<p>Does anyone know if UCLA’s grading system go by a competitive curve? I’m seriously considering UCLA, however if my outlook on my gpa is significantly worse than other UCs then I would have to think about it some more. I’m not sure how I got in with the gpa I do have, and kind of losing confidence that I can maintain an upward 3.0 gpa average at UCLA.</p>
<p>@jonjon03 </p>
<p>It depends on the classes you take. Curves are usually only used in the science, math, engineering, and computer science classes.</p>
<p>A- is only 3.7 at UC’s. 
I want to keep my GPA up forever</p>
<p>@patakigirl Sure! Ask it here or send me a message. If it’s about UC-UC transfer i can def. help :]</p>
<p>@Cayton Thanks for the reply. I was afraid of that, I’m going in as a computer science…so that doesn’t seem to bode well.</p>
<p>Major: Pre-Sociology
GPA: 3.482 (64 semester units completed before Spring 2014)
Prerequisites: Completed
IGETC: Missing one class
TAP: No TAP, however I have completed 16 units of honors coursework (GPA was too low to qualify)
Accepted: UCLA, UCSD, UCI
Rejected: UCD
ECs: Hospice Volunteer, CDA Cares Volunteer, Church Event Volunteer, Honors Club and Events Board Representative, PTK Honors Society - Officer of Scholarship, and I was employed 16 hrs/wk for a year. I also received Associates Degrees, one in Social Science and one in Psychology</p>
<p>UCLA has been my dream school for the past two years. I spent countless hours on this website and elsewhere researching statistics/chances of acceptance and I want to give back. I had truly abandoned my dream of getting accepted into UCLA and I didn’t even want to apply. My GPA (3.482) is much lower than most Pre-Sociology transfers, a major that is heavily impacted, I had 5 Ws on my transcript, and I did not complete the IGETC coursework (forgot a physical science).</p>
<p>The reason I believe I was accepted was because of my personal statement and my ECs that involved leadership. In my personal statement I tied in my own qualities and experiences with my major. Your personal statement is your opportunity for the reader to get to know you. However, it is REALLY important to note that a thousand personal words may not be enough for a reader to get to know you entirely, but a thousand personal words is more than plenty enough for the reader to get annoyed or put off. Choose your words VERY carefully. Admissions officers literally read THOUSANDS of personal statements you must stand out from the crowd. I spoke with an admissions officer and she told me the top reasons that can “put the admissions officer off.”</p>
<p>1) In your personal statement, you must highlight the reasons why you should get accepted and completely address the prompt, but DO NOT oversell yourself, be proud of your accomplishments but remain humble.
2) Because applicants want to attend a top school like UCLA, applicants try to “sound smart.” Do not try to make yourself sound smart, just BE SMART, be real, and be practical.
3) This is not true for all cases, but a lot of people take up too much of their statement to explain why they failed to do something when it is simply not needed. If you had a bad semester, do not give them reasons why you did not succeed. DO NOT turn your personal statement into a pity party.</p>
<p>Three words you should keep in mind while writing your personal statement: independent, individuality, and leadership.</p>
<p>Accepted
Business Economics
3.86
All pre-reqs done
(Took Calc II, III & Linear Alg)
3 Sems + Summer</p>
<p>@Cayton </p>
<p>I plan on taking a few hist classes as well. Some of them sound very interesting. There’s one about ancient Egyptian civilization that I’m dying to take, which happens to be cross listed for NELC/Egyptology if I happen to switch majors.</p>
<p>@oshgosh, congrats!!! 
=D> </p>
<p>And congratulations to all the admitted transfer students! And shout out to all my pre-history majors! </p>
<p>@jonjon03 </p>
<p>Hmm, well, my only advice is this: study extra hard for upper-division computer science. It’s probably a lot harder than anything at the lower-division/community college level. I think you’ll be fine if you decide to go to UCLA as long as you study hard enough and don’t take too many classes a quarter.</p>
<p>@oshgoshbjosh </p>
<p>Congratulations, man! It’s great that UCLA took into account your PS and ECs. It seems UCLA is becoming more holistic in its admissions this year!</p>
<p>Hey guys! New here, but not at all new to this process!</p>
<p>Accepted
UC GPA: 3.87
Major Pre-reqs Completed: yes
Major: Sociology (Pre-sociology)
TAG? No
IGETC: Yes
Extracurriculars: I’m old (see below), so I work full time, but I did do a tiny bit of volunteer work. Nothing major.
Kinda think I hit it outta the park with my essays.
CCC student
Applied: UCSD, UCD, UCB, UCLA
Accepted: UCSD, UCD, UCLA
Pending: UCB</p>
<p>My story may be helpful to you guys who only applied to your top choice(s) and didn’t get in. I’m 31 and I finished all my coursework to transfer about 6 years ago. I was DETERMINED to get into Berkeley. Applied two years in a row and was rejected. Was also rejected by UCLA. Looking back, I can see flaws in my application (pre-reqs not finished, essays mediocre).</p>
<p>My point is that if you want to or have to wait a year (or several in my case), it may not be detrimental as long as you have good explanations for your gaps in education. For me, it was mostly financial, but I was also advised not to take any more courses. If you need to take some time to figure things out, take it! Just be prepared to explain yourself beyond “I only wanted to go to Berkeley.”</p>
<p>Anyway, congrats to all of you that were accepted! To those of you that were not, don’t feel pressured to go somewhere you don’t think is right for you if you really don’t want to or can’t logistically.Try again next year. I know it sucks, but honestly I really don’t think it hurts your chances if you are otherwise qualified… But maybe apply to more than 1 or 2 places next time just in case ;)</p>
<p>@emilynicole83 </p>
<p>It’s always great to see nontraditional students getting into their dream schools. I love that UCLA and the other UCs give everyone a shot at achieving their dreams. May you experience much intellectual growth at UCLA(If you decide to attend).</p>
<p>I feel guilty when I see 4.0 students getting rejected. I feel like I don’t belong at UCLA.</p>
<p>@Cayton </p>
<p>You can always double major 
</p>
<p>@cayton thanks!</p>
<p>I am eagerly awaiting Berkeley’s decision. I’m a bay area girl, but am enticed by moving. It’s going to be a really hard decision if I’m accepted. If not, a pretty easy one! (LA here I come).</p>
<p>If I considered myself old enough to be a “cougar” I totally would have made my username “campuscougar.” LOL. Not really, that would be super embarassing.</p>
<p>@Cayton Hi, my GPA is 3.92 when I applied to UC. I got in to UCLA with business econ major. In my winter quarter, I got C+ on Calculus 2. If I report this grade, will it affect my admission? Thanks!</p>
<p>Accepted
3.25 Pre-Sociology
I can’t believe I got accepted because my grades were all over the place (got 2 C’s, no upward trend) however I did have a few hardships that were drawn out through the course of my CC years, which I mentioned in my personal statement.
EC’s: None, but I held 2 steady jobs working 40 hours a week total throughout both years.
Applied: UCI, UCSD, UCSB, UCLA, UCD, UCB
Accepted: UCI, UCSB, UCD
Pending: UCB
Rejected: UCSD (waitlist) </p>
<p>@krisluo </p>
<p>I don’t know. Ask UCLA!</p>
<p>@emilynicole83 </p>
<p>lol, good luck with Berkeley.</p>
<p>@ocnative </p>
<p>Yeah, but that’d significantly extend the amount of time I spend in school and ain’t nobody got time for that. :D</p>
<p>HOPE = RESTORED grats</p>