UCLA Admission

UCLA is a very popular college, and UCLA admission is a fairly competitive process. With a recent acceptance rate of just 22%, getting into UCLA can be challenging.At UCLA, the admissions process is holistic. Admissions committees will look at all aspects of your application, including your extracurricular activities, academic record, and standardized test scores. UCLA does not focus on any particular feature of your application exclusively, but tries to get a sense of who you are as an individual.

No single attribute or characteristic guarantees admission. Since admission to UCLA is highly selective, it is crucial that freshman applicants present complete pictures of themselves, their educational histories and their personal perspectives by thoroughly and carefully completing the application. (UCLA Admissions Website)

High School Classes for UCLA Admission

Because UCLA admission is competitive it helps if you are able to demonstrate that you have chosen to challenge yourself in the high school courses you have taken. UCLA has recently advised applicants to take a broad spectrum of classes. At the time that this article is being written, these include:

History/Social Science. you should complete at least two years of courses in this area. One of these years should cover “world history, cultures, and geography;” and the other year should focus on U.S. history and/or civics or American government.

English. You should take four years of English classes. These must cover classic and modern literature and provide regular opportunity for you to work on your English composition skills.

Math. You should take at least three years of math - however, UCLA recommends that you take 4 years. Topics you should understand include algebra and geometry.

Laboratory Science. You need to have taken at least two years of science, but UCLA recommends that you take three years. You should take at least two of the core science subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics.

Language. You should take a minimum of two years of a language other than English, which teaches you skills in speaking and comprehension. You should be taught such skills as grammar, reading, composition, and vocabulary.

Arts. You should take at least one arts course such as music, drama, or visual art.

Electives. You should take at least one year of an elective that helps prepare you for college study, such as in the arts, history, English, higher math, language, or laboratory science.

If you are applying to study engineering or applied science at UCLA, UCLA recommends that you submit SAT Subject Tests in Math Level 2 as well as a science subject test in Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics. To be sure that your test scores are submitted in time, you will need to write these tests the year before you apply for UCLA admission, in December.

Tests and Personal Statement

In addition to completing core high school courses, you should also take an approved college entrance exam that tests math, language arts, and writing. This will involve taking either the ACT Assessment in combination with the ACT Writing test, or the SAT test (which includes a writing component). An important part of the UCLA admission process is to complete your personal statement. UCLA takes these statements seriously, and uses them to learn more about you as a person.

The information the University seeks in the personal statement should add clarity, richness, and meaning to the information in the other parts of your application. (UCLA Admissions Website)

UCLA wants you to make it clear to admission officers why you would be a good fit at UCLA, and what you have accomplished and experienced in the course of your life so far. It is important not simply to repeat other things you’ve already said in your application in your personal statement. UCLA advises that good personal statements often include some discussion of aspects of academics, accomplishments, and extracurriculars you’ve been involved in. It can also be helpful to talk about challenges and difficulties you’ve faced in your life, and the ways in which you’ve moved beyond them. You are also in a position to say something that emphasizes your capacity for leadership, your persistence and your initiative.

California Residents

If you're a California resident and you meet the minimum requirements and fulfill certain conditions, but don’t get into the University of California campus you’ve applied to, you will still be offered a place at a different campus if there is space. The conditions are that you rank in the top nine percent of California high school students who apply to UC schools, or you sit in the top nine percent of the graduating class at your high school (if it is part of this scheme). This is called "Eligible in the Local Context" (ELC) admission. For more information about UCLA admission, check out their admission website. http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_fr.htm