UCLA CLASS OF 2021 APPLICANT THREAD

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

I don’t think anyone has made this thread yet, so here it is!

The UC application opened 2 weeks ago, so applicants to UCLA can use this thread discuss any questions they have about the application or about UCLA.

You can also post stats if you want to, but please use this format:

Name of UCLA school you are applying to:
Major:

Unweighted GPA:
Weighted GPA (capped):
SAT I (breakdown):
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II:
Rank:
AP Scores:
IB Scores:
Courses you are taking senior year:

Awards:
Extracurriculars:
Volunteering:
Work Experience:
Essays:

Ethnicity:
Gender:
State (if domestic):
Country (if international):
Income Bracket:
Are you applying for financial aid?:
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy):

2

This thread is for freshman applicants (HS Class of 2017).

3

@10s4life Can you please chance me

Name of UCLA school you are applying to: HSSEAS
Major: Computer Science

I received A’s on all final exams.
9th grade - 93%
10th grade - 89%
11th grade - 79%
Our school does not use GPA system (International)

SAT I (breakdown): 1200 (New SAT) I am going to retake it in Oct
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II: N/A
Rank: Our school does not give rankings
AP Scores: Our school does not have AP. I moved to Colorado this year. So, I am planning to take 3-4 classes. Is that an okay number?
IB Scores: N/A
Courses you are taking senior year: New school. Not sure. I will try to take as many AP classes as I can.

Awards: N/A
Extracurriculars: I do a lot of programming. Python, Ruby, C#, and little bit of Java
Volunteering: I volunteered for a month at animal rescue
Work Experience: N/A
Essays: I think they will be great

Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Female
State (if domestic):
Country (if international): India
Income Bracket: $100,000
Are you applying for financial aid?: They don’t give any aid to international students

4

SAT breakdown is 600 Reading & Writing and 600 Math

5

@10s4life I used WES and it gave 3.8 GPA (4.0 scale). I used Roger Hub UC GPA calculator. It gave 3.89 unweighted and weighted GPA

6

Hi everyone! I’m in a similar situation as @10s4life and was admitted to UCLA for the class of 2020. I wish you guys the best of luck with your applications, and am more than happy to answer questions and/or chance people. I’m an international student from Australia, so please keep that in mind if you ask about US-specific things like AP/honours classes etc. I’m a Physics major :slight_smile: so again keep this in mind if you’re asking about majors.

7

I’d really appreciate it if y’all could chance me. :slight_smile:
Name of UCLA school you are applying to: College of Letters and Science
Major: Human Biology and Society

Unweighted GPA: My school doesn’t do unweighted GPA, but I calculated it myself and got 3.9 (I don’t know if I did it correctly though)
Weighted GPA (capped): 4.14
SAT I (breakdown): 780 writing, 710 reading, 640 math–2130 total
ACT (breakdown): 28 science, 31 math, 33 reading, 33 writing–31 composite
SAT II: N/A
Rank: N/A
AP Scores: I got a 5 in AP Biology and a 5 in AP US History.
IB Scores: N/A
Courses you are taking senior year: Environmental science, AP Statistics, Advanced English Literature, Advanced Spanish IV, Physics
(I would have taken more APs this year but my school makes it difficult, I had to take physics as a grad requirement, and there are not too many to choose from.)

Awards: I’ve won 4 Best Speaker Awards at JSA Debate conferences, got a Gold Award for the National Spanish Exam two years in a row (96% percentile), Silver Award for National Latin Exam, Outstanding Delegate Award at M.U.N. conference, High Honor Roll for 6 semesters, ServSafe Food Handler certification
Extracurriculars: Participate in all the school musicals/plays with leading/supporting roles, wrote and directed my own play twice for school’s play festival, President/secretary of JSA Debate team, head of prom committee, head of winter ball committee, Executive Activities Coordinator on Student Council for 3 years, Spanish Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Varsity Swim Team for 3 years, M.U.N. for 2 years, Choir for 3 years, Chamber Choir for 1 year

