college application essay ucla

Personal Insight Questions

The following are tips to help applicants find appropriate topics, styles and tones for their answers to the personal insight questions. Please also see the University of California’s instructions for freshmen  and for transfers .

As we read your application, including your answers to the personal insight questions, we’re looking for evidence of your intellectual curiosity and your interest in personal development. UCLA has such a creative, ambitious and diverse student body. We’re always on the lookout for applicants who will contribute to the intellectual vitality, cultural life and diversity of UCLA.

• These questions are about getting to know you better, so be open, reflective, find your individual voice and express it.
• Freshman Applicants: You will have eight questions to choose from, you must respond to any four of the eight questions. The questions you choose to answer are entirely up to you.
• Transfer Applicants: There is one required question you must answer; then you answer three out of seven additional questions. Which three of the seven you choose to answer are entirely up to you.
• All applicants: We recommend you select questions that are most relevant to your experience and best reflect your individual circumstances.
• All questions will be given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

Tips for Success

We hope these tips will help you get organized and will inspire you. Your accomplishments, your opinions — you are important! Your answers to these questions are the best tool you have to show us the individual gifts you have to offer to the UCLA community.

Start early.

Give yourself time to think about your topics and carefully consider the rationale behind each question.

Be clear. Be focused. Be organized.

Make sure your answers to the questions follow a logical structure. Try to think about how it may seem to an audience who doesn’t know you. Input from people you trust — teachers, friends, relatives — can help you get perspective on how your answers affect those who are reading them.

Be careful with humor and clichés.

What might seem funny or bitingly ironic to you may not seem that way to someone who doesn’t know you. Remember that these questions are an opportunity for you to give us a complete picture of yourself. Don’t allow clichés to speak for you.

Don’t manufacture hardship.

Your answer to a personal insight question isn’t effective simply because it chronicles difficult circumstances. An effective answer to any question gives us a clear sense of your personal qualities and how you’ve used and developed them in response to your opportunities and challenges.

Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Prove to us with written examples that you have a sense of who you are, where you’re going and how you will use your education and experiences to accomplish your goals. Although some events have long-term or even lifetime ramifications, it’s usually better to focus on recent events because they shed more light on who you are right now.

Finally, give yourself plenty of time for revisions.

Read your writing to others, and revise for clarity in content and in style. Pay attention to rules of correct grammar and punctuation, and don’t forget to spell check.

Please visit the University of California site for more help with your personal insight questions, including the text of the questions you will be asked to answer.

How to Answer UC’s Personal Insight Questions

Special Instructions for Veterans

We’re interested in knowing about your military service. Therefore, you may wish to use the personal insight questions to communicate the following:

• Describe how your military service has been instrumental in developing your educational plans.
• Indicate if you’re entitled to educational benefits as a result of your own military service or the service-connected death or disability of a parent or spouse.
• Indicate if you’re affiliated with the military such as, but not limited to, the spouse or dependent of someone who is on active duty or a current participant in an ROTC-type program.

Spanish-Language Versions

The UC Personal Insight Guides are also available in Spanish.

• Tips in Spanish for freshmen (PDF)
• Tips in Spanish for transfers (PDF)  
• Writing tips in Spanish (PDF)

18 UCLA Essays That Worked (and Why) for 2023

Do you want to write strong essays that'll help get you into UCLA?

In this article, you'll read and learn from 18 essays written by students who got recently accepted into UCLA and see how they did it.

If you're trying to get into the University of California, Los Angeles, these essays are a valuable resource and give you a peek into UCLA admissions.

Whether you're a student or parent of an applicant, you'll see what to do—and what not to do—when writing your UC essays.

How important are the UCLA essays?

And as of 2022, the UC system no longer uses your SAT and ACT scores to decide whether or not to admit students.

With no more test scores, that means your UC essays are even more important for your application. Besides your grades (GPA) and coursework, your essays are the most influential factor for your UC admissions.

Plus, UCLA is the most applied to school in the world, with well over 100,000 applicants each year. The University of California-Los Angeles acceptance rate is lower each year, which makes your essays even more important.

Since your UC essays matter so much, it's important to get them right.

What are the UC Personal Insight Question Prompts for 2022-23?

It's a mistake to think of the UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) as typical essays you'd write for a class.

Rather, the PIQs are a set of eight open-ended questions asked by the UC app. You must choose exactly four questions to respond to, and each response should be no more than 350 words.

Let's go over the UC Personal Insight Question prompts:

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

It can be helpful to see how other students responded to the UC Personal Insight Questions.

And since UCLA is one of the hardest UC's to get into, along with UC Berkeley , students that get accepted tend to write outstanding essay responses to the PIQs.

18 UCLA Personal Insight Question Examples

Here are the 18 best UCLA accepted essays that worked written by accepted students for each Personal Insight Question prompt #1-8.

• UCLA Example Essay #1
• UCLA Example Essay #2
• UCLA Example Essay #3: Violin
• UCLA Example Essay #4

UCLA Example Essay #5: Team Player

• UCLA Example Essay #6: Flute
• UCLA Example Essay #7: Optimism
• UCLA Example Essay #8
• UCLA Example Essay #9
• UCLA Example Essay #10
• UCLA Example Essay #11
• UCLA Example Essay #12

UCLA Example Essay #13: Computer Science

Ucla example essay #14: korean big toes.

• UCLA Example Essay #15

UCLA Example Essay #16: LGBT

• UCLA Example Essay #17

UCLA Example Essay #18: Being Short

Ucla example essay #1: orchestra leadership.

UC PIQ #1: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. (350 words max)

In my freshman year of high school, I had enrolled in the String Orchestra Advanced Class which was mixed in with the Beginning class. I was the only person with experience, seven years in the Violin at the time, while most of the students in the class were beginners. I got class elected, then re-elected as President my Freshman and Sophomore years, and was First Violin, then First Viola Chair.

My first year consisted of myself and the instructor teaching the basics of each instrument. Learning a new instrument is frustrating, and there were times where older students in the class would get frustrated and unhappy that a Freshman knew more than they did.

As a leader I had to make sure I did not keep a separation between myself and my classmates. Therefore, my Sophomore year, I changed my instrument to the Viola.

By showing my classmates that I too was a beginner, and that I too had to learn because I had a new instrument -inspired the class to learn as well. My classmates no longer saw me as someone who told people to practice and not give up, yet did not have to practice or struggle themselves, but instead, as someone who was there practicing, and struggling along with them.

The Orchestra program at my school started my Freshman year as an experimental class, but the school ended the class after my Sophomore year. Though unfortunate, in the two years of its existence, my classmates went from being novices, to performers, where in the last year of the program, we performed many times for school events and finally in an orchestra conference in my Sophomore year, where judges praised our Orchestra's technique and cohesiveness.

After the class got cut, many of my classmates continued to pursue music independently, or in the District Orchestra. It is a wonderful feeling for me to see my former classmates -to this day- performing, and even teaching others, knowing that I was there when their journeys in music first began, and I look forward to seeing their musical pursuits in the future.

Why This Essay Works:

• Tells a Story: Gives context and explains how you got this leadership position. By explaining a backstory, it reveals your motivations and what drives you.
• Shows Takeaways and Lessons Learned: It's not enough to just talk about your achievements. Admissions officers are more interested in why they matter to you, and how you had an impact on others.

What They Might Improve:

• Fix Capitalization: It's not necessary to capitalize improper nouns like "violin", "viola", and "orchestra".
• Sentence Flow: Make sure your sentences aren't too long and don't have unnecessary breaks, which can interrupt the flow.

UCLA Example Essay #2: Volunteer Leadership

My group and I spent a total of seven hours preparing five hundred bagged lunches for the extensive homeless community at Oakland. Out of all the obstacles that could have halted our progress, rain was the last thing on our minds. We were lucky enough to distribute three hundred lunches before the rain began to relentlessly pour down on us. There were a few hours left of daylight before we would be able to eat Iftar for Ramadan, so, an overwhelming majority of our group wanted to call it a day. However, there was still a large number of unsheltered and hungry homeless people throughout the city, and I could not bear to let all that food go to waste. So, I raced to one of our nearest vans, grabbed a bullhorn, and yelled to gather the attention of as many people as possible. I instructed them to form lines in front of our eleven vans in order to take everybody to the nearest homeless shelters with the promise of food and entertainment. We went to six other heavily concentrated areas to do the same thing, and within just five hours, nearly five hundred homeless individuals were transported.

This event is one of the dozens of community service projects I’ve performed in my role as vice-president of the youth faction of the Sudanese Association of Northern California (SANC). This Oakland food drive has left me with a sense of clarity of what it takes to get a project, event, or any other endeavor accomplished. The food drive was obviously a success, but what made this particularly memorable is the email the president of SANC sent me the following day: “You have a keen ability to synthesize and communicate anything quickly and effectively.” I realized the explicit connection between my forensics (speech and debate) career and my community service: the power that I carry in my voice can motivate others to do good. I have tried to apply this insight into each new endeavor since.

