<p>I've been accepted to TAP, but now considering bailing on it. Too many requirements that would ironically affect my GPA negatively with the extra load and EC's I'd have to complete. So, how important is it anyway? I'll have a 3.7 and applying for a UCLA major that averages 3.4 acceptance rate, non impacted. Someone talk me out of TAP, the extra work sounds like a pain in the as*.</p>
<p>What’s your major? If it’s in the College of Letters and Science, it can be very. very. VERY helpful in gaining admission to UCLA, even if your GPA drops a little bit.</p>
<p>Yeah, letters and sciences. But if my grade moves at all, it will probably be up. The rest of my needs are all cake classes really. I guess I’ll do TAP.</p>
<p>Aren’t you Comp Lit or am I getting mixed up? Anyway, TAP would be good if you could fit it in.</p>
<p>I think you’re correct @lindyk8 . I’m pretty sure it was American Lit & Culture. TAP is beneficial if you can swing it, but if it would make your gpa suffer, I would probably not worry too much.</p>
<p>Sorry guys, I’m majoring in Chicano Studies, it’s really 3.45 I think, but still, I will have 3-7 or 3.8 by the time I transfer. It’s even lower at UCI and UCSB, both back up plans. Cal is my longshot.</p>
<p>Don’t do TAP. It’s not worth lowering your GPA, especially if you want to go to Cal (they don’t care about honors classes). </p>
<p>Honestly, TAP is mostly just a huge benefit if you are applying to a highly selective major like Biz Econ, Econ, or Psychology. It also likes to sneak in admits who are usually seen as unqualified for UCLA, like a 3.1 GPA student. </p>
<p>If your GPA is at a solid 3.75-3.8 then I think you’re good and a competitive applicant without TAP. </p>
<p>@theoldguy my daughter is starting UCLA this fall and did not TAP. A lot of ppl don’t and I agree, it just adds more work. If you can maintain your GPA, I really don’t think you need it. It’s a nice fallback, but not crucial.</p>
<p>However, be sure to TAG one of the backups.</p>
<p>I didn’t TAP either. It was too much extra work for me, and the honors courses were never at a good time for me.</p>
<p>Your major is non impacted and desperate for new blood. If you have a 3.7, I’d say you’re golden. Just focus on your GPA and overall unit credit (3.7+ and 60+ units). It helps if you’re mexican/latino too, so if you’re white or Asian, I’d suggest going to a tanning salon and using that as your traumatic experience that helped shape/mold you into the person you are today on your UC essay application. It worked for me.</p>
<p>I didn’t do anything for TAP except take honors classes which were better than the normal classes I took, but YMMV. If you have to get involved in a bunch of clubs, volunteering and other stuff I’d avoid it. </p>
<p>I honestly thought that the honors classes at my school were easier than non honors. Professors were better, less people enrolled (20 max), and much better discussion. I’d recommend TAP if you’re borderline.</p>
<p>I don’t think you need TAP, but @calbro is spot on. I’ve loved my scholars classes because the professors are so much better, and the classes are smaller (SMC). Not to mention some of them have really kicked my butt, so I feel better about the upper division classes later.</p>
<p>@luckie1367</p>
<p>SMC’s TAP program professors are generally pretty great! :)</p>
<p>@ocnative that 3.1 comment is definitely not true because most colleges require you a 3.5 to graduate with honors, and i’m only saying most because I have yet to hear of a college that allows you to be in the program without a 3.5. </p>
<p>As for OP, I don’t think you’ll need TAP, you’re way above the average GPA and if your GPA will only go up, you’ll be admitted since it’s not impacted.</p>
<p>@uclaplz </p>
<p>Generally speaking, there are students who have less than a 3.5 that are admitted to UCLA all the time because of TAP. You don’t need a 3.5 to be TAP certified (though it might vary with other CCC’s?) because I’ve seen TAP applicants get in with 3.2-3.4 GPAs this year and the one before. These are to majors that are not impacted though. </p>