Trying to get accepted to UCLA, Computer Science

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a sophomore about to enter my junior year, and I know it’s way too early to determine if I can make it, but I want to know what I should be doing during my Junior and Senior year to be accepted. I’m aware that UCLA’s Computer Science major is very competitive, so I also want to know how behind I am, comparing to other students going for computer science.

I heard that UCs never look at freshman year, but I’m going to post just in case. Freshman year I made a big mistake of getting a C on Spanish. This really hurt my overall GPA. Because of this, I am currently only top 20% of the school (out of 576). I am fully fluent in Korean, so I’m planning to take the Korean subject test. Students do not have to take a language class in high school if they take a foreign language subject test, so I am hoping my Korean will sort of cover up my Spanish flaws.

Sophomore year, I got a C in Spanish 2 first semester. I got a B for second semester.

Weighted GPA for 11th: 4.1
Unweighted GPA for 11th: 3.75 (Because of Spanish)

I got As for every other class, but I never took any AP classes during freshman and sophomore year. The only honor classes I took were geometry, anatomy, and algebra 2/trig.

Because I am so behind, I decided to die Junior year with the following classes:
AP Psych
AP Language and Composition
AP US History
AP Computer Science
AP Physics 1
Honors-PreCalc
Cross Country and Track

During this summer (sophomore - junior), I am taking a summer class of Computer Science - Introduction to Visual Basic
I have no experience in coding. Should I learn coding during this summer?
I participated in Cross Country and Track Sophomore year, and will participate till the end of high school.
I am treasurer of Animal Rights club
CSF Member (Will be 100% at the end of high school)
NHS Member
Like 3 other clubs, but won’t mention because they are not major clubs.

So far, how behind am I, comparing to all the other computer science applicants? Do I at least have some hope to get accepted by the end of my senior year? How should I use my time?

2

Any SAT/ACT score?
Without that, there won’t be much to help you. Your GPA is fine not excellent but not bad.

3

I’m only a sophomore so I did not take the SAT yet. Should I be studying for the SAT over the summer NOW? Or should I be studying for the PSAT?
And since I am applying for Computer Science - What can I do to get an edge? I know attending Hackathons are really good. Are there any other things I should participate in?

4

Try to be involved on activities that you enjoy. Are you going to be a junior this fall?
If you will be a junior this fall, then yeah it’s a good start.
The PSAT is completely different from the current SAT since the PSAT was redesigned.

5

Yes. I’m going to be a junior. Is the PSAT necessary for qualification? Or should I just devote even more time for the SAT?

6

The PSAT is for National Merit Scholarship. It is up to you.