• Specific with Numbers: Use exact numbers whenever you can to create authenticity and make it realistic. In this essay, saying "three hundred" lunches makes things concrete.
• Connects to Academic Interests: Show how your past leadership achievements relate to what you want to do in college.
• Stronger Conclusion: Make sure your conclusion isn't vague and has a concrete takeaway. Don't just use words like "this insight". Rather, rephrase that insight or draw a new idea from it.
• Sentence Structure: Having too long of sentences is a common mistake students make. Instead, splitting up complex sentences can make it easier to read.

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UCLA Example Essay #3: Violin Creative Side

UC PIQ #2: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. (350 words max)

I express my creative side by playing the violin and other musical instruments. Ever since I was a younger child, music had always been a part of my life. The first instrument I remember playing is the piano when I was four years old. My school had a music program, so I went and learned how to read music and play the Recorder. Though it was a simple instrument, it was to prepare us students for the more complex instruments that we could choose to play after completing the Recorder lessons.

I took this class all of first grade, and in second grade I was ready to choose the instrument I wanted to specialize in. I chose the Violin, and now -ten years later- I am still playing it. Throughout the years I have learned to play other instruments as well, such as the Piano, Trumpet, Viola, and more. During that time I have also been able to play those instruments in different styles of music.

From second to seventh grade, I played the Violin and sung in my elementary school district's Mariachi and my middle school's Mariachi even when I did not know how to speak Spanish. I have been playing the Violin at my church's choir almost every Sunday since Seventh grade. I played the Violin and Viola in my high school's Orchestra class in Freshman and Sophomore year, and since my Junior year I have played the trumpet in my school's Jazz Band and Trumpet Choir.

My siblings have also been inspired to be creative musically, and together we perform at our church and other places, and music has become an important part in their lives as well.

Throughout my life I have been able to express my love for music in many different ways. Whether through playing with a group, doing a solo in front of an audience, composing my own music, or teaching my younger siblings how to read and play music the way I was taught many years ago, music has always been a large way that I could express my creative side.

• Clearly Answers Prompt: For UC essays, being straightforward is not a bad thing. This essay starts off by clearly answering the prompt, before elaborating further.
• Fix Capitalization: It's not necessary to capitalize improper nouns like "freshman" and "sophomore". An easy fix is to only capitalize proper nouns, like names of people and places.
• Explain What's Meaningful: Admissions officers want to know more than just "what you did," but also why it was meaningful to you. Try to focus on the impact of your achievements more than just what you did.

UCLA Example Essay #4: Improvised Comedy Creative Side

I was brought into this world with an overactive imagination and an absence of siblings. My abundance of boredom and lack of playmates was solved by creating multiple characters, drawing them, and pretending to be them. When I joined theater my freshman year, I quickly fell in love because it brought me back to that childhood innocence of carelessly being someone else It was an opportunity to evaluate how I could incorporate my personality, experiences, and charisma into a character and to turn my visual concepts into a reality through doing makeup.

I was also introduced to improvised comedy. where I presented my witty and quirky side. On the other hand, working with a cast and crew was something I was unaccustomed to. but I soon saw myself becoming inspired by the surrounding creativity of others. Whether we were doing a dramatic or comedic play, we worked together to evoke an emotional response from the audience. It’s an honor to see people laugh and cry during our performances because I've connected with hundreds of people by putting my heart on a stage. In contrast, painting has been a private indulgence. Every feeling and thought trapped inside becomes free on that canvas into a beautiful visual creation. Like my mood, my paintings aren't uniform and consistent; they range from iridescent beaches to scattered splotches, yet every stroke, color. and mistake had a reason.

As my only patron, my mom couldn't always afford painting supplies, so occasionally I had to improvise with tools like spoons, paper towels, and erasers. Regardless of the tools I was using, my paintings were reflection of myself. The progression of my work is an exhibit of my struggles, success, and how I became who I am today. Painting is not about the finished product; it's about the journey and the lessons I've learned to get there. My creativity is not limited to the arts, but is embedded my appearance, mindset, and career path in solving mental health issues. Creativity, to me, is putting bits and pieces of myself into doing what I love.

• Strong First Sentence: Starting off with interesting ideas is the best way to get the reader hooked. It doesn't need to be complicated, but find your most interesting idea and start there.
• Connects Multiple Extracurriculars: Finding multiple examples in your life to explain your answer can make your essay stronger. Rather than focusing on just one activity, how do your activites relate with a common theme?
• Great Conclusion: A strong conclusion is often one that expands on your ideas or connects to something more universal. Try restating your main idea and add a twist or expand on it.
• Make Each Paragraph Distinct: Each paragraph should have one central idea or topic. It's better to split up your essay into many paragraphs because it makes it easier for the reader and better organized.

UC PIQ #3: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? (350 words max)

My greatest talent would be relating to and inspiring others. Throughout my time in school I have demonstrated that talent by becoming a leader where I was trusted by my teachers and peers. It began in 5th grade when I was voted to become Student Council for my class, where my peers knew that I related well with them and that I would do my best to use my position to fix their issues.

In middle school, I became the Knowledge Bowl team Captain. There was a new coach, so the program was small, about five students. There were many students who wanted to join the team but felt that they were not "smart enough" to join. I recognized this and encouraged those students to join and they succeeded. By the end of the year, our team was 3rd in the district overall statistically standing, our highest ranking in a while.

In high school I joined JROTC as a Freshman, and I became a Platoon Sergeant my Junior year. My job for the semester was to teach and motivate cadets in the program. Some cadets did not do well with authority, and felt attacked when other class leaders would be assertive. As a leader I took a different approach, and related to my cadets. My platoon was constantly noted as being a well-rounded platoon by our instructors, and I received the Non-Commisioned Officer Leadership Award.

In Academic League, motivation was key to our team's success. Sometimes personal problems would affect a member of the team, so I showed them I could relate to their struggles and still believe in their ability to help the team. In times when we would be losing in a match, I would inspire the team to keep pushing on, and to remain positive. That year our team placed 5th in the district -again a highest ranking in a while- and I was voted as "Most Inspirational" by the team.

Throughout the years, relating to and inspiring others has been a skill that has allowed me to make great connections with so many people.

• Uses Multiple Examples: Backing up your answer with various examples from your life makes your case stronger.
• Unique Take: Rather than thinking of a skill in the literal sense, this author uses a more abstract skill. Sharing your unique perspective is key to having interesting ideas.
• Show Why It Matters: In addition to explaining your greatest skill or talent, you should tell why it is meaningful. What are the takeaways and how will you use this skill going forward in college?

UCLA Example Essay #6: Flute Greatest Talent

Just when we think we figured things out, the universe throws us a curveball. So, we have to improvise. The universe is funny like that. Sometimes it just has a way of making sure we wind up exactly where we belong.

When I first started playing flute, I probably looked like a pufferfish choking on a clump of wasabi, but that didn't matter. Blasting deep breaths into my flute, I blew voraciously as I tried to produce a B-flat; but all I could muster was a raspy whistle.

6 years later, I was filled with pride knowing that I had worked hard enough to be selected as the concert soloist for the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County. My moment had arrived; I stand center-stage and begin Chaminade's Concertino Op. 107. Recognizing the minor scales and arpeggios, my fingers glide through the measures with absolute certainty; and with each successive measure, my breathing, tone, and articulation seemed to increasingly synchronize. Before long, the piece came to an end. Holding the D-natural farmada as long I could, I let the note fade into submission and lowered my flute. Taking a bow, I reveled in the magnitude of my hard work.

As I grew older, it became evident that I would need orthodontics and jaw reduction surgeries. With my face full of rubber and metal, I couldn't form a tight enough valve to sustain notes. I was officially back to square one. The following months were brutal, I had to put away Tchaikovsky and go back to the basics; but my effort was genuine and I gradually regained my ability to play.

Today, I consider playing flute my greatest skill. Not because I can play complex scales or win competitions, but, instead, because through the horrors of braces, learning how to double-tongue, and impossibly fast measures, I never gave up. Playing flute had crafted in me the relentless determination which I've exhibited over the past 8 years. I may not know what curveballs life will pitch to me next, but I have confidence knowing I will persevere regardless of the circumstances.

• Strong Hook: Use your best idea at the start to immediately make the reader interested. First impressions matter, and by having a compelling first paragraph, the tone of your essay is immediately better.
• Specific in Naming Things: Say the names of groups, places, and other things whenever you can. Being specific whenever possible makes you seem more relatable and makes your essay more interesting.

UCLA Example Essay #7: Optimism Greatest Skill

Life can be an overwhelming obstacle course, but my ability to get over any bump with a smile on my face has been my greatest strength. Maintaining an optimistic outlook has introduced me to new opportunities, made me a better leader, and helped me get through everyday life. Although my determination to get back up was built by a couple scrapes and falls. I learned about the impact of a positive attitude on others through my experience on the tennis team.

