A preface: UCLA has been my dream school for about a year now, and I’d do anything to get in. I’m currently enrolled at a community college in Tennessee. My GPA is 3.75 out of 4.0, I currently have a 28 on my ACT and I’m taking it again to bump it to 30. I want to major in Film and Television, and by the minimum GPA requirement, I believe I’m qualified.
The problem I face, however, is I am by no means wealthy. Heck, my family can’t really even be called middle class. Even if they had money, my parents won’t pay for my schooling. So, there’s that. Being out of state doesn’t help. I don’t know if that will affect my chances.
Alongside the lack of financial support, I won’t find much emotional support from my family by moving across the country to a land they despise, so I doubt I’ll be able to take any campus tours or information seminars (save for webinars).
I suppose that’s beside the point, though. Despite my qualifications, what should I do to (practically) seal the deal with the admissions? What would look really good to the review board?
UCLA gives little to no financial aid for OOS transfers so expect to pay full fees at $60K/year to attend. They also only take Junior level transfers- 60 semester/90 quarter units. Since they only accept Junior level transfers, your HS grades and test scores are not considered.
OOS transfers are also low priority in the transfer admission process for the California UC’s.
There is no way to “seal the deal” with admissions. If there was wouldn’t you think all applicants would do it?
So if you cannot afford to pay, how do you plan to attend if accepted? Sorry, but I see no realistic solution.
No financial aid to OOS students, period.
My college GPA is 3.75* not high school.
“(practically) seal the deal”* simply meaning to better my chances.
If there’s no financial aid, then I’ll work together some external scholarships and take some debt.
Thanks for the note about no financial aid. Didn’t know that.
I understand your college GPA is 3.75. Taking the ACT again will not help, since test scores are not considered in the UCLA transfer admissions since you are coming in as a Junior level transfer.
Seriously doubt external scholarships will be able to cover $60,000/year.
Dream school or not, unless your parents can afford the tuition, you won’t be able to go there unless you can talk them into co-signing 80k worth of loans. Even if they did that, the debt would literally sabotage your career. A bachelors degree is not worth that much. In fact, try Vanderbilt. You’ll be surprised how generous private schools can be when it comes to need based financial aid.
Sorry to say but external scholarships won’t cover 60k and you can only borrow 5,500 your first year if I’m not mistaken. A 3.75 cc gpa for oos is way to low. Even if you do get in I see no feasible way for you to pay for oos tuition plus room and board. Don’t take the act as only freshman applicants can have test scores considered. TFT requires a portfolio. Do you have one?