Do I have a better chance at UCLA if......

Colleges & Universities University of California - Los Angeles
1

<p>*I was born in India
*I speak and write in 3 different languages
*have 200 hours of community service
*my family makes less than 60k a year
*I have had a job for over a year</p>

<p>I also have an gpa between 4.1 and 4.2
and have a good feeling I did good on the
SATs</p>

2

<p>1st one: no
2nd one: probably
3rd one: probably
4th one: not really, unless you write that in your essay and show how you’ve overcome your low-income obstacles.
5th one: probably</p>

3

<p>I think your family has to make A LOT less than 60k in order for you to be able to talk about any low-income obstacles. Try maybe less than 25 or 30k.</p>

4

<p>u sure about me born in different country and english not being my first language</p>

5

<p>^you won’t get any points for being born in a different country and english not being your first language.</p>

<p>There ARE many students at UCLA who were born elsewhere and learned a different langauge first, including myself.</p>

6

<p>If anything, English being a second language will only hurt you in the application process in the form of poorly written essays (assuming your English isn’t as good as your mother tongue).</p>

7

<p>I’m from Pakistan, I got in. BUT they don’t give aid, so if you can’t pay for it, don’t bother applying. I know 4 languages, doesn’t make a difference tho.</p>

8

<p>UCLA don’t care which country you come from (unless you’re applying as an international), so you won’t get points for being born in a different country. However you can write on your personal statement the obstacles and challenges you had to overcome to adapt to the American culture, and that might earn you some points.</p>

<p>Many applicants speak a lot of languages, so that won’t give you points either. But like always, you can write on your personal statement on how learning these languages had an impact on you and what you’re planning to do with the knowledge of these languages.</p>

<p>Community service and extracurricular activities - a definitely yes. The more the merrier.</p>

<p>In terms of financial income and need, UCLA doesn’t weight that into their admission process. They only weight into when you submit for financial aid. So in terms of admission, that won’t help you.</p>

<p>And last one, yes. Job experiences are always a plus.</p>