The motivation and bond my team had because of the encouragement and support from our captains has influenced my approach to interacting with others. For instance, while working with my peers, I always praise them for the effort that they put in and patiently help them. When applying this to class projects and theater productions, I saw an improvement on our performance and our accomplishments felt more satisfying and meaningful. My positive attitude is also influential during my job at a convalescent home. As an activities assistant, my objective is to get residents to participate in activities and to make them fun.

At times, it’s difficult to convince residents that a macaroni necklace is worth getting out of bed for, but I am always that friendly face that cheers them on and picks them up. Knowing that my happiness is brightening someone else's day is extremely valuable and is the fuel to my enthusiasm.

Preserving my optimism is not always easy; however, my excitement for the future retains my drive to overcome any challenge. Every opportunity given to me is taken advantage of, and if something doesn't go as planned. I am confident another door will open. Even though I enjoy focusing on the bright side of life, I'm aware that some people feel like they cant overcome their challenges alone. I recognized that I can be a hand to help people up, someone to believe in them, and a friend to conquer obstacles with. Using this positive influence is the very reason why I am looking forward to a career in psychology.

• Shows Impact of Your Skill: Whenever possible, try to show how your skill/talent has impacted others. Why is your skill important? And how will you use it going forward in life?
• Uses Humor: Having small moments of natural humor, when appropriate, makes for a more enjoyable essay. Even a small remark like "it’s difficult to convince residents that a macaroni necklace is worth getting out of bed for" is powerful.
• Recognizes Challenges: Nobody is perfect, and even with your greatest skill or talent there are likely still shortcomings. Recognizing your challenges is important to humanize yourself and shows self-awareness.

UCLA Example Essay #8: Significant Educational Opportunity

UC PIQ #4: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. (350 words max)

I was going to University of Southern California for three weeks, and that was all I could think about as the school year came to a close. After finding out that I had been accepted into the Bovard Scholars program, along with one of my best friends, I could not wait for the upcoming summer. As July 16th neared, I became more and more anxious,as I did not know what to expect, but I was looking forward to this new opportunity.

The program had just been launched this year and 49 of around 500 applicants were accepted. Over the course of three weeks, the 48 other people from all over the country would be my new friends. During my time there, I would be assigned a coach who would help with the college process, whether it be working on the college application as a group or having one-on-one sessions to work on personal statements. Outside of working on college applications and essays, we had guest speakers from admissions offices, student panels where we could ask questions, career panels, and workplace visits. We also had many presentations on financial aid, fields of major, jobs, and interviews which, most of it, I did not know beforehand.

Along with all this help, we also dormed at one of the residence halls, which allowed us to experience what college life might be like. I was amazed by the diversity of people that were attending the program, and I was shocked to find out that my roommate from New York was Egyptian. We even had Resident Assistants who planned evening activities for us to further stimulate college life. However, they were not just our Resident Assistants; as we grew closer we were able to gather information from them about college.

As the program came to its end, I did not want it to stop. I had such an incredible experience and learned so much about college. I knew that the program will never truly end, though, as our coaches will continue to work with us until Spring when we are accepted into colleges.

• Specific in Achievements: Being specific and saying "49 of around 500 applicants were accepted" creates credibility. It also helps admissions officers have context about your achievements and be able to infer how significant they really were.
• Stronger First Sentence: Try starting your essay with ideas, rather than retelling events. Starting off with interesting ideas helps hook your reader, and you can later support those ideas with your experiences and achievements.
• Focus on Meaning: Emphasize what your takeaways were from this educational opportunity or barrier. Admissions officers are looking for what you learned, how it affected others, and how you'll use those lessons moving forward.

UCLA Example Essay #9: Working at Health Clinic

I worked in a health clinic in the impoverished village of Amara in Sudan this summer, expecting to be assigned general administrative duties during my internship. However, those expectations were tossed out the window within the first week. I consider myself a pretty squeamish person, so the thought of blood oozing from any injury disgusts me in ways that I cannot describe in words. So naturally, I was shocked when I didn’t flinch or faint as I held the retractors of a ravaged knee during surgery. I can’t say that I confronted the daunting tasks I was given with complete confidence, but I learned from the experiences nonetheless. At times, I would question the challenging orders given to me by the faculty, but I later realized that it was due to the lack of qualified doctors and nurses at the village.

I observed eleven surgeries, ranging from liver disease to a gruesome foot infection. The clinic worked under severe pressure, as basic resources and equipment were scarce, which ended badly for some patients. There was one particular patient who did not survive a disastrous bus crash due to the unavailability of ambulances. He was laying on the floor in agonizing pain for a lingering six hours. As the viscous blood stained the white cloth that covered him when he was brought to the clinic, I felt a surge of sorrow, anger, and helplessness. It was difficult for me to come to grips with the reality that some things cannot be undone. The emotions I felt that day slowly faded, but never completely receded. I left this internship satisfied with the invaluable knowledge I obtained, but I still feel like I needed to do more. I live a relatively privileged life, and don’t have to spend each day worrying about a measly injury that could end my life. At the time, even though I thought I was worked too hard for a high school student, I now know I didn't do enough. I’m eager to return to the clinic soon, and have hopes of gaining more experience and knowledge.

• Emphasizes the Impact: After talking about what opportunity you had or what barrier you overcame, focusing on the impact of that experience is what matters. Describing your emotions and lessons learned makes the significance of those events more clear.
• Strong Hook: Focus on finding your best idea and using that as your first sentence. Often, starting off with a story or retelling what you did can come later and isn't as important.

UCLA Example Essay #10: Most Significant Challenge

UC PIQ #5: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? (350 words max)

Education has always been important in my household, but never paramount. We were always taught to put familial needs first—even before our own. My parents always emphasized the lesson that selfishness leads to bitterness and loneliness. That value is why six new members were added to my family when my father’s brother died two years ago. I did what was expected and shifted my focus from school to helping my kin.

I remember feeling a mosaic of emotions—apprehension, prudence, and displacement—as I greeted them at the airport. The five-hour-long ride back home was awkward and somber, and the complete silence said so much more than words could. We were all just afraid of what the future had in store for us. My step aunt, my two older cousins and the three younger ones were all compassionate, loving people. Yet, I couldn't seem to shed this foreboding feeling the first time we all entered our house. Every passing week made our financial situation more tenuous. So, my brother and I volunteered to help our dad at his small pharmaceutical wholesale business after he laid off two employees. We worked after school three days a week and would return home around 8:30.

That year of juggling school with my new obligations at home and my father’s business was emotionally and physically wrenching. However, I don't pity myself and I wouldn't go back to change anything because I learned so much about my character in that year. I realized that my parent’s belief in selflessness had shaped me into a more capable person because I was able to sacrifice time from socializing and classes to contribute, in some way, to my family. And even though I was concerned that I would hurt my academic performance, I stuck to my promises. That inexplicable sense of uneasiness I felt at the airport was caused by anxiety in anticipating the new demands that could potentially exhaust me. Thankfully, the challenges prepared me for the academic rigor for my junior year, my senior year, and hopefully, for university.

• Vulnerable and Authentic: Talking about personal stories can be difficult, but often your vulnerable experiences have a lot of meaning. Being vulnerable also makes you more personable and relatable.
• Explains Realizations: Rather than focusing on what happened, focus on the impact of it and why it's meaningful. How will these past experiences and academic challenges affect you going forward?
• Stronger Conclusion: Try to connect your ending back to the beginning while expanding on it or connecting it to a universal idea. Alternatively, leave your conclusion more open ended.

UCLA Example Essay #11: Educational Challenge

Growing up, I tackled the challenge of school without much guidance from anyone other than my older sister, who is one grade higher. When I was at the young age of just five, my parents divorced and my sister and I were left with our dad, who we did not see often. Because our time with him was limited to driving us to school and home and dinner, we could not ask him for much help with homework or projects. Most of the time, we did the work ourselves or asked our uncle and aunt for help when they came on Saturdays. By the time we reached middle school, I was in more advanced classes, and although my dad had received an Associate’s Degree, he did not take advanced classes like I did, so he was unable to provide much help. My dad only took math up to geometry, and his English was not as fluent as mine, preventing him from providing much help.

Once I enrolled in high school, I was able to get help from teachers, programs, and even my sister. With this newfound help, I overcame the struggle of not knowing what to do in school and life, and I learned that help is always there, but I just needed to ask. Throughout my time in high school, I became more motivated than I was before to do the best I can and overcome anything that comes my way. I was able to do this with help from others, and I will continue to strive for greatness, overcoming any obstacles. Without the help of others, I would not have had the success that I have had in school. My good grades are a testament to the help that I have received in order for me to be where I am now. Although I can say that I have overcome this challenge, there is still one last hurdle, which is to graduate from high school, attend college, and apply everything I have learned to the real world.

