natgomez96

I have a pretty high GPA and my SAT score is really not the great. I got a 1600 and I'm very much doubting myself. I really want to go to UCLA and I'm not sure if I'm qualified. I have done more than 200 community service hours, and I am currently in track. I consider myself as not so much of a great test taker. Also, is your GPA more important than an SAT score?

Oscarlany

Your gpa is more important than you sat score for most schools but in your case colleges may see the disparity and wonder about grade inflation in your school. The 'average' 3.9 student usually scores a lot higher which would definitely hurt you for schools like ucla. With that said, you can always retake the sat. Usually the lower your score is, the easier it is make dramatic improvements. also, while important, academics arent the only thing in admissions and having qualities that make you stand out in other ways will only help you. But you should still try to bring up your sat score

4kidsdad

UCLA 2011 admission
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 570 / 680
SAT Math: 610 / 740
SAT Writing: 580 / 710

Schools are using test scores to compare their applicants. What are your SAT CR-M-W scores?

Have you try ACT?

Is your GPA weighted?

mitchklong

UCLA lists their most important criteria as GPA, Test scores, Essay and Rigor. So these would be your 4 focus areas.

Your GPA is competitive for this school.
Your SAT is lower than average for this school. Consider retaking it if you can with a goal of scoring around 1800 (thats the low end average for UCLA).
Having good grades (mostly As) in 4-6 college leve classes (AP/Concurrent Ed) will demostrate rigor and make your app more competitive.
Developing a well constructed essay that says your more than just your test scores will give you the best chance for admittance.

You sound like a good student. Realize that UCLA is a though school to get into. Good luck and make sure you have a safety school in case things dont work out.

Shrinkrap

UCLA shares a lot of statistics about their freshman class. Hard to know what it all means though.

Profile of Admitted Freshmen, Fall 2012 - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions

STATfinder lets you play with the variables.
http://statfinder.ucop.edu/statfinder/default.aspx

YoHoYoHo

Take a practice ACT. Some people who have difficulty with the SAT do better on the ACT and vicaversa. Find a practice ACT either on ACT website, or with the book 3 real ACTs which is red. Compare your ACT score to your SAT score with concordance tables, available on both SAT and ACT websites (google "concordance tables"). If you "do better" on ACT than SAT, then study for ACT and take that instead of the SAT. If you attend a public school, then the school might not offer it "for free" if they tend to administer the SAT. If that is the case, go to ACT website, see what dates are available and for which high school locations. Pay the testing fee, or fill out a fee waiver form, and then take the ACT.

If you find that your SAT score is higher than your ACT score (using concordance), then study for and retake the SAT using Xiggi's method or Silverturle's method, etc.

Your SAT score of 1600 is below the 25% percentile of SAT acceptances to UCLA (which was 1760 by a previous poster). UCLA will weigh your GPA and your score (SAT or ACT) very heavily. Thus your chances are rather slim with your current SAT score.

A Hispanic last name, though, may help your chances of admission, although it might be more helpful for you at USC (or other private schools) rather than UCLA. BTW, I know a Hispanic kid, validictorian at HS in East LA, first gen college, who was not admitted to UCLA, so it's tough, although got into UC Berkeley.