What is UCLA Looking For?
The most important factor determining your chances at UCLA is your recalculated UC GPA. UCLA re-calculates your GPA for admissions purposes by
- factoring in only sophomore and junior year grades (no freshman grades),
- using academic courses only (no physical education or typing courses or band/orchestra), and
- weighting the difficulty of academic courses taken such as AP courses.
The average admitted GPA for the College of Letters & Science at UCLA is 4.2. For the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, the average admitted GPA is over 4.3.
Acceptance Rates
For the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, we had a 22.4% acceptance rate to UCLA. Solomon Admissions provided an advantage factor of 2.6X for our clients. You can see more of our acceptance rates here.
Unlike the Ivies, UCLA uses an aggregate point rating system where points are added for factors such as academic records, test scores, extra-curricular activities, leadership positions, and overcoming hardship. UCLA also admits applicants who are well-rounded as opposed to students who are specialists like at the Ivies. In addition, UCLA does not employ Affirmative Action.
For engineering applicants to UCLA, engineering faculty are involved in the selection process. As such, there is a greater focus on academic achievement, standardized test scores, research in engineering, and interest in STEM. Admitted engineering applicants have higher GPA’s and SAT scores relative to applicants admitted to Letters & Science. In addition, female engineering applicants are given an admission boost for diversity purposes.
At UCLA, internal transfer from Engineering to Letters & Science is not difficult. However, internal transfer from Letters & Science to Engineering is difficult and is dependent on performance in prerequisite courses for engineering and space availability.
Approaching the UCLA Admissions Essays
After an applicant’s recalculated UC GPA, the second most important factor determining one’s chances at UCLA is the UC personal statement.
Here’s a brief excerpt from some of the tips we provide clients at Solomon Admissions applying to UCLA:
1. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you. (350 words)
For Engineering applicants, at least one of the four required UC essays must address the “Why Engineering” question. The essay prompt above is an excellent choice to showcase your interest in engineering. This essay should address your interest in engineering, STEM background and extra-curricular activities, and your motivations for pursuing engineering.
For the College of Letters & Science applicants at UCLA, this essay should address their interest in an academic subject and its relation to their intended field of study in college. The applicant should address academic interests and passions, extra-curricular activities related to these interests, and how this would translate to coursework and undergraduate research in college.
2. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. (350 words)
Since UCLA admissions work on a point system, we recommend that all applicants (Engineering and Letters & Science) use this particular essay prompt to address their leadership role in their most significant extra-curricular activity in detail to pick up as many points as possible (as long as you didn’t talk about it in the other three essays).
The essay should address not only leadership positions and accomplishments but what you learned about what it means to lead.
3. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? (350 words)
We recommend that UCLA applicants use this particular UC prompt to explain poor grades (“B” or below generally). Examples of more or less acceptable reasons for poor grades include instances where the environment discouraged educational goals and aspirations, where was one forced to take care of younger siblings, and where one commutes more than an hour to school.
For more information about the UCLA application process, contact us!
We invite you to speak with one of our admission strategists to discuss your student's dreams and aspirations. Please give us a call or fill out our contact form.