation.

The major has people dropping like flies because until you take a true engineering course, you really don’t know what it involves in both time, precision and dedication.

7

From what I’ve seen, applying for engineering and getting in is much harder than applying for the College of Letters and Science. I wanted to do engineering, but didn’t like my chances, so I applied as a biology major and got in. If you do not apply as an engineer and wish to switch into an engineering major, you will need a strong GPA in the prereqs.