How to Get Into UCLA (with Pictures) (2024)

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Co-authored byFelipe Corredor

Last Updated: May 4, 2023References

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   Take the most rigorous course available to you. UCLA is an academically rigorous school, so admissions counselors will be looking for evidence you can live up to that expectation. You can take AP or IB classes or honors courses to further demonstrate your ability to keep up at UCLA.^[1]

   • UCLA takes into consideration the types of courses available to you, so if your school doesn’t offer AP or IB classes, don’t worry! That doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a chance at getting in to UCLA.
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   Do as well in your courses as you can. Just taking hard classes isn’t enough. Do as well as you possibly can. If you find yourself falling behind, ask your teacher for help or see a tutor. Good grades are important to admissions.^[2]

   • Although good grades are important, it is possible to be admitted without them with good extracurricular activities. Make sure that you are involved in different activities that have a lot of depth and substance.
   • It's better to be in a high position in a club than it is to be a member of various different clubs.
   • You could also explain that there's an additional information section in the application where you can explain maybe you had a family obligation, maybe something else was going on in your life, maybe some sort of learning disability, etc. accounting for your less than ideal grades.

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   Participate in extracurricular activities. UCLA admissions counselors also look for evidence of a wide variety of interests. Pick extracurricular activities that you’re passionate about and that you can make a commitment to. UCLA won’t rate one type of extracurricular activity higher than another, but they will notice if you don’t stick with the same activities for long.^[3]

   • If you find that you can’t handle your courses and the extracurricular activities you’ve signed up for, UCLA recommends focusing on your academics.^[4]
   • Having a part-time job after school counts toward extracurricular activities.
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   Take on leadership opportunities when possible. Since many UCLA graduates go on to be leaders in their fields, UCLA admissions counselors want to see that you already have leadership qualities. You might be captain of a sports team, hold class office, or be a supervisor at work.^[5]

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   Don’t skate through your last year. Once you get to your last year of school, you might think you’re set. But because UCLA is such a rigorous school, admissions counselors want to see evidence of commitment. That means continuing to work hard in class and getting the highest grades you can.^[6]

   See Also

   How to Get into UCLA: Admission Requirements and TipsHow to Get Into UCLA | Admission Requirements | Ivy CoachHow to Get into UCLA + Admissions RequirementsEverything You Need To Know About UCLA Admissions

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   Sign up for UCLA’s prospective student email list. This mailing list will send you up-to-date information about admissions. It’s also a good way to track how you’re doing in high school as you get closer to applying. You can sign up at: https://connect.admission.ucla.edu/register/getconnected.

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   Take the SAT, or ACT plus ACT Writing test. You only need to take 1 standardized test – the SAT or the ACT. However, because the ACT doesn’t have a writing component, you’ll need to take the ACT Writing test as well.^[7]

   • There are now 2 forms of the SAT. If you apply to UCLA after 2021, you’ll need to take the new version of the exam. Before then, either version is accepted.
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   Take subject tests if you’re applying to the School of Engineering. UCLA’s school of engineering likes its prospective students to take the Math Level 2 SAT subject test. They also recommend you take a physics subject test as well.^[8]

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   Schedule your exams before December. Freshman applications are only available for admission for the fall semester. In order to take the exam and get your scores in time for the application deadline, you’ll need to take your exams by December at the very latest. Take them even earlier if possible.^[9]

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   Take the exams more than once if possible. Don’t wait until your senior year to take the SAT or ACT. If you can take them in your junior and senior year, you’ll have more of an opportunity to improve your score. UCLA will only consider the highest score you earn, so you don’t need to worry about a low score pulling down your average.^[10]

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   Consider taking a preparation course. The standardized tests are an important part of your application to UCLA. If you’re nervous about the exams, or just want to do as well as possible, consider taking a prep course. The Princeton Review offers prep courses. They also publish a series of prep books so you can prepare at home.

   • The Princeton Review offers in-person and online courses. The courses can run between $900 and $1100 and last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
   • Your high school might also offer prep courses. Check with your school counselor.
   • Some local community colleges might offer exam prep as well. You can check with local schools to see if they do and whether there’s a fee.
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   Have your scores sent to UCLA. When you register for the SAT or ACT, you can choose where you’d like the scores to be sent. UCLA will not consider your application without these scores, so make sure you list UCLA as one of the destination schools.

