UCLA: Would I have a chance at getting accepted?

Question

Right now I am a sophomore in high school. My freshman year I took all honors classes except for biology & PE (but PE doesn't really count) & I got a 3.0 GPA (unweighted). That year I also was involved in French club, theatre & softball. This year I'm taking all honors classes & I received a 3.167 GPA (unweighted) & this year for extra curricular I am doing theatre, french club, drama club, & softball. I am also looking to get a part time job. Next year, my junior year, I am taking AP English, AP US History, French III, Technology in Visual Arts II, Algebra II, & Criminal Law/Mystery, as well as doing theatre, french club, drama club, softball, Key club, RAISE, & possibly debate team while having a part time job & while trying to maintain a 3.5+ unweighted GPA. I plan on taking a foreign language (French) all four years. When I graduate, I'm hoping to receive the Scholar's Diploma. As you see, I'm really involved in school. I want to be successful after high school. I plan on majoring in Graphic Design & minoring in Theatre/Acting & photography while going to my all-time dream college that I'm been hoping to attend since 8th grade: UCLA. 
In my eyes, Los Angeles, California is the place where I can fulfill my life long dreams as an actress/graphic designer. Because, let's face it, where I'm from in the Midwest, I have no chance, unless I get out of here & go to a Top 100 college. I have a BIG dream, but I plan on putting my mind to it & going for it.
Although, my GPA's in high school so far aren't the highest I would like them to be, but I am also involved in a lot of extra curricular activities, so I'm hoping that will help my chances. I'm going to really try as hard as I possibly can to get at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA while taking two AP classes next year so I can raise my chances of being accepted into UCLA. But what do I know? I'm just a 15 year old with a dream. Do you think I'd be able to have a chance at acceptance? What do you think I should do to raise my chances? & what sorts of things does UCLA look at in students for admittance?


& I know that ACT/SAT scores are a HUGE factor in acceptance, but I'm hoping to get at least a 27-28 on my ACT & then I'm going to take the SAT & I want to get in the 1000's. I took a voluntary Practice SAT early this year & I got an 860, I think. My counselor said that's average, but I don't know. Does anyone know what score you have to get on your ACT/SAT to get accepted to UCLA (or any big university for that matter)?

Chuckles · Accepted Answer

First your GPA is way too low.

If you are not a California resident and are thinking of coming to California to attend a UC or Cal State school, be aware the quality of these schools is falling off a cliff.

Because of massive budget cuts, the state of California is handing the UC and CS schools less and less money to educate students. For instructors and staff at the UC and CS schools it's a known fact that new faculty aren't about to get hired on and those still there are likely going to see furlough days if they don't succumb to layoffs. I have heard the faculty at Berkeley have been given a 15% pay cut and many of the best ones are leaving. Then there are the students, many of whom in fine arts and humanities fields are finding their course offerings cut dramatically.

Basically the rule seems to be that the majors that lead to an average starting salary over $50,000 seem to be impacted less. http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/degrees.asp. The humanities in particular will suffer big time. Engineering will pretty well be the only major to not be severely impacted.
I have heard that in 2011 the UC and Cal State systems are facing a further $500,000,000 budget cut. That is for each system. And after all the cuts they have already suffered,
I do know the cuts led Berkeley to withdraw all offers to out of state students for PhD programs no matter how good their research.

Many students are finding it impossible to get all the courses they need in a given semester to make the progress they want to make towards their majors. Which may result in having to take an extra year to graduate. Many students are finding that by the time their turn comes to register for classes, everything they need is already full.

To add insult to injury, the UC system raised tuition this last year by 32%. Which means that an out of state student will pay as much; if not more than if they went to a private school?

While private schools are still facing a budget crunch, they are accountable to their students, not to taxpayers and politicians. If you're really dedicated to what you'd like to study, be it English, Economics, or Engineering a private school could be a better investment in your own human resources.

If you are thinking of coming to California stick with the private schools like USC, Stanford, Chapman, the Claremont Colleges, etc. 

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-classes20-2010jan20,0,6323484.story?track=rss


My daughter was accepted at Berkeley and UCI for her fully funded PhD in engineering and decided to go somewhere else because the budget crisis resulted in half her classes getting canceled.

TenaciousE · Answer

A 27 or 28 on the ACT would probably be good enough for UCLA, but those grades have got to get better. Even a 3.5 probably wouldn't be good enough unless you had amazing test scores. Your ECs are very good, but you MUST do better with your GPA.

paperboysz · Answer

You have no chance... start looking at local community colleges

UCLA: Would I have a chance at getting accepted?

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