• Honesty: Authenticity is most important for your essays. By revealing personal details such as your family life and struggles, you can bring admissions officers into your world.
• Sense of Gratitude: Showing a sense of appreciation and self-awareness makes you immediately more likeable. Nobody succeeds alone, so how did others in your life help you overcome difficulties?
• Provide Clarification: Some parts could be given more context, such as "why is your dad not as fluent in English?". You could use this as an opportunity to talk about your cultural background and create a more clear picture of yourself for the reader.

UCLA Example Essay #12: Self-Improvement Challenge

The saying "you can be your own worst enemy" was the embodiment of the time I hit lowest point. Finishing my 22-hour days, I expected to lay down in bed close my eyes, and smile: thinking about all my accomplishments. Instead, I was sleep deprived, rapidly losing and gaining weight, and unhappy.

As a result, I stopped being able to focus and my grades began to fall. I lost motivation and the only reason I did anything was because of my obsession with completion. In this vulnerable state, I would tell myself I was useless and shy away from taking opportunities. I started to question if could get out of the hole I dug. Ironically, I have always been an optimist. I thought about the many things I wanted to do and I wouldn't be able to do any of them from a hospital bed.

Seeing the bright light ahead of me, I moved forward to a journey of self-improvement. First, I isolated myself from things that were affecting my happiness through finding a place where I could peacefully think about why I was enduring so much pain, regularly eat, and get some sleep. When I came back from my retreat, I continued my routine which improved my health and performance in school. The greatest outcome was my realization that I was compensating for my lack of self-esteem, I've been trying to get validation from my parents and peers by trying to be perfect, but when my friends left me and my parents didn't notice my efforts I overworked myself.

It was hard to stop searching for approval, yet the support of close friends and acknowledging that I'm doing everything I'm capable of, revealed to me what its like to love yourself. From then on, I determined my self worth, no one else. Now that I found my own drive and am confident, I don't have to beg for friends. struggle to maintain grades, skip meals, or lose sleep. Presently, I can say I am no longer my worst enemy: we're like friends that get closer every day.

• Vulnerability: Showing your shortcomings and difficulties is important to reveal how you've grown and changed. Revealing your perspective and emotions also shows that you have self-awareness.
• Provide More Explanation: Don't assume that the reader will remember everything about you. For essays like this, give more context. Answer questions that will come up in the reader's mind, like "Why did you have 22-hour days?".

UC PIQ #6: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 words max)

An academic subject that inspires me is Computer Science. Computers have fascinated me ever since a young age. I used my first computer when I was 4 years old- the Apple Macintosh Performa. I began learning about how computers worked in first grade, where I had my own Windows XP computer. I did not know what I was doing when I clicked through the thousands of files that made the computer run, but it was fascinating, and almost seemed like magic. I knew that a career with computers had to be in my future.

My fascination with computers took a new meaning in freshman year, when I decided to learn how to program. I did not know where to start, so I just typed in the search browser, "how to start programming". That day, I started with the Processing Language. It was a simple language to learn, but it built the foundation for my furthered interest in the computer programming aspect of Computer Science. After a couple months of using Processing, I learned HTML/CSS and JavaScript. These languages would allow me to program a wider range of applications. Soon enough, I became bilingual in the languages of computers. As time went on throughout my freshman and sophomore years I exposed myself to more languages like SQL, Batch Scripting, and in junior year, Java.

In my junior year I took AP Computer Science A, and finally after all the years of loving computers, I was able to take Computer Science as a class where I learned the Java language. I also furthered my interest in Computer Science by integrating it with the Engineering club on campus, using the Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

This year I am in Computer Integrated Manufacturing, where I can implement my knowledge of Computer Programming into Engineering, through the use of Corel Draw with the Laser Cutter Printer and AutoDesk Inventor and OpenGL C++ Code with the CAD 3-D Printing machine.

Computer Science has always been a part of my life inside and outside of the classroom, and I seek to continue pursuing it as my major.

• Connects Interests to Extracurriculars: Showing how your activities relate to your passions reveals your motivations and what drives you. By connecting to extracurriculars, it also creates a more complete picture of your application.
• Specific In Naming Things: Whenever you are able to, being specific is better than being vague. By naming programming languages and classes, the story becomes more compelling.
• Explain Why These Things Interest You: What is the root aspect of your interests that intrigue you? Try explaining how you feel when doing these activities and what motivates you. Admissions officers want to know how these interests developed, and more importantly, why they developed.

UC PIQ #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words max)

I am "Korean big toes", "a water panda in disguise", and "Mr. Sweatface" - these are the nicknames I happily accepted over the years. My life was a buoyant bubble, full of gratification, funny nicknames, and simple pleasures; but that changed when I was confronted with the inhumane conditions of the LGBT centers around my town.

Stepping into the stone-house building, a few things immediately caught my attention. The rooms were small, full of broken furniture, smelled of mold, and had poor lighting; moreover, there was no privacy and extremely limited resources. It was obvious that the facility didn't have the funds to sustain itself, let alone help anyone trying to assimilate back into society. My heart ached as I realized the advantages I had been taking for granted; the idealistic mirage of reality I previously held, was now replaced by an overwhelming truth: Life isn't fair. Everyone in that facility had been criminalized for their sexuality, and I was going to do something about it!

Over the next few weeks, I brainstormed ideas and eventually decided on creating a blog where I would share the stories of anyone who was willing to speak up for change. The clickety-clack of my keyboard filled the common rooms of LGBT centers around my city. I slowly-but-surely interviewed the residents of these homes, recording stories of inequality and discrimination. As I uploaded each story to my blog, I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that I was breaking down barriers and fulfilling my passions. Furthermore, reading the comments flooding my inbox, I realized that although the LGBT centers in my area still remain underfunded, I had made an impact on individuals through my blog and did something for a community I genuinely cared about. It was more than I could have ever hoped for.

In my quest to create change, I forged a new nickname for myself -- "advocate"; except, unlike the titles I was bestowed as a kid, this nickname represented my creativity, ingenuity, and passion, and for those reasons, it is more precious than anyone will ever know.

• Vivid Descriptions: Painting a picture can make your stories immediately more interesting. By using descriptive language and word choice, your stories have more life to them.
• Conclusion That Connects to Beginning: Try connecting your ending back to the beginning, but with a new perspective or take. By bringing your essay full circle, it creates a sense of cohesiveness.
• Name Things Specifically: Rather than being general and saying "LGBT centers", the author could name one specifically. Since not everyone may be faimilar with the concept of "LGBT centers", it helps make your essay more concrete and easier to interpret.

UCLA Example Essay #15: Empowering Others Through Peer Tutoring

I never thought that I would tutor other people after school, but that was what I did my junior year and now in my senior year. During my freshman and sophomore years, I was the one being tutored by upperclassmen who had taken my classes before. Receiving help from others inspired me to become a tutor my junior year so I could give back and share the opportunity that I had. At first, I was not sure if I would be up to the task, as I did not feel confident in my teaching abilities in various subjects. As time went on, however, I became at ease and comfortable tutoring anyone the more I tutored along with my peers.

Every day from Monday through Thursday, I went to library as much as I could to help tutor with others from 3 to 4 o’clock, and it slowly became a part of my daily schedule. To begin with, I was not the greatest teacher, but as I helped more and more, I gradually became better at it due to teaching the same concepts repeatedly. Not only was I helping the person I was tutoring understand the subject, but I also was becoming better at the subject by teaching it. Teaching a subject allowed me to relearn concepts and ideas that I had forgotten, as well as studying for a subject if I was tutoring a classmate.

Motivated by wanting to help other students, I was able to be at tutoring most days, and this led to me receiving a tutoring award at my school’s California Scholarship Federation banquet at the end of the year. It was a surprise to me as I was not expecting to be honored. To me, the best award was the satisfaction of helping others understand how to do homework questions and them being grateful for the help. Although this year tutoring is not being held in the library yet, I joined another club that tutors after school for the time being so I can continue helping others and spread my knowledge.

• Shows Their Realizations: Realizations and new understanding are how people change. That's why its important to look for what lessons you learned, and what you took away from your activities.
• Explain Why: Try to predict what questions will arise in the reader's mind, and answer those questions. For this essay, one question that is unanswered is "Why did you never think you would tutor other people?".

UC PIQ #8: Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (350 words max)

This was the night. Clenching my fists, I called my dad over. Maybe it was the adrenaline coursing through my veins or maybe just suspense, but time seemed to freeze as anxiety washed over my consciousness. A million doubts flooded my mind as I dreaded what would come next. The pitter-patter of his feet hitting the tile floor brought me back to reality. My dad had always loved and supported me, I just had to trust that things would be alright.

In a quivering voice, my hands shaking, I explained to my dad that I was gay. After a brief moment of silence, my dad said ten words that completely changed my life: "I raised you completely wrong, get out of my house". I was devastated, but I wasn't surprised. This was the same person physically forced pork down my throat when I told him I wanted to become a vegetarian; who would hit me and my mom if either of us voiced dissenting opinions; and the same person who would come home drunk and threaten to kill us. With tears running down my cheeks, I packed my belongings and drove my 98' Nissan Pathfinder away from my home. From that night on I learned to be brave, to follow my dreams, and to fight for what I believe in.