Volunteering: 2 hrs/week volunteering in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Emergency Room of my local hospital, also did math tutoring in my freshman and sophomore year for 3rd/8th graders, also volunteered at my local youth center as a snack bar attendant for a summer

Work Experience: I was hired at the Youth Center as a snack bar attendant and have been working there for 2 years, I also did an internship this summer with the Professor of Terrorism at the Naval Postgraduate School and will have some of my work published in her upcoming report

Essays: For my first essay, I am talking about being the head of prom committee and the leadership skills I learned while managing the chaos. For my second essay, I’m writing about my experiences in JSA and how I feel that my greatest talent is my aptitude for oratory. For my third essay, I’m writing about the summer that I spent studying abroad in Spain, emphasizing how I improved my Spanish and gained cultural awareness. For my final essay, I’m writing about how I express my creative side through playwriting and am going to tell the story of how I got my first play produced.

Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
State (if domestic): California Resident
Country (if international):
Income Bracket: 200k+ (does this affect my chance of admission?)
Are you applying for financial aid?: Nope.
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy): Nope.

8

Name of UCLA school you are applying to: Engineering School
Major: Computer Science (You can choose two majors during applications, and I chose Applied mathematics as a backup)

Unweighted GPA: Not in an international program, so we don’t have weighted GPA here in China. 3.8.
SAT I (breakdown): New SAT. 1560/770R&W/790M
ACT (breakdown): 36C/34E/36M/36R/36S
SAT II: Math 2: 800 Physics: 800
Rank: Don’t know for sure. Approximately top 10?
AP Scores: Chem/CalcBC/USGov/Psych/Phys1/Phys2/CSA/MicroEco/MacroEco
IB Scores: Didn’t take IB tests.

Extracurriculars: I’m a huge American TV addict and has been writing TV reviews for Chinese websites for 4 years now with pay. I also have directed a student film. On the music front I’m the leader of the band at the school, and I have also arranged a school-scale musical. I joined the school’s students’ union and edit videos for them.
Work Experience: An internship at a famous Chinese technology institute where we made an iWatch-like smart watch.

Oh, I went to UCLA’s summer session this year. Attended Chem 20A and Film 122B and got A+ in both courses.

Ethnicity:Chinese
Gender:Male
Country (if international): China
Are you applying for financial aid?: I wish, but then I’m an international student
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy): Nothing.

Really appreciate if you could chance me because I’ve heard it’s hard for Asians to get into UCLA.

9

Same thing for me as for @10s4life. I was admitted last year and if anybody has any questions about the process feel free to ask. :slight_smile:

10

Name of UCLA school you are applying to: College of Letters and Science
Major: Biology

Unweighted GPA: 4.54
Weighted GPA (capped): 3.96
SAT I (breakdown): 2130 (Math: 800, CR: 660, Writing: 670)
(I took the old SAT)
ACT (breakdown): X
SAT II: Math II: 800, Biology M: 730
Rank: my school ranks by quintiles, and I am in the first quintile, but I am positive that I am at least in the top 5% in my class
AP Scores: AP Computer Science: 5, AP English Language: 5, AP Statistics: 5, AP Biology: 4
IB Scores: X
Courses you are taking senior year: AP Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP Spanish, Econ/Gov, Dance

Awards:

  • Biology, Geometry, Algebra II
  • California Scholarship Federation: 9-11 (probably 12 too)
  • I will likely get the National AP Scholar award next year (but I’m currently AP Scholar with Honor)

Extracurriculars:

  • Math and Science Club: 9-12 (on the M & S board 11th and 12th grade)
  • Community Service Team: 10-12
  • Spanish Club: 9-12
  • Robotics: 11, 12
  • California Scholarship Federation: 9-12
  • played piano since the 3rd grade (though I doubt that counts for anything because I never took a test of merit or competed in any competition)

Volunteering: 70+ hours

  • Operation Gratitude (30 hours)
  • volunteered at my temple (15 hours)
  • I volunteered at other organizations including retirement homes, food pantries, etc.

