Are you looking to attend the University of California, Los Angeles? We’ve put together a short guide to UCLA admission and how to increase your chances. You’ll find out what the UCLA acceptance rate is and what’s needed in your application to stand out.
What is the acceptance rate to UCLA?
Admission to the University of California has become increasingly more competitive. Here are some facts about the recently admitted class of 2025:
- Number of applicants: 139,490
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- GPA (Weighted): 4.35-4.72
- GPA (Unweighted): 3.94-4.0
- Students from California: 69%
- Students from outside California: 21% from the rest of the US; 10% international
With the UCLA acceptance rate at 11%, it is a competitive school to get into. They are currently not considering standardized test scores as part of the admission process and instead use GPA scores to show academic excellence.
UCLA admission requirements
To help increase your chances of UCLA acceptance, you’ll need to make sure you have all the requirements for admission.
UCLA places a heavy emphasis on grades and the rigor of classes taken in high school. They look for students who have challenged themselves with college preparatory classes, including AP, IB, honors, and transferable college courses. GPAs are calculated using classes taken in 10th and 11th grades, with extra weight given to honors classes.
In addition, as part of the UCLA application, you will choose four of eight personal insight questions to answer. Your answers to these questions are an integral part of helping with acceptance to UCLA. The admissions team will use the personal insight question to look for “evidence of your intellectual curiosity and interest in personal development.”
Tips for UCLA acceptance
The requirements for UCLA admissions differ if you are an in-state resident versus an out-of-state resident. If UCLA is your dream school, you’ll need to plan early to prepare. This is especially true if you are a student who lives outside of California.
In-State Students
Residents of California have an advantage with UCLA acceptance. Most students admitted to UCLA are from California. In addition, applicants from California have a lower minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, in alignment with the UC’s goal of uplifting the people of the state. Residents also have more options for including honors-level classes when calculating their weighted GPA.
UCLA admissions emphasizes rigorous high school coursework and outstanding academic performance. To ensure you have what they are looking for, you’ll need to plan your courses early in your high school career.
Take UC-approved honors-level courses and AP or IB level courses. Also, while UCLA lists minimum requirements for the number of courses taken (three years of math, two years of lab science, etc.), they strongly recommend that you take more than the minimum to present a strong academic profile.
Out-of-State Students
Applicants from outside of California will have to present an especially strong profile. The GPA requirement is higher with a minimum of 3.4 GPA, and you’ll have to plan for your school-designated honors courses not to be included in your weighted GPA.
Start planning your high school classes early. Wherever possible, take AP or IB level courses to get the additional honors point for your GPA. Take more than the minimum requirements and look for electives and extracurricular activities to highlight your talents.
Personal Insight Questions
With such an emphasis on academic performance, you may think that is all that is needed. You’ll also want to use your answers to the personal insight questions to impress the UCLA admissions team. They are how you can let them know all the ways you can contribute to the UCLA community.
UCLA offers these tips for successfully answering the questions:
- Start planning your answers early.
- Be organized and focused, so your answers are clear and structured.
- Avoid humor, irony, and clichés.
- Don’t manufacture hardship.
- Provide specific examples to show who you are and where you’re going.
- Allow plenty of time to revise for clarity and proofread for errors.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to gain UCLA admissions, let Empowerly help. Schedule a consultation with us so we can help you make your application stand out.