The next few years were tough. In my community, being gay was unacceptable and embracing my identity meant enduring the consequences. I will never forget being dragged into a storage room and choked or hiding the bruises I got from being pelted by textbooks. But looking back, I realize that the lessons I learned drove me towards success. They inspired me to be relentless and graduate early, to surpass expectations by doing college-credit classes, and remain strong in the face of oppression and adversity. Moving forward, as I look to broaden my education horizons, I know that I have the emotional vitality to success wherever I go. So I want to dedicate this essay to my dad and to everyone who made me strong, thank you.

• Honest and Vulnerable: Talking about personal stories can be impactful. Often the most difficult stories are the ones that need to be shared.
• Explains Your Perspective and Emotions: Sharing how you felt in a certain moment can allow the reader to "be in your shoes." By telling your perspective, you allow admissions officers to better understand your experience.
• Focus On Takeaways: Although stories are important, what matters more is the lessons and takeaways from those stories. The majority of your essay should be focused on those ideas, with a smaller portion where you talk about what actually happened.

UCLA Example Essay #17: Fostering Inclusive Leadership

All around us, the world is dominated by big voices, people who can present themselves positively and effectively elaborate on their opinions. Many of our most successful politicians carve their paths to the top through their charisma and articulate language. Unfortunately, while many of them possess a strong voice, many of them don’t possess that same strength in listening. While their job is to represent the people, there is a large disconnect between their perspective and the perspectives of their citizens. Even in Congress, civilized debate has transformed into a shouting battle, where both parties attempt to push their ideas, but neither side is willing to listen.

In contrast, a leader with an open ear, an open mind, and an open heart is exactly what I bring to the table. I believe that everyone has a unique story to share. From the most flamboyant billionaires to the people living on the streets, every single person possesses their own unique set of skills, perspective, and knowledge that can be useful to learn from. Because of this, I make it my priority to listen to and understand the human behind each team member I work with. In recognizing each person’s strengths and weaknesses, I’m able to build a positive environment in which every person is able to reach their maximum potential.

For example, when it comes to group projects, I always make sure to know the personalities of those I’m working with and create a transparent and inclusive environment that is conducive to productivity. Rather than dishing out assignments and deadlines, I make sure everyone is able to contribute in a way that matches their strengths and skills. Furthermore, by creating such a transparent atmosphere, group members are able to understand each other’s situations and help each other out like an actual team, allowing everyone to be both productive and pleased.

With all the divisiveness that is taking place in the country today, it is more necessary than ever to have open-minded leaders such as myself to help bring this campus and this nation together.

• Strong Hook Sentence: Using a thought-provoking idea to start your sentence immediately draws the reader in. By having a unique take on the world, people want to read more and are interested by your thoughts.
• Using Examples to Explain: For abstract ideas and concepts, try using a real life example to make things more clear. Capture the essence of your ideas and find what is at the core of them.

Stepping foot in public has been like opening a floodgate to questions and comments about the one thing that I've been looked down upon my entire life for - my height. Standing out because I was 4'9" wasn't something I was proud of; I was picked last for sports, not taken seriously, and often used as a human arm rest. My mom warned me life was going to be hard if I didn't drink my milk. However, people aren't aware that my appearance is a deception and what makes me extraordinary is that I've outgrown myself. People should be asking me how a person so "big" can fit into a girl so tiny. I have a huge personality, dreams, goals, and a plethora of talent. My achievements earned me such a high standing that I do know what the weather is like up there, yet, my head is never in the clouds because my distance from the ground makes me down to earth.

My only oddity is that my anatomy has grown out of proportion. It's hard to believe that with such short arms, I can extend them long enough to touch hearts with my art and performances. I have been devoted to helping people and educating myself ever since I was young, but who knew that my brain and heart would become so gigantic? Despite my how big my brain is, I keep my head as small as my body because I value letting others know that I'll never overlook them.

Although I haven't hit as many significant growth spurts as the average person. I grow with ambition every day, considering every moment a step closer to success. Being able to pursue my passions at a university will allow me to continue maturing into a person who will one day be looked up to by many. The reader of my response cannot see the facade that has been the subject of many peoples first impressions of me. instead, they will observe that even though I can't reach the top shelf, I can still reach my goals in life.

• Using Metaphors: Explaining something ordinary (like being short) in an unusual or not-so-common way can show your unique take on it. By using metaphors, you can connect seemingly unrelated ideas together.

What can you learn from these UCLA essays?

These UC essays are not perfect—nor should they be—but each has interesting ideas and a unique perspective.

Compared to some private university essays , UC essays are relatively straightforward.

So focus on making each UC essay express one interesting idea as your answer.

Here's my top 4 lessons for UCLA essays:

• Avoid too much storytelling and descriptions. You only have 350 words, so focus on ideas.
• Answer every part of the prompt, clearly. Avoid implying your answer. Make sure your idea is crystal clear and relevant.
• Showcase a different aspect of yourself with each essay. Avoid re-using topics, unless you're taking a very different angle.
• Show your thinking. As with all successful essays, your thinking is most important.

Also applying to UC Berkeley?

I've collected additional essays from admitted Cal students that are completely unique from these UCLA essays.

If you're interested, check out these our essays that worked for UC Berkeley .

Which UCLA essay that worked was your favorite? Let me know!

Ryan Chiang , Founder of EssaysThatWorked

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People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

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Her baking is not confined to an amalgamation of sugar, butter, and flour. It's an outstretched hand, an open invitation, a makeshift bridge thrown across the divides of age and culture. Thanks to Buni, the reason I bake has evolved. What started as stress relief is now a lifeline to my heritage, a language that allows me to communicate with my family in ways my tongue cannot. By rolling dough for saratele and crushing walnuts for cornulete, my baking speaks more fluently to my Romanian heritage than my broken Romanian ever could....

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A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural Maryland...

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UCLA Successful Essay Examples

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UCLA is one of the most popular universities in California. In recent years, it has received a record number of applications. If the West Coast  calls to you and you like the idea of finding your niche in a large top tier university, UCLA may be the school for you. If you’re still working on your responses to the UC essay prompts, these examples may help. 

One of the most sought-after UC schools, UCLA is a dream school for many Californians. More than 100,000 students applied to UCLA last fall, and the numbers are expected to remain the same for this upcoming application season. For those of you applying this Fall, the regular application filing period is November 1-30. If you’re still working on your UC essays, here are 5 successful examples that might inspire you to write yours: 

UC Los Angeles ‘20

Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community, or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

It was my fault. I had chosen this topic for my math exploration, armed with only the feeblest grasp of actual concept. Music, math, and the harmonic series…I sighed. In the time-honored tradition of all students, I had turned to Google for succor. The words on the screen blurred together hazily. “Pythagoras discovered that a string exactly 1/nth its length produces a frequency n times the original frequency…” It just didn’t make sense: what did a bunch of numbers have to do with musical consonance? Read her full UCLA application essay.

A bright orange glow reflecting on the water, I love watching the sunrise at the beach. I grew up less than ten minutes away from the Atlantic and my early childhood memories include frequent trips to the beach. Although the beach is a stunning sight, the beach is not always pristine. My family and I regularly remove trash from the beach, including commercial fishing and industrial debris, particularly after storms, sometimes in quantities almost too heavy to carry. Unlock his full UCLA profile read his application!

Prompt: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

Starting in 6th grade, I spent every summer at Jon Lee’s East Beach volleyball camp. Most kids came and went on a weekly basis, but I just stayed. There was nowhere else I would rather have been, than at East Beach playing volleyball with my friends. I loved it so much that I sought out faster improvement, committing to more formal training with an AVP professional player. View his full successful UCLA profile.

T-shirt. I had never heard of DECA before. Curious, I asked him more about it, and learned that it was “a club for, like marketing and business”, as he called it. Her persuaded me to join and we planned to compete together in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team even. Unlock his full UCLA profile read his application!

Prompt: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?  

I can read koalas with turtles and I can eat ice cream with friends in North Korea. This is all possible due to the power of Photoshop. Photoshop is like a straw that allows people’s eyes to drink from my imagination. I can make anything and put it anywhere; from sea monsters in the ocean to winged toasters at my birth. For nearly four years, I have used Photoshop to express myself in an adventurous way, one that offers me wider avenues than music or writing do. I am constantly improving my photoshopping abilities and therefore expanding the limits of my expression. Unlock his full UCLA profile read his application!

Are you looking to apply to UC Schools? or just starting to build out  your college list ? Make sure to search through profiles of students accepted to see essays, stats, and advice. See how they got in, and how you can too!