Interning: interned at a doctor’s office (30 hours)
Work Experience: X

Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Female
State (if domestic): California
Country (if international): X
Income Bracket: >$200,000
Are you applying for financial aid?: No
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy): X

11

Hi guys! I am a current UCLA student, and I know how stressful this period is for you all so I wanted to help you future Bruins with your UC applications! Just message me if you have any questions about the whole process, even if it’s not related specifically to the UC app.

12

All the best to all the applicants. :slight_smile:

Name of UCLA school you are applying to: Engineering School
Major: Computer Engineering

Class 9 CGPA: 9.2/10
Class 10 CGPA: 9.6/10
Class 11 percentage: 78.4%

SAT I (breakdown): 1420( 780 Math, 640 Eng)
SAT II: 760 - Chem; 800 - Math
Rank: School does not have ranking
Courses you are taking senior year: English(Core), Physcis, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Awards: Finalist in a state level science examination.

Extracurriculars:
-House Captain(refer Hogwarts)
-Director of a committee at the first interschool MUN in my city.
-School Magazine Editor(Computer Section)
-Done out of school courses on robotics
-Intraschool basketball and writing prices.
-Part of the interschool drama team.
-Completed 3 edX courses solely for interest or test preparation.

Work Experience:
-Internship at a lab founded by IIT Alumni and taught middle school kids who attend classes there.

Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Country (if international): Indian
Are you applying for financial aid?: No.

13

Name of UCLA school you are applying to: Letters and Science
Major: Biochemistry or Life Science Undeclared

Unweighted GPA: 3.85 (according to school), 3.91 (no + or - for 9th-11th grade), 4.0 (no + or - for 10th-11th) grade

Weighted GPA (capped): I called the admissions office and the lady said that gpa is calculated differently for out of state kids like me since we don’t get the honors boost, so I won’t include this.

ACT (breakdown): 34C (35E,33M,35R,34S)
Rank: Doesn’t
AP Scores: 5s: Comparative Politics, Calc BC, Calc AB Subscore. 4s: Language and Comp, US History, Human Geo, Environmental Science. 3s: Government and Psychology.
IB Scores: School doesn’t do this
Courses you are taking senior year: AP Chemistry, AP Stats, AP Macroeconomics, Honors World History, Honors Physics, Honors English 12-Humanities, Middle Eastern Conflicts and Crisis (elective), French 2, Spanish 6 CIS (basically an AP)

Awards: QQ
Extracurriculars: Speech (2 years), Amnesty (2 years, officer), YIG (4 years), Spanish Club (3 years), French Club (1 year), Key Club (4 years), NHS (2 years)
Volunteering: Volunteer at a hospital 3+ hours a week. Random things around the community and with the school.
Work Experience: Tutor at Kumon. I work in PI, I work with new students and integrate them into the program as well as teaching the parents the proper home procedures and grading techniques.
Essays: I had a professional guy read them who said they were solid. Hopefully I have these going for me!

Ethnicity: Chinese (lol)
Gender: Male (lol)
State (if domestic): Minnesota (cold af)
Country (if international): USA
Income Bracket: 200,000+
Are you applying for financial aid?: Nope
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy): Haha I wish. Actually, I have taken the hardest courses my school has to offer with the exception of taking Honors English 12 instead of AP Lit.

14

Name of UCLA school you are applying to: College of L&S
Major: Psychobiology woop woop

Unweighted GPA: 3.93 (10th-11th), 3.90 (9-11th)
Weighted GPA (capped): 4.21

SAT I (breakdown):
2070: 750 W, 680 M, 640 R

ACT (breakdown): 32 C (too lazy to pull up the detailed stats.i recall a 35 in english as the highest and a 28 in science as lowest.)