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   Check out the webpages for each college within UCLA. All UCLA’s schools – with the exception of the College of Letters and Science – admit by major. That means individual departments make the decisions about admitting you. Take a look at each college’s web page and note which majors sound interesting.^[11]

   • The College of Letters and Science’s list of majors can be found at: http://www.college.ucla.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/
   • The School of Arts and Architecture’s list of majors can be found at: https://www.admission.ucla.edu/Prospect/Majors/aamajor.htm
   • The list of majors for the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science can be found at: https://www.admission.ucla.edu/Prospect/Majors/enmajor.htm
   • The list of majors for the Herb Alpert School of Music can be found at: https://www.admission.ucla.edu/Prospect/Majors/mumajor.htm
   • The majors at the School of Theater, Film, and Television can be found at: https://www.admission.ucla.edu/Prospect/Majors/tfmajor.htm
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   Consider which majors match your interests best. Explore each school and see what majors they offer and where you might thrive. The better your high school course work and extracurricular activities match up with your declared major, the better.^[12]

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   Note which majors require supplemental applications, including auditions. All of the schools except for the College of Letters and Sciences require supplemental materials. For the nursing school, this means an additional page or two of paperwork. For the School of Theater, Art, and Television, the supplemental application is more involved. Take a look at each school and see what they require.

   • The supplemental worksheets for the Schools of the Arts and Architecture can be found at http://www.arts.ucla.edu/resource/prospective-students/undergraduate-admission/. They are divided by major, so you’ll need to know your major before you print the application.
   • Links to the supplemental applications and audition information for the Alpert School of Music are available at https://www.schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/undergraduate-admission. Each major has different supplemental applications and audition dates.
   • The supplemental application for the School of Theater, Art, and Television can be found at: https://app.getacceptd.com/uclafilmtv.
   • The supplemental application for the School of Nursing can be found at: https://apply.nursing.ucla.edu.
   • Anyone applying to the Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science should consider taking the SAT Math Level 2 Subject Exam.^[13]

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   Write down your standardized test scores. You should have your scores sent directly to the school. However, the online application will ask you to list your scores, which admissions counselors will later match up with the official paperwork they receive.^[14]

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   Gather any additional test scores. If you’ve taken any additional exams - including SAT Subjects, AP, IB, TOEFL, or IELTS exams – have those scores in front of you, too. You’ll need to list them on your application, and the school may ask you to send official copies.

3. See Also

   First-Year Applicants

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   Keep a copy of your transcript in front of you. You don’t need to submit an official transcript to UCLA unless you’re accepted. However, you will need to refer to your transcript in your applications, so make sure you have it with you.

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   Estimate your annual income. If you’re applying for an application fee waiver or the Educational Opportunity Program, you’ll need to include your estimated annual income in your application. You should estimate your annual income if you’re independent (not living at home). If you live with your parents, it should be their annual income you estimate. ^[15]

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   Have your Social Security Number handy. If you have a Social Security number, make sure you know it or have the number written down somewhere. UCLA will use your Social Security number to match up admissions paperwork that comes from other sources, like exam scores.^[16]

   • If you don't have a Social Security number, that's okay. UCLA can still track your application in other ways.
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   Prepare a portfolio if you’re applying to the School of Art and Architecture. The supplemental application for the School of Art and Architecture requires a portfolio. You can check the school’s website for more details.^[17]

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   Prepare for an audition if you’re applying to the Schools of Music or Theater, Film, and Television. The School of Music and the School of Theater, Film, and Television both require audition tapes as part of their supplemental application. That application will give you specifics about what to submit.^[18]

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   Review the personal insight questions. The personal insight questions on the UCLA application take the place of a general admissions essay. You’ll have to choose 4 of 8 possible questions to answer. You can see the questions ahead of time and decide which you want to answer. They’re available at: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/personal-questions/freshman/index.html.

   • Look at these questions early. The more time you have to prepare and revise your answers, the better they might end up.

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   Create an account on the University of California’s website. The applications are available at different times depending on which semester you’re applying for and what level you’re at. Freshmen applications are usually available in August the year before you expect to be admitted. The website where you sign up is: https://admissions.universityofcalifornia.edu/applicant/login.htm.

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   Choose the UCLA campus. Because UCLA is part of the University of California system, everyone applying to a UC school uses the same application. But you’ll be able to choose which campus or campuses you want to apply for. The online application will automatically prompt you for this choice – make sure you choose UCLA!

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   Pay the application fee. Once you’re ready to submit everything, you’ll need to pay an application fee. If you’re only applying to UCLA, the fee is $70 for U.S. applicants and $80 for international applicants. The fees go up if you apply to more than 1 campus.

   • You can pay by credit card or by mailing a check to UC Application Center, P.O. Box 1432, Bakersfield, CA 93302.
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   Answer 4 personal insight questions. The online application will automatically prompt you to choose and answer 4 questions. If you’ve had a chance to review the questions and write up answers, submit those answers when prompted.

   • You’ll have 8 questions to choose from, and you’ll need to answer 4. Each answer is limited to 350 words.

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Sample Responses to Personal Insight Questions

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