UC's do not read college application essays

mom2collegekids
Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:00:15 +0000

*However, a small loophole was made, in that disadvantaged students could receive extra points. It is in the essay that disadvantaged students can discuss their particular obstacles and struggles. *

Yes, but the system might be set up in a way that URM applications are set aside for their essays to be read so that those with lesser stats can tell their stories regarding obstacles, etc. I’m not saying that it is this way…just wondering.

I think it could be set up like med school delimiters…where perhaps a limitation is set up so that all Asian kids who don’t have at least a 3.3 GPA are rejected by UCLA (and their essays are perhaps never read). But a URM with a 3.0 goes forward and all those essays are read.

I’m not sure that every UC applicants’ essay is read. There are just too many UC apps and state schools have budget issues. There are some applicants that don’t have the req’d minimum GPA (I think it’s 3.0) for the initial down-select…so I doubt theirs are all read… Perhaps the URMs’ essays who have sub 3.0 GPAs are read, but I question as to whether all applicants who don’t have a 3.0 have their essays read.

Again, I’m not saying that all UC essays aren’t read. I’m just saying that maybe it is possible that not every essay is read.

To the Harvard guy…the privates like H are a different story. They often don’t get the same number of apps as the UCs (Harvard gets less apps than UCLA does). Privates often have healthier budgets…and they can pick and choose however they wish.