Will a good essay help me get in!?!?!

<p>I am a senior-graduation 2009..</p>

<p>CA resident - So. cal
Ethnicity: Caucasian</p>

<p>ACT: <em>COMPOSITE: 30</em> English-31, Math-28, Reading-35, Science-24</p>

<p>SAT: 2000. CR: 720, Math-640, Writing 640.
the first time I took it I got a 1990 and if I superscore both tests then I got a 2080</p>

<p>GPA weighted: 4.22 unweighted: 3.8 ...
Please note: this is not including this past semester in which I got a 4.6 GPA. when that is factored in the weighted GPA should increase alot..maybe up to a 4.3 or 4.4. I'm not sure yet.</p>

<p>Classes I took in 10th grade: Honors english, ap european history, honors algebra 2, spanish 2, chemistry
Classes I took this year: Ap english language, Ap us history, honors pre-calc., physics, honors spanish 3.
Classes I'm taking next year: Ap literature, Ap economics, Ap government, Ap calculus, honors spanish 4, anatomy
<em>I've taken pretty much the most rigorous courses that my school offers, except not in science classes</em></p>

<p>The only classes I got B's in were Ap european history and english except this past semester I got an A- in Ap english language.</p>

<p>I'm somewhere in the top 10% of my grade but I'm not sure exactly yet.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars-
coached a basketball team, worked at a senior center 4 summers.worked at a bookstore...etc.etc.etc. i have alot of volunteer work
4 year varsity basketball</p>

<p>awards- basketball awards, awards from english teacher, etc.etc.</p>

<p>CHANCE ME FOR UCLA...OR UCSD......OR USC...MAINLY UCLA THOUGH.
Ok... SO! I know i'm not the most amazing applicant ever... but I really want to go to UCLA. I've written this super amazing essay on some challenges I've had to face in the last couple years...and I was wondering how much a really good essay can help... Like how much does it factor in in the admissions decision? Do the admissions people at UCLA read the essay in depth?? and how much will this essay help me in getting in?</p>

<p>I think that you could raise your ACT and be in a really good position. Mind you that UCLA , UCSD, and USC are more number based schools.</p>