About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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• 1. Webinar Series: College Application Prep for High School Juniors
• 2. College Application Lessons from 2020-2021: Strategizing through Covid Changes (Part 2)
• 3. College Admissions Lessons from 2020-2021: Strategizing through Covid Changes (Part 1)

• 5. COVID-19 and Your College Essay: Should You Write About It?
• 6. College Search: How to Find Your Best College Fit
• 7. College Tours 101: Everything You Need to Know
• 8. Waitlisted? 5 Ways to Move from the College Waitlist to Acceptance
• 9. When (and why) should you send additional materials to colleges you’re interested in?
• 10. How to Make Your College Essay Stand Out
• 1. How to Write College Essays to Boost your Chances Part 2: Focusing the Priority
• 2. How to Write College Essays to Boost your Chances Part 1: Biggest Essay Mistakes
• 3. College Application Lessons from 2020-2021: Strategizing through Covid Changes (Part 2)
• 5. Winners of the AdmitSee 2020 College Scholarship
• 6. COVID-19 and Your College Essay: Should You Write About It?
• 7. Education, Access and Systemic Racism
• 8. Applying to BS/MD Direct Medical Programs: Why Early Med School Admission Might be Right for You
• 9. How to Get Off the College Waitlist (5 Go-To Strategies)
• 10. College admissions prep during the Coronavirus

Freshman requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a freshman

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines

Personal insight questions

• How applications are reviewed
• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
• Jobs & work-study
• California DREAM Loan Program
• Middle Class Scholarship Program
• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
• Native American Opportunity Plan  
• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Cal Dream Act application tips
• Tuition & cost of attendance
• Glossary & resources
• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
• Freshman admit data
• Transfer admit data
• Native American Opportunity Plan
• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

Need more help?

Download our worksheets:

• English [PDF]
• Spanish [PDF]

UCLA’s Supplemental Essay Prompts

• Post author By Siena Swift
• Post date October 12, 2023
• No Comments on UCLA’s Supplemental Essay Prompts

The University of California — Los Angeles receives the most applications of any college in the nation. As one of the most prestigious universities in California, with an acceptance rate of 8.8% in 2023, it is frequently referred to as a “public Ivy.” As part of the sprawling UC system , students interested in UCLA must fill out the standardized UC application . Included in this application are eight short “personal insight questions” in lieu of one longer personal statement. Out of these eight questions, students must answer four.

Common App 911/UC App 911

Step-by-step strategic support.

While these eight questions are the same for every UC school, understanding the unique characteristics of UCLA will help you effectively answer these prompts. UCLA is looking specifically for “intellectual curiosity” and “personal development” in your responses to these essay prompts. Remember, the school aims to foster the shared values of “a creative, ambitious and diverse student body.”

When responding to these prompts, consider how to frame your growth and your commitment to creativity, ambition, and diversity through specific examples. Personal development is a continuous process—make it clear that you intend to contribute to the UCLA community and take advantage of its opportunities while you pursue your own unique path.

Essay Guidance

Get our expert guidance on your college essays.

UCLA’S SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPTS

Choose four of the eight “personal insight questions” to answer (350 words each):

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

EXPERT GUIDANCE FOR AN ACADEMIC EDGE

Like the Common Application, the UC application gives you space to showcase your talents, passions and potential. If you’re aiming for UCLA and want more support filling out the UC application, we’ve got you covered in our Common App/UC App 911 Program .

Seeking expert essay guidance as well? Consider our Essay Guidance Program or bundle them for a complete, maximized UC application!

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How to Get into UCLA + Admissions Requirements

Want to be a Bruin? You’re in good company if you want to know how to get into UCLA. This 100-plus-year-old research university is known for breaking the world record for the highest number of applications every year, for good reason: It’s the site of the Powell Library, where Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 in 1951, it’s where James Dean and Jim Morrison matriculated, and it finds itself in the center of a bustling worldwide hub of media, industrial, and trade industries.

The University of California, Los Angeles (best known as UCLA) may be just a half-hour from the Hollywood entertainment mecca, but its students’ favorite majors include technical degrees like biology, business economics, political science, psychology, psychobiology and economics, making it a highly sought-after location for research and technology.

The application process for UCLA is managed solely by the UC Application Portal. Fortunately, you can use one application for nine campuses. This article will step you through the most important things to keep in mind when applying to UCLA.

HOW HARD IS IT TO GET INTO UCLA?

It is extremely difficult to get accepted to UCLA. The grade point average of people who get accepted to UCLA are in the highest of their class. People who successfully get into UCLA also tend to have impressive extracurricular activities and college applications essays.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How to Get into UCLA

UCLA Regular, Early Action, and Early Decision Acceptance Rates

• UCLA Supplemental Essays

UCLA Acceptance Rate

The UCLA acceptance rate is 9%, putting it in the top ten most competitive universities in California to get into. Acceptance rate is an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is (particularly with Californian applicants). In order to get into a school like UCLA, you will need to excel in almost every major college application factor.

UCLA does not have any Early Action or Early Decision options. During UCLA’s regular decision cycle, it received 149,815 applications and accepted 12,844 students (9%). UCLA is the most applied to school in the country.

UCLA GPA Requirements

In order to get into UCLA, you will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of your class in order to get into UCLA. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If you’re wondering how to get into UCLA with bad grades or if your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section .

The unweighted GPA requirements for UCLA are between 3.9 to 4.0 and the median GPA score is 4.0. UCLA considers unweighted GPA as a factor of admissions. Unweighted GPA is the average of the grades you got in high school (typically from at least grades 10th and 11th) based on a 4.0 scale. For an unweighted GPA, 4.0 is the highest possible grade and neither honors, AP, or IB courses are given extra weight. 

Unweighted Average GPA: 3.93

GPA Distribution: Unweighted

4.0 = 59.1% 3.75 - 3.99 = 34.0% 3.5 - 3.74 = 4.9% 3.25 - 3.49 = 1.6% 3.00 - 3.24 = .3% 2.50 - 2.99 = 0.4% 2.00 - 2.49 = 0.1% 1.00 - 1.99 = 0.0% <1.00 = 0.0%

What GPA should I have? Applicants should be between 3.80 and 4.0 to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by having outstanding extracurricular activities or personal statement.

UCLA considers weighted GPA as one of its admissions factors. The median weighted GPA for UCLA is 4.58, and its middle 50 percentile ranges from 4.40 to 4.73, indicating that you will likely have to take higher level classes like AP and IB classes in order to be a competitive candidate for UCLA. UCLA describes how it calculates weighted GPA. UCLA’s website states that “[t]he fully weighted GPA includes an extra grade point for all UC-approved honors courses (which include AP, IB, school-based honors and transferable college courses) in which a grade of C or higher is earned. The maximum value possible is 5.00.” This includes a maximum of 8 points between 10th and 11th grades.

How to Calculate UCLA's Weighted GPA for California Resident Applicants

Honors courses are Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL) and designated Standard Level (IB SL) courses, UC-transferable college courses and UC-certified honors courses that appear on your school's course list.

For 10th grade, you cannot use more than 4 honors points.

Grades of D or F in an honors course do not earn an extra point.

Grades of CR (credit) or P (pass) in an honors course do not earn an extra point.

Classes taken during the summer after 9th grade count as 10th grade; classes in summer after 10th grade count as 10th grade; classes in summer after 11th grade count as 11th grade.

One college course = one grade = one honors point.

These came from UCLA website on its requirements for calculating weighted GPA .

How to Calculate UCLA's Weighted GPA for Non-California Resident Applicants

UCLA will grant honors weight for AP or IB courses and transferable college courses only.

UCLA will not grant weight for school-designated honors courses. 

The weight is given to letter grades of A, B, or C.

This excerpt came from UCLA website on its requirements for calculating unweighted GPA .

UCLA SAT Requirements

UCLA admissions does not consider SAT scores as a part of your application for scholarship consideration. However, there are still a few things you should know about UCLA’s requirements around the SAT.

UCLA does not “consider ACT or SAT test scores for admissions decisions or the awarding of scholarships for any applicants.” However, “if you choose to submit [SAT] test scores as part of your application, they may be used for course placement after you enroll.” Source: UCLA website . Not submitting SAT scores will not negatively affect your application.

On the University of California Los Angeles website, you can find UCLA’s writing score policy : “ UC no longer collects the essay/writing scores for the SAT/ACT tests. If you choose to report your [SAT] test scores, you should report your highest total/composite score from a single sitting, but do not include the essay/writing score. If you are offered admission, you can submit your official essay/writing scores to your campus of choice. Certain scores may be high enough to meet UC’s Entry-Level Writing Requirement.”

UCLA ACT Requirements

UCLA admissions does not consider ACT scores as a part of your application for scholarship consideration. However, there are still a few things you should know about UCLA’s requirements around the ACT.

Just like with SAT scores, UCLA does not “consider ACT or SAT test scores for admissions decisions or the awarding of scholarships for any applicants.” However, “if you choose to submit [ACT] test scores as part of your application, they may be used for course placement after you enroll.” Source: UCLA website . Not submitting ACT scores will not negatively affect your application.