SAT II: Bio 640, WH 650, Math II - tbd

(i really think test scores are baloney, if you couldn’t tell already lol.)

Rank: 22/516 (within top 5%)

AP Scores:
Bio 3, WH 4, Calc AB 5, APES 3, Eng Lang 5, Psych 5

Courses you are taking senior year:
-Chem AP, Multivariable Calculus, English Lit AP, Concert Band

Awards:
-Letter of Commendation (national merit)
-AP Scholar

Extracurriculars:
-Marching band member since freshman year, currently section leader
-Did martial arts for 11 years, currently on hiatus. I hold a second-degree black belt as well as leadership experience.
-Treasurer of human rights club junior year
-Publicity chair for service club
-Member of CSF since freshman year

Volunteering:
-YMCA (1 hr/week for 7 months)
-Hospital Volunteer (2 hrs/week since April)
-Church Volunteer (2/hrs week since February)
-Nursing Home volunteer (2hrs/week since January)

Work Experience:
-none, unfortunately

Essays:
Not quite sure what I’m supposed to write here. I am doing prompts 1, 5, 6, and 8. I have one trusted friend and another close teacher that have been editing my work thus far.

Ethnicity: Korean
Gender: F
State (if domestic): CA
Country (if international):
Income Bracket: 100,000
Are you applying for financial aid?: i submitted my fafsa a month ago! and I’m going to apply for scholarships in my area.
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy): my mom is a UCLA alum but UCs don’t care for that anyway.

15

Hey guys, I’m really concerned at the moment. I would really appreciate it if someone could educate me… I am an out of state student, and I did not know that I would need 1 year of Visual Performing Arts to even be considered for admittance. I can’t change my schedule now, and I feel helpless because I could be rejected to one of my top choices for something I was unaware of. Could anyone let me know what my options are? Would UCLA consider me regardless and perhaps tell me I need to take a course over the summer to be officially admitted? Any advice is extremely appreciated, it will, hopefully, calm my nerves!

16

@PAwind98: Not knowing the UC requirements is not an excuse unless you do not have access to these classes. UCLA will still look at your application but with over 100,000 applicants that were able to meet the requirements, it does not bode well for your chances.

This is what the UC website states:::

If a student lacks the full yearlong VPA requirement but is otherwise a very strong student academically and have met all other admission requirements, is it imperative that they take another VPA class?

All students must complete all of UC’s subject requirements, including VPA; in particular for California resident students, in order to meet the criteria for admission in the statewide or local context, yes the student must meet the full yearlong VPA requirement. UC has other options for meeting the requirement; see Options for Satisfying A-G Subject Requirements in Quick Reference.

What college/university courses satisfy the VPA requirement for high school students?

Any transferable course of 3 semester (4 quarter) units that clearly falls within one of the four visual arts/performing arts disciplines (dance, drama/theater, music or visual art) will satisfy the VPA requirement.

Other ways to satisfy the requirement:
AP or IB examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP History of Art, Studio Art or Music Theory Exam;
score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Dance, Film, Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts

17

@PAwind98: This is from a discussion on the UCLA thread about the VPA and what fulfills the requirements. The OP received a response back about their courses.

Not to revive an old thread, but I thought I’d post this response since it’s still relevant to this application cycle:

Me:
Good day, I have a question regarding UCLA’s application requirements. As an out-of-stater attending a private school in New Jersey, I was not cognizant of the requirement that we had to take one year of an art to be applicable to the UC system. At our school, I took AP Computer Science, Intro to Computer Science, Health and Driver’s Ed and Physical Education to satisfy the High School’s requirements for “Fine Arts” as opposed to “Visual/Performing Arts.” Are those courses satisfactory for the requirement? In my free time, I do dabble in Graphic Design (Photoshop CC) and Video Effects (Adobe After Effects CC) if that opens up any doors for me.

