How important is the SAT to UCLA?

anthonybobjones
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:00:51 +0000

Don’t you worry too much, I had similar stats and I (along with many other people with low SAT scores) were admitted. I actually had worse scores than you. I had a high score of 1710 on the SAT, 26 ACT high, a 480 on my Physics SAT Subject, 490 on my US History SAT Subject, and a 610 on my Math Subject test. I did have a higher GPA, finishing off with a 4.4 weighted, although prior to applying, I had only taken one AP class (AP English, which I passed with a 3). I took 4 AP tests senior year, and only got 2 B’s throughout my sophomore year, while acing my entire junior year.
I did not come from an underperforming high school, rather I came from a charter school that is a Distinguished California high school. And I finished ranked at about 32 of 500, which is nothing to really boast about.

What I feel like got me in was my steep upward trend on my grades, extra-curricular activities, volunteer work, UCSD medical internship, and personal statements. Scores show how you did on particular days, while everything else on your app should show more about who you have been throughout the last 3-4 years. If you sold yourself well on the app, which I did, then you should be fine.

UCLA is a school that focuses more on grades than scores, although one could not deny that scores do not factor into the process. What I’m trying to say is, don’t count yourself out yet. Basically, you just have to get into a SAT bracket to be considered, and let the rest do the talking. I have a good friend who got into UCLA with me with under a 1600. I have another high school friend who got into Stanford with a 1810, while other friends got rejected with 2300+ scores. I tell people all of the time about my story, because many dismissed my chance at getting into UCLA, due to my SAT score. I ended up getting into every school that I applied for, including USC and UC Berkeley. Of course your application isn’t identical to mine, but it is similar in some senses. You might get in, it probably is a reach, but you definitely are not thinking unrealistically. I give you a 30-50% chance, which could be overshooting it, because of how many people applied, but I think it’s a fair chance.

P.S. - I did get UCLA’s supplemental questionnaire around this time last year. I spent a lot of time on it and submitted it satisfied with my best work. If you get it, dont take it as a bad sign, be grateful that you still have a chance. If you get it, give it your all!