What does UCLA look for in a student?

UCLA looks for academically strong, intellectually curious, and well-rounded students who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and a commitment to community through a holistic review of their rigorous coursework (like AP/IB classes), high GPA (averaging around 4.0 unweighted), extracurricular involvement, and compelling Personal Insight Questions that highlight character, tenacity, and potential contributions to campus life. They seek students who have maximized opportunities, overcome challenges, and show a passion for learning, not just top grades.

What does UCLA look for in students?

We seek students whose personal stories and rich experience bring the type of perspective and leadership that we value. We seek intellectually curious students who have grown through their academic work and are ready to both contribute to and benefit from the UCLA community.

How does UCLA choose their students?

In addition to your UC application, we take both your academic record and your personal experiences into consideration during the review process. At UCLA, we seek students who have excelled academically and gained valuable perspective from the personal experiences that have helped shape their lives.

How do I increase my chances of getting into UCLA?

You can increase your chances by demonstrating continued interest in the school. Writing an impactful Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) where you emphasize your passion for the school, discuss recent accomplishments or updates in your application, and reaffirm your commitment to attend if admitted can help.

How to stand out to UCLA?

UCLA Admissions Requirements

1. A-G Coursework.
2. Test Scores.
3. Activities and Awards.
4. UCLA Personal Insight Questions.
5. Build a Strong Academic Foundation.
6. Engage in Activities that Show Impact and Initiative, Not Just Participation.
7. Tailor Your Application to Purpose and Fit.
8. Don't Rush into the UCLA Application Deadline.

How to get into UCLA | What Types of Students Does UCLA Look For?

Is UCLA harder than Harvard?

It's generally harder to get into Harvard due to its much lower acceptance rate (around 3-4%) compared to UCLA (around 9%), but UCLA can be harder for applicants with less-than-perfect grades because of its strong emphasis on straight A's for admitted students, sometimes requiring near-perfect GPAs even for public school standards. Ultimately, both are incredibly selective, with Harvard being tougher overall for admissions but UCLA being uniquely difficult if you lack perfect high school grades, while Harvard offers a different academic intensity and resources.
 

What does 4 fingers mean for UCLA?

For UCLA, holding up four fingers (often on both hands, thumbs tucked) is the "4s Up" gesture, representing the four letters in the school's name (UCLA) and connecting to the famous "8-clap" cheer, symbolizing school pride, victory, and unity for athletes, fans, and recruits, often seen after wins or in recruiting photos.
 

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

What's the easiest major to get into UCLA?

The "easiest" UCLA majors to get into often fall within the humanities or arts, with Ethnomusicology, Musicology, World Arts and Cultures, and certain humanities/social sciences (like Spanish, American Indian Studies, or English) showing higher admission rates, especially for transfers. However, admission difficulty varies significantly between freshman and transfer applicants, and "easy" is relative at a competitive school like UCLA; focusing on your genuine interest is key, as STEM fields, Engineering, and TFT have much lower admit rates. 

Is UCLA the hardest UC to get into?

Yes, UCLA is generally considered the hardest UC to get into, often having the lowest acceptance rate (around 9% recently) among the University of California system schools, closely followed by UC Berkeley, with both being highly selective nationally. While Berkeley is extremely competitive, UCLA often edges it out in overall selectivity and sometimes by specific program, making it the top choice for many, but also the toughest to crack. 

What extracurriculars does UCLA look for?

UCLA Admitted Students: What types of extracurriculars?

• Leadership: Many admitted students have held leadership positions in clubs, student government, sports teams, or other organizations. ...
• Community Service: Students with a strong track record of volunteering or community outreach often stand out.

Can you choose who your roommate is?

Many colleges have a matching system to pair you with your future roommate. If they do not, they might do it manually within their housing department. If you are going to an in-state college or going to a college with someone you know, you have the opportunity to choose your future roommate if you so wish.

What celebrities went to UCLA?

The Most Famous Alumni of UCLA

• James Franco.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
• Taylor Wang.
• Ralph Bunche.
• Mayim Bialik.
• Susan Wojcicki.
• Francis Ford Coppola.
• Randy Newman.

What values does UCLA look for?

Personal qualities of the applicant, including leadership ability, character, motivation, tenacity, initiative, originality, creativity, intellectual independence, responsibility, insight, maturity, and demonstrated concern for others and for the community.

How to be accepted to UCLA?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1510 SAT or a 34 ACT. You should also have a 3.93 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

Does applying undeclared to UCLA hurt your chances?

For first-years applying to a major in the College, your choice of major will neither help nor hurt your prospects for admission. In fact, a large number of first-year applicants apply as undeclared.

What are the top 3 majors at UCLA?

UCLA's top majors vary slightly by source, but consistently feature Psychology, Business Economics (or Economics), Computer Science, Biology, Political Science, and Sociology, often appearing in the top 3 for popularity or applications, with Psychology being a perennial favorite in size and interest. 

Does UCLA give full scholarships?

Yes, UCLA offers full-ride scholarships, though they are highly competitive and often targeted at exceptional academic talent, specific backgrounds, or those demonstrating significant financial need, such as the merit-based Regents Scholarship or programs within the Law School; many students receive significant aid (grants/scholarships) reducing costs to near zero through programs like the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, but true "full rides" covering all expenses are limited. 

What are the top 3 majors?

The top 3 most popular college majors consistently remain Business, Health Professions (like Nursing), and Social Sciences & History, making up nearly 40% of degrees in the U.S. and leading in enrollment, though STEM fields like Computer Science and various types of Engineering are also extremely popular, especially for high earning potential and job growth. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of families disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth College, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Duke University, Stanford University, and Princeton University, with studies showing over 20% of students at some of these schools come from the top 1% of the income ladder, often more than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Other affluent institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and Bowdoin College also have significant representation from the wealthiest families.
 

What college has 100% acceptance?

"100 admission colleges" usually refers to schools with a 100% acceptance rate, often meaning they have open admissions policies accepting most applicants meeting basic requirements, with examples including Broward College, Academy of Art University, and Utah Valley University. Alternatively, it might refer to the 100 most selective schools (like Ivies) or colleges with acceptance rates above 90%, providing options for a wide range of applicants looking for either accessible or highly competitive environments. 

What do UCLA students call themselves?

After the athletic teams entered the Pacific Coast conference in 1926, the Southern Branch student council adopted the nickname "Bruins", a name offered by the student council at UC Berkeley.

What is UCLA's slogan?

iat lux — let there be light — the motto of the University of California symbolizing its role in lighting the way in the pursuit of knowledge, creativity and truth.

What is UCLA's chant?

The 8 Clap is UCLA's most famous cheer. You will hear it at every sporting event. It is used in the middle of the Fight Song and also throughout the games to cheer our teams on. When a fan walks into the student section wearing a red shirt, the entire student sections chants “Take off that RED SHIRT!