Hi - I have good grades (3.95W, 4.37UW), a good SAT (1600), and will have 11 APs/Honors/dual enrollment classes when I graduate next year. I’m in the top 5% of my large public CA high school. My teachers/counselor will say I’m an active, engaged student who works hard. I have volunteered since I was 13 at the same place and done some other additional volunteer stuff, and I was captain of a sports team at my high school (although we were very bad and literally lost every game), but I am not a “leader” type of person and really don’t fit that mold. I don’t want to pretend to be someone I’m no to try to sell myself, but I love UCLA and I think I would be happy there.
I guess I’m wondering if any of you people who know a lot about UC admissions have an educated prediction about whether I am likely to get in to UCLA. My likely major would be political science, econ, communications, or international relations (definitely not science or engineering), and I’m also interested in taking some film/tv studies classes. Thanks in advance.
Why are you worried about ECs? They may only count about 5% toward your total application. Grades, course rigor, test scores, LORs and essays are much more important.
What UCLA considers important in their application review:
Los Angeles
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Considered: First generation college student, Geographical residence
Note: GPA, test scores, course work, number of and performance in honors and AP courses most important. Essay considered. Strong senior program important. Extracurricular activities, honors and awards also reviewed.
I predict UCLA will accept you. Your qualifications are great. Congrats on the perfect SAT!
Both of my sons were accepted to UCLA with just an average amount of extracurriculars and volunteering and no sports, but, like you, they had high GPA’s and test scores. Also, their essays and activities were strongly related to their future major.
@tr831 Older son chose UCSD (and loves the social life there), and younger son will be starting UCLA this fall, so we’ll have to wait to find out whether he likes it. One person from his school who graduated from UCLA a couple of years ago stayed extra quarters after completing the degree requirements because she liked being there so much.
@BunnyBlue I love it so much that even though I am on track to graduate in 3 years I am opting to take less classes per quarter so I can extend my time to 4 years.
My son was accepted there but chose not to go because he picked another school.
He was a “leader” type; so I don’t know what to tell you.
UCLA is tricky. So far, it looks good.
How is your unweighted better than your weighted GPA?