So I have been having anxiety daily about getting into UCLA - my dream school. I have always wanted to go there since middle school, but I started to become obsessed with it after I spent 6 weeks there this summer. I did a summer program where I got to take two UCLA courses. I fell in love with the campus, school, and everything about it. I just know I won’t be happy anywhere else. But I just feel that I’m not good enough, so I won’t get in and I’ll be so disappointed. Those 6 weeks I spent there were the best of my life, and I want more than anything to go back.
Do you guys think I have a chance of getting in? I am going to be a senior in the fall
My stats are:
uw gpa: 3.92
UC gpa: 4.24
ACT: 34
7 AP courses (2 5’s and 2 4’s, 3 I’m taking next year)
all my classes were honors but I don’t think they are UC approved, I live in upstate NY
Bio SAT subject: 770
ECS:
Varsity swimming in the fall
club swimming year round
bussing job, I work 30+ hours a week
job shadowing at hospital
honor society
freshman link leadership program
program at UCLA? idk if that counts
ahhhh im so worried I’ve been working on my essays a lot to cope with stress but still freaking out. It’s gonna be a rough senior year LOL.
Yes, you have a chance but there are no guarantees especially with an acceptance rate of 12.4% overall. All you can do is present the best possible application and hope for the best. Also make sure your family is fine with being full pay at $65K/year to attend since OOS students get little need-based or merit financial aid. No OOS honors classes are UC approved although there are OOS On-line courses that are UC approved.
Remember your Dream School(s) are the schools that want you…
2018 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 4.20 or above capped weighted and not major specific:
UCLA: 41%
2019 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCLA: 4.25
25th - 75th percentiles for ACT composite + language arts
UCLA: 29-35
Best of luck.
So my school starts September 4th, should I take honors online courses now over the summer to boost my gpa?
The bigger question…how is this being paid for? The cost of tuition and living expenses are well over $250k for a place like L.A. Do they have a wad of cash that size to go to that school? Most parents don’t. Are you planning to co-sign private loans with your parents? That would financially cripple you.
Here’s my advice. Don’t dream about the school. You’re the one choosing the school, not the other way around. If it’s going to financially cripple you, the school is overpriced and not worth it. $250k is more than law school, and even most lawyers have difficulty paying back loans. For a bachelors degree, it’s a complete set-up for failure. Take your time and choose the right school for you, and affordability is a precondition before even applying.
You can take an Honors on-line course just make sure it is UC approved and you complete it prior to November 30th which is the UC application deadline. One class will make little difference in your GPA which is competitive already. I would spend the time on your Personal Insight essays and make them shine.
Check here for UC approved on-line courses: https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist
@coolguy40 . . . you make some excellent points. But a lot of non-resident students are graduating in three years rather than four at UCLA. There are other considerations also. One of the assumptions people make is that UCLA doesn’t offer financial aid to those who aren’t from CA. This is mostly true, but there’s a good representation of alums in NY, CT and NJ, the Tri-state region (or one of them), and they do offer scholarships.
@annakissel . . . undoubtedly, you’ve involved your parents in your college plans. So I wouldn’t presume that you wouldn’t have allowed yourself to have these plans without financial considerations and talks. And you’re not alone because UCLA does have a good number of students from your area. So just follow due diligence, and see if it works. If it does, it’s evident that you’d be an excellent candidate for acceptance to UCLA. Best of luck!
Just a note to the OP: first, you said you worry that you aren’t “good enough” to get into UCLA. Don’t think about it that way - of course you are “good enough”, there are just a limited number of spots and UCLA (along with all other top tier schools) doesn’t have enough room to admit all of the applicants that have shown the academic ability to succeed at that school.
Also, UCLA was my 3rd choice school, and I ended up there because I didn’t get into first two schools (one of which I was convinced I was destined to attend). I was devastated! But I ended up loving my time at UCLA and I couldn’t image having ever gone anywhere else. You will love whatever school you ultimately chose to attend.