UCLA ACT Writing Score Policy

Similarly to SAT score, UCLA’s ACT writing score policy is that “ UC no longer collects the essay/writing scores for the SAT/ACT tests. If you choose to report your [ACT] test scores, you should report your highest total/composite score from a single sitting, but do not include the essay/writing score. If you are offered admission, you can submit your official [ACT] essay/writing scores to your campus of choice. Certain scores may be high enough to meet UC’s Entry-Level Writing Requirement.”

UCLA Application Requirements

Ucla application deadlines.

August 1: UC Application Opens

October 1: Filing period opens for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Dream Act Application for all applicants; filing period opens for GPA Verification Form (required for California residents only for Cal Grant consideration)

October 1-30: Application filing period

March 2: Deadline for applicants to submit their financial aid application (FAFSA), Dream Act, and Cal Grant GPA verification forms

Late March: Admission notification

May 1: Deadline to submit your enrollment deposit and applications for on-campus housing and the UCLA College Honors Program

July 1: Send your final, official transcripts to admissions. They must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 1.

July 15: Official AP, IB examination results must be sent to admissions. Test scores must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 15.

Source here.

The 13 Elements of Comprehensive Review: What You Need to Know

The first thing you need to know about the UC personal insight questions is that they are tied to the 13 elements of comprehensive review. You can find these here , or here:

The 13 Factors of Comprehensive Review for the UC system are...

Grade-point average

Performance in and number of courses beyond minimum a-g requirements

UC-approved honors courses and advanced courses

Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) – CA residents only

Quality of senior-year program of study

Academic opportunities in California high schools

Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas

Achievements in special projects

Improvement in academic performance

Special talents, achievements and awards

Participation in educational preparation programs

Academic accomplishment in light of life experiences

Geographic location

Note: No single factor determines admission, as your application is evaluated holistically.

These are the 13 criteria that UC readers use to determine whether you’re in or out.

In the guide (link to button below), I’ll walk you through (1) each of the 13 elements while offering tips to capture any interesting, important contextual information about you that could set you apart from other UC applicants, (2) help you find your topics, and (3) give you two ideas for how to structure your essays.

Click here to check out the free guide to writing fabulous essays that answer the 13 elements of comprehensive review .

The UCLA Essay Prompts

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admission to the University of California?

UCLA Essay Tips

Don’t forget to connect your personal insight questions to one or more of the 13 points of comprehensive review.

How do I know you should do this? The UC directors have publicly said that the questions correlate directly to the review points. So as you’re brainstorming your four topics, ask yourself: How will this help me on the 13 points of comprehensive review ? (Tip: Your essay/personal insight question responses could connect to several of the 13 points.)

Make use of the many resources the UCs have provided For some good contextual advice, click here , and for some basic writing advice, click here .

Remember that it’s okay to answer your personal insight questions in a direct, straightforward way.

How do I know? Because at a recent conference, one of the UC directors said publicly, “It’s okay to answer the questions in a direct, straightforward way.” And the other UC directors nodded. 

In fact, another director said it’s okay to just write bullet points in your response. (A high school counselor raised her hand and asked, “Really? Bullet points? Like, really really?” and the UC Director was like, “Yup.”) 

Will you personally choose to provide bullet points? That’s up to you. It may feel a little weird. But just know that at least a few of the UC directors have said it’s cool.

Write in such a way that a UC reader could skim your responses to the personal insight questions and get your main points.

Why? Because the reader will probably be spending about 6-8 minutes on your application. Not on each essay. ON YOUR WHOLE APPLICATION.

I just want to emphasize it’s cool—and smart—to get straight to the point. That being said …

If you’re applying to private schools via the Common App, it can be useful to write an essay that’s insightful, well-crafted and reveals your core values. 

Why take the time to write a stand-out essay?

Answer: You may be able to use your UC personal insight question essay for other schools. Since many selective schools require supplemental essays (that is: essays you write in addition to your main, 650-word Common App personal statement), it can be useful to write an essay that works for BOTH the UCs AND one or more private schools. 

Quick example:

Michigan Supplement: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (250 word limit). — — — UC Personal Insight Question #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words).

I call this writing a “super” essay. By answering both prompts at once, you get deeper with the answer for both. Plus it saves you. So. Much. Time.

And guess what: You can do this for multiple prompts (3, 4, or 17). 

For more on how to write a “super” essay, click here.

Click here to read the full Step-by-Step Guide for How to Write the UC Application Essays

UCLA Major-Specific Supplemental Essays

Major application deadlines for fall quarter 2022.

Deadline for submission

January 20, 2023 January 20, 2023 December 15, 2022 December 15, 2022 December 6, 2022 Freshman - December 7, 2022 Transfer - January 11, 2023 December 6, 2022 December 6, 2022 December 6, 2022 December 6, 2022 December 6, 2022 December 6, 2022 January 15, 2023 December 7, 2022 December 15, 2022 Source

Architectural Studies Art Dance Design | Media Arts Ethnomusicology Film and Television Global Jazz Studies Music Composition Music Education Music History and Industry Music Performance Musicology Nursing Theater World Arts and Cultures

The following prompts were gathered from the UCLA admissions site.

Architecture

Please provide a concise statement that describes why you wish to study architecture at UCLA. What interests you in architecture now, and why at UCLA? You will have 3500 characters (including spaces) / approximately 500 words. 

Please provide a concise statement describing your interest, experiences, and influences in art, and your goals for studying art at UCLA. You will have 2200 characters (including spaces) / approximately 300 words. We recommend that you write your statement in a separate word processing program, then copy/paste it into the web application.

Please respond to the following prompt: How might dance address some of the pressing social issues of our times? How do you see yourself or other choreographers as social change agents? You will have 3500 characters (including spaces) / approximately 500 words. We recommend that you write your statement in a separate word processing program, and then cut/paste it into the web application. We recommend that you refer to our FAQ ( https://supplemental.arts.ucla.edu/help.php#DANCE ) for best approaches to this section of the application.

Design | Media Arts

In 500 characters or less, list your TOP 5 CREATIVE INFLUENCES. What art or artists inspire you? These could be designers, painters, directors, photographers, video game makers, or any other type of cultural producer.

Ethnomusicology

You will be asked to write responses to the below prompts. Please keep in mind that your responses to these questions are a significant part of supplemental application review.

What are your reasons for wishing to major in Ethnomusicology? What do you expect from the program? What are your professional or career goals? (200 words maximum)

Briefly describe your musical background and performance skills. Mention any special interests in particular music traditions, and whether these are through family connections or your own instigation. Music courses you have taken may be included. (200 words maximum)

Indicate any special training (e.g. knowledge of foreign languages) or experiences (e.g. foreign travel, community development projects involving different cultures, family experience, etc.) that might be relevant to the study of music in a global perspective. (400 words maximum)

Film & Television

Personal Essay (2 page max).  The personal essay should include a summary of your background, creative interests, academic and professional goals. The personal essay may include unusual life experiences, important influences in your life, your motivation to study film and television, and the kind of creative work you hope to pursue. Do not use the personal essay to flatter us; use these few pages to create a very personal and vivid picture of yourself, what is most important to you, and your creative and professional goals.

Life Challenge Essay (2 page max).   Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone? If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends, or with my family?” Please Note: This question is identical to optional Question #5 on the UC Application.  

Writing Sample

Critical Essay (3 page max).  The critical essay is your analysis of a film or television program. This essay is NOT a review. You should assume the reader has seen the work you are discussing; do not include a plot summary. This essay is similar to what you would write in an English literature or film history course. It is your analysis of any aspect(s) of the work you have selected: the use of design, composition, color, lighting, sound, etc. as it relates to social observation or commentary, moral or philosophical elements, psychological aspects or relationships of the characters, dramatic structure, etc. 

OR  

Creative Writing (5 page max).   You may submit any one kind or combination of creative writing: a short story, a film treatment, a storyboard, a script or play excerpt (including a short synopsis of the complete script), etc. Those interested in submitting poetry, photographs, and/or drawings must submit one other type of creative work. The total of all submitted creative writing combined cannot exceed the 5 page maximum. No preference is given to one type of creative work over another. DO NOT SUBMIT FILMS, DVDS, or CDS.

Global Jazz Studies

Please answer all three of the following prompts. You will have 750 words total to respond to all prompts. It is recommended that you write your statement in a separate word processing program, then copy and paste it into the online application.

What are your reasons for wishing to enroll in the B.A. in Global Jazz Studies? What do you expect from the program? What are your professional or career goals? (250 words maximum)

Briefly describe your musical background and performance skills. Music courses you have taken may be included. (250 words maximum)

Indicate any special training or experiences that might be relevant to the study of jazz from a global perspective. (250 words maximum)

  Music History & Industry

You are required to complete a total of two personal statement responses. The first is required by everyone; the second is a choice between two options, option A (written response) or option B (creative portfolio submission with explanation). As Music History & Industry is not a performance-based major, this choice will allow you to play to your strengths, whether that means calling upon your business savvy or creative prowess.