UCLA’s Response:
Hello,

Unfortunately, those courses would not meet the VP requirement. For more information about what courses may satisfy the requirement you can go to the UCOP website http://ucop.edu/agguide/a-g-requirements/f-visual-performing-arts/index.html.

In addition, while the University of California have a set pattern of academic courses that are required for admission, we understand that these subject requirements may be difficult for some applicants to meet due to differences in school curriculum.

All applications for admission are reviewed within the context of courses available to them; if a particular required subject is not available, we will consider the application without it. We would not deny an applicant due to any one single criteria, therefore if the applicant is otherwise a strong competitive applicant but they are missing the VPA course (1 semester or the entire year) we can still admit that student.

There is no single academic path that we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous high school curriculum available to them.

Sincerely,
UCLA Undergraduate Admission
ASUAR

18

Thank you! I thought it would be kind of weird if they would deny someone for not having 1 requirement, especially since an AP exam is a legitimate fulfillment(who is to say whether or not an applicant plans on taking the AP art history exam after independent study at the end of their senior year?) I feel a little better now knowing I won’t be IMMEDIATELY disregarded for a lapse in judgment.

19

Hey everyone. Applying to TFT, so chances are slim from the get-go. I have solid back ups that I’m already accepted to, though, so no biggie.

Major:

Unweighted GPA: 3.89
Weighted GPA (capped): 4.05
SAT I (breakdown): 700 Reading, 700 Writing, 550 Math
ACT (breakdown): Did Not Take, PLAN equivalency had me at around a 31
SAT II: Literature 710, US History 750
Rank: No rank, likely top 10 of a 38 person class.
AP Scores: APUSH: 5 AP Lang: 5 AP World History: 4
IB Scores: N/A
Courses you are taking senior year:
AP Comparative Government
AP American Government
AP Literature (teacher is an annoyance, will make a B)
Honors Biology
Calculus
Economics
Music
DE course in Education.

Awards:
Teachers’ Awards for Film Studies, American History, and Marine Biology
Walmsley World History Award (#1 in school in World History)
Won a speech contest in ninth grade
Five Outstanding Delegate wins in Model UN

Extracurriculars:
Model UN / Model Arab League Head Delegate
President of Film Club
Editor-in-Chief of School Newspaper
Editor of Literary Magazine
Class Rep on Service Council
Big in theatre
Directed some shorts, interviewed some WW2 vets for the Library of Congress
Varsity tennis
Plenty, plenty more small things.

Volunteering:
Organize school’s blood drive every year
Volunteer at a soup kitchen occasionally
Like I said, Service council.

Work Experience: Nope.

Essays:
Personal Essay: 10/10. Wrote about what would happen if I won an Oscar at age 60, it’s one of my best pieces of writing.
Challenge Essay: 8/10. I wrote an absolutely devastating essay about my parents’ divorce, but I had to cut it down a lot so I doubt it has the same emotional punch it did before. But it’s still great. I was able to send the original copy to Loyola Marymount and that alone will get me in there.
Writing supplement: 6/10. I wish it could have been better, but it works.
Personal Insight: 7/10.

Ethnicity: White, Native American
Gender: Male
State (if domestic): Georgia
Country (if international): Not the country Georgia
Income Bracket: Dirt poor, mother is on disability, all income is mostly from VA due to her disabled veteran status
Are you applying for financial aid?: Of course.
Hooks (first generation college, underrepresented minority, legacy): Native American heritage, but UC’s don’t include that, so no. I also have 2 UC credits from a Summer Institute I did with them about Model UN.

Would like some insight into my chances, if anyone knows anything more than “UC TFT is impossible expect to go to a backup”. I’ve heard that plenty of times, trust me.

20

Hey @hongyiweiwu! Looking at your stats (as UCLA class of 2020), you seem to have a good chance to be admitted. Your ACT score is great! (but keep in mind that many Asians, especially international students, have almost perfect test scores). The summer session at UCLA and internship are bonus points on your application! I would say that your application is decent. Good luck!