Comments on: Do You Think I Have A Decent Chance At Making It Into Ucla? Or A Uc School?

By: ownpool

ownpool — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:31:40 +0000

I agree with Lina about your chances at different UCs.
Be sure to mention in your essay that are having an article published, give the correct academic reference for it and offer to send a copy upon request.
It’s fine if your uncle does his best to get you into UCLA.
However, if he writes any letters of recommendation for you, he should disclose in them that he is your uncle.
If he does not disclose the relationship and the admissions office finds out some other way that he is your uncle (and there are ways they can do this even if his name is different), your file will go to the recycle bin.
Each letter should be freshly printed on the computer. Never use photocopies of a letter. The inside address of the letter should specify the university to which it is being sent. The letters must be sent directly to the university by the person who wrote them, not by you. They should be on the official letterhead of the writer’s organization, unless the writer is filling out a university’s form instead.
Look carefully at the letter requirements of each university. Some may prohibit letters from relatives, in which case your uncle should not send one.
Have at least one extra letter sent by a non-relative to all universities to which your uncle sends one. Some universities will toss your uncle’s letter as soon as they read that he is your uncle, even if they don’t tell you that in advance, so you need the extra letter sent to replace it.
Is this fair? Yes it is. How many people get a volunteer position like yours if they don’t have a highly placed uncle?
I don’t know whether or not your article would be published anyway if your uncle were not in his postion, but most admissions departments will wonder about it, especially if your uncle is a co-author or if they put two and two together and see that the article comes from your uncle’s hospital, if that is where it does come from.
I’m sorry if this was not pleasant reading, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Non-disclosure of the relationship of your uncle will be considered dishonesty by most admissions offices and if that happens, it will go on your permanent record.
You are lucky to have a helpful and influential uncle. Don’t abuse your privilege.

By: Lina~officially a Cal Student~

Lina~officially a Cal Student~ — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:17:42 +0000

???are you joking (no offense) my best friend had a 4.7 GPA and didnt get into UCLA (although he managed to get into Berkeley). the average GPA for UCLA is 3.9
however, for the other UCs, you have a shot at:
Riverside
Merced
Santa Cruz
sorry :/
but the other UCs that i listed are good too….especially SC
good luck

By: Ms. Sun

Ms. Sun — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:47:25 +0000

UC admission evaluation is based on a variety of factors. All UCs favor factors such as the rigor of your HS curriculum (number of UC-approved honors/AP/IB/CC courses completed), excellent weighted and unweighted GPA, and demonstrated leadership abilities. You are also compared to your peers, meaning your academic and extracurricular achievements are viewed in context of students in your HS who applied to the UCs this year and 3 years prior. Given the number of factors considered and the complex data involved, it is essentially impossible for anyone to accurately predict your chance.
UCLA is academic achievement oriented, meaning excellent grades and fantastic test scores are essential to be competitive.
UCs do not review recommendation letters.