How Can I Get Into UCLA???????

Question

Ok so I am just starting my freshman year in high school. I know, I know. Your thinking why are you caring about college so far off the tracks but the truth is is that I am caring. I have already been researching colleges and such. Now I am already involved with a couple activities such as Student Government, Yearbook, Volleyball, and I am a Cameraman for my school's field hockey team. Now I am only taking one honors course and was wondering if that was a problem. I hear all these stories of how people need to be taking all honors or AP classes to even been looked at UCLA but I want to know if that is ok that I am only taking one honors course. Anyway besides that am I on the right track or not? Please be 100 percent honest it will beneifit me the most.

Answer 1

I believe that you are. Your GPa and SAT scores are by far the most important. Above a 4.0 is best. If you only take a few honors courses but get A's in all of them you'll do better than taking lots and getting B's. Also, you only get 8 semesters of weighted credit so 4 year long classes. And UCs don't factor your freshmen grades, only sophmore and junior grades matter.

Your extras look great with leadership and sports. You could toss in a community service and an academic like mock trial or debate. Makes you look more well rounded. CSF will do both.

And its cool having a plan that early, it keeps your options open. But don't be worried about changing plans depending on what you want to major in. And if you're going to grad school, look at smaller colleges where you'll excel and get good letters of recommendation.

Answer 2

First of all, I'm a mega-nerd who's been wanting to go to NYU since I was six, so you caring about college as a freshman is not weird at all.

Second of all, your extra curriculars are good, and well-rounded, which colleges like UCLA are definitely looking for, so I'd say you're definitely on the right track extra-curricular wise.

Colleges don't look at your freshman year much, so only one honors course shouldn't matter much. However, if you want to be competitive for top quality schools like UCLA, you might want to consider AP or honors courses for later on, especially sophomore and junior years.

Other than that, just keep your grades and extras solid and consistent, and shoot for good test scores. :)

Answer 3

It's ok its only your freshman year. Keep up a 4.0 and sign up for better classes next year. ALL UC's don't compute your freshman GPA when they are doing admissions. They take your GPA from sophmore and junior year when they do admissions. Be sure to get goods grades this year so you can get yourself into better classes for next year to follow, so you can stand out to UCLA. Don't worry too much about college this year though, don't let it stress you, but so think about it a bit. Just do the best you can and keep up all your grades to A's. Don't slack off and it will all be worth it. If you need any additional help just email me by going to my profile. Good Luck!

-DANIEL :)  

Answer 4

I am a newly admitted student at UCLA. I am doing a summer program and it is awesome! The truth is that in your freshman year all you need to do is prepare yourself for rigorous work for the next 2 1/2 years. Take as many AP classes as you can stand in your sophomore and junior year. You can also take honors classes but ask your counselor if the honors classes will count towards your UC/CSU GPA. UCLA will only look at your GPA from 10th and 11th grade, senior year has very little to do with it. Do as much as you can in terms of extracurricular activities. Hire an SAT tutor when the time comes for you to take the test. And work on your writing skills, because your personal statement is about 1/3 of your admission.

Answer 5

Yes, sounds like you're on the right path.  Keep your GPA up and prepare well for the SATs.  If you're excellent in those areas you have a great chance at becoming a Bruin.  

Or you could be like me, I was a crummy student in high school.  I ended up going to a community college for 3 years before I got accepted at UCLA (but ended up going to UC Berkeley instead).  Good luck, whatever route you end up going can take you to that UCLA degree if it's what you really want.