So after a ten year absence I finally returned to school in 2013. I have never really been successful in school, but I came back with a “last chance” attitude and finally focused myself. I barely graduated high school and I sputtered around aimlessly during my first go around at community college. I had only ten useable units from my first attempt. Unfortunately they were all C’s, except for my A in bowling. Since my return I have had all A’s, except for one B in a summer course. My overall GPA is 3.77 now, though that includes 3 non transferable math courses. I do have all my prerequisites done to transfer as a history major. I spent a decent amount of time on my personal statement and I feel ok about it. So, do I even have a shot?
Totally! I went back to school after seven years and a terrible time in high school. I was sure that, because of my history, my 4.0 from CC now might not mean as much. However, after talking wth the advisors, I felt so much more optimistic. You’re right in the middle of the average admitted GPA into History.
They really look at who you are now and what you’ve overcome rather than who you used to be. I think that as long as you addressed it in your personal statement, you stand a pretty good shot. 
I hope I addressed it adequately. I didn’t want to be a sob story, so I more approached it as immaturity with life taking over. I tried to approach my statements with a casual honesty.
History is no longer impacted at UCLA as of 2015 so you have an extremely solid shot assuming that all of the transfer requirements are met.
Thanks. Once I realized I had the GPA to apply without getting laughed at I made an appointment with a counselor and planned everything with UCLA in mind, so I should have all the requirements met.
@Oldhopeful I think that “casual honesty” is the best way to go (and the best phrase I’ve heard today)! I think you have a really great shot. I did the same for my PS. I told it the way I would tell an interviewer who asked about my biggest hurdle, rather than how I would tell my therapist.
@icogneato Thanks, I’m hoping my statements are received well. Sometimes you read something in your own voice and you think it sounds good, but then others don’t receive it in the intended way. I basically took the prompt asking about my biggest accomplishment and explained how it’s my success since returning to school, but how it’s somewhat ironically also a source of some of my biggest shame with all the time it took to find my path, etc. I can get a little wordy once I get rolling, so keeping things within the character limits while still conveying everything I wanted was my biggest struggle.