Below please find a list of the required lower division (first year and sophomore) major courses for the Music History & Industry BA. Please discuss the ways in which a practical and theoretical training in music (music theory, musicianship, and performance ensemble participation) will serve your goals of working within the music industry. (400 words max) Required Lower Division Courses: Musicology M6A, M6B, M6C (Introduction to Musicianship); Music 20A, 20B, 20C (Music Theory I, II, III); Musicology 12W (Writing about Music); 2 Performance Organizations; 1 lower division Musicology or Music Industry elective. (For a full list of Music Industry courses, please reference the course catalog here .)

Prompt #2: Please choose between option A or option B:

Option A. Written response option: In 1999, the best year the music industry has ever had, revenue from recorded music exceeded that from live musical performance by a factor of 10 to 1. By 2009, thanks to the collapse of the recording market, the ratio had fallen to 3 to 2. Current sales of individual sound recordings and albums remain at historic lows, and the live music sector has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this complex history, what do you think the music industry will look like in the year 2025? How will music be consumed? What models for generating revenue will be dominant, and why? (400 words max) OR

Option B. Creative portfolio option: Please upload 1-3 recorded (audio, visual, or both) examples of recent work in the highest quality audio possible. In the space for a written response below, please provide a detailed explanation of your specific role in the work (as lyricist, performer, producer, or a combination). If written scores or other documentation are available, please feel free to submit these as well.

Music Composition

Please provide a concise statement that describes why you wish to study music at UCLA. In your statement, and in no particular order, please discuss the following elements:

Your goals for studying music at UCLA

Your musical interests, experiences, and influences

Your professional/career objectives

You will have a maximum of 500 words. It is recommended that you write your statement in a separate word processing program, then cut and paste it into the web application.

Music Education

 Your musical interests, experiences, and influences

Why you want to study music education at UCLA

You will have a maximum of 500 words. It is recommended that you write your statement in a separate word processing program, then cut and paste it into the web application. 

Music Performance

Please provide a concise statement that describes why you wish to study Music Performance at UCLA. In your statement, and in no particular order, please discuss the following elements:

Your vision for community engagement and sustained relevance as a musician

The Musicology major is not primarily a performance major, so there is no audition. Instead, your answers to the following two prompts will serve as your “audition” in words. A strong relationship to writing and verbal expression is fundamental to success in our program. The faculty will be reading these for thoughtfulness, originality, clarity, concision, and correct English.

Tell the admissions committee why you are attracted to the program (Tip: study the course offerings and the profiles of our professors to help craft your answer). (400 words maximum)

Tell the admissions committee what you think the study of musicology will teach you, and how you envision using those skills after college (Tip: stay focused on the program. You'll have other opportunities in the admission process to talk about your relationship to music, its importance to humanity, etc). For a basic overview of what “musicology” is, go here. (400 words maximum)

Theater - Acting

Acting Essay (300 word max).

An Essay on the following: In addition to generating empathy, how can acting be used to further social justice projects? Please provide a specific example in your answer.

Theater - Design/Production

Design Approach (6 page max).  An Essay (2 page max) of your ORIGINAL design approach to any specific Early Modern production (i.e. Shakespeare, Spanish Golden Age, Ming or Qing Dynasties, etc.)  Optional Supporting Images (2-4 page max) of your interpretation of your potential design approach. 

Theater - Musical Theater

Musical Theater  Acting Essay (300 word max).  An Essay on the following: In addition to generating empathy, how can acting be used to further social justice projects? Please provide a specific example in your answer. 

World Arts and Cultures

After reading the department’s mission statement ( https://www.wacd.ucla.edu/about/mission ), please explain what makes you an especially well-suited candidate for the BA in World Arts and Cultures. Your response must reflect whether and how you see cultures and arts as tools for expression and social transformation. You will have 3500 characters (including spaces) / approximately 500 words. We recommend that you write your statement in a separate word processing program, and then cut/paste it into the web application.

Want advice on dozens of other supplemental essays? Click here

Special thanks to Nicolas Sawyer for contributing to this post.

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Essay Scoop: How to Answer UCLA Essays

Gelyna Price

Head of programs and lead admissions expert, table of contents.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

The University of California Los Angeles is a competitive school, and for good reason. Still, the admissions office looks for more than just straight-A students. Rather, UCLA wants college students with rich experiences and diverse perspectives to compose the incoming classes. Below is some helpful advice on responding to the UCLA essays!

UCLA is the second oldest University of California campus. This renowned university offers 337 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines, of which 125 are undergraduates.

Since UCLA is incorporated into the broader UC system, we’ll review just 2 prompts here today. For further reading, this write-up for UC Berkeley provides helpful content and further reading on how to approach these essays with a strategy in mind. You can find more insight into the UC system in this exclusive admissions officer interview, too. If you still have specific questions about your essay drafts, reach out! Empowerly would love to meet you.

UCLA Essays

Describe the world you come from —” for example, your family, community or school —” and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations..

Every applicant has lived through unique experiences in their life and sometimes these moments leave a lasting imprint. Focus on a moment or two or a trend between experiences that have contributed to your goals for the future. Keep in mind that the message can complement the next prompt by explaining the motivations behind your passions. This question requires reflection on the past that serves as the rationale for your aspirations.

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?

This is a great place to connect your goals for the future to a specific moment or an approach you have. Either way, the reader will need to see an explanation that connects your career/life goals to your observations. What moments directly contributed to your vision and what problems do you hope to address?   

There you have it. Now that you have an introduction to the UC school essays and where to find more information, you’re on a strong start. Don’t lose that momentum!

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September 12, 2023

2023-2024 University of California Essay Prompts: Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD

The University of California schools have released their 2023-2024 essay prompts for applicants to the Class of 2024. Unlike most highly selective universities, the UC schools are not members of The Common Application — the school has its own application .

Just like in previous years, applicants to the University of California, Berkeley , the University of California, Los Angeles , the University of California, San Diego , and the seven other UC institutions must answer four essay prompts out of a batch of eight options. So, what are this year’s essay prompts? Let’s dive in!

2023-2024 UC Essay Topics and Questions: Personal Insights

Below are the UC essay prompts for applicants to the Class of 2028, along with the guidance issued by the UC admissions committee. These essays apply to all UC schools — including the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, San Diego, the University of California, Santa Barbara , the University of California, Davis , the University of California, Santa Cruz , the University of California, Irvine , the University of California, Merced , and the the University of California, Riverside .

Applicants have up to 350 words to respond to  four  of the  eight  prompts. And, yes, applicants should go to the maximum word count to make their case!

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Things to consider:  A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

Applicants should share one small story here to demonstrate their leadership. Rather than tell the UC admissions committee about what great leaders they are, they can show it through one specific example. And it doesn’t even need to be a successful example of leadership. Instead, students can highlight what they learned from the scenario to be even better leaders.

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Things to consider:  What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

Even in an essay that could lend itself to silliness, applicants must showcase intellectual curiosity. So, suppose a student expresses their creative side by tie-dying t-shirts and their singular hook in their activities section that they’ll be contributing to schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD is math. In that case, they can write about the mathematics behind the patterns they love to create on clothing.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Things to consider:  If there is a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

Too many students choose to write about awards and honors they’ve received in this prompt. Some sneak it into the essay, thinking it’s a subtle way of reinforcing their success. What a mistake! Doing so will only render them unlikable, which should be the precise opposite of their objective.

Ideally, an applicant will share a skill related to their singular hook. If their hook is poetry, let’s hear all about how they became passionate about performing spoken word at open mic nights at a local establishment.

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Things to consider:  An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today?

If students have yet to face a genuine academic barrier, such as the ones many students in low-income communities face, it would behoove them to focus on the significant educational  opportunity  they’ve encountered. Was it the chance to perform research on Russian literature with a local professor? Was it a chance to do an archaeological dig in a student’s hometown? The opportunity will ideally fit with the student’s singular hook.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Things to consider:  A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family?

Unless a student comes from an underprivileged background, we at Ivy Coach would encourage them to avoid choosing this essay prompt since there  are  going to be students who have faced significant obstacles and writing about how a school ran out of math courses while another student writes about the evictions their family has endured isn’t going to sit well with UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, and other UC admissions officers.

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

Ideally, a student will choose an academic subject that aligns perfectly with their hook. If their activities reflect a passion for physics, they should share the origin story of their interest in the discipline — as a high schooler rather than a child. What made them fall in love with matter and energy? What made them want to better understand our universe?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Things to consider:  Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?

An applicant’s answer should align with their hook as articulated in their activities section. Suppose a student’s hook is political science. In that case, they should write an essay that shares one small story about how their political activism created the change they wished to see — or failed to create the change they hoped to see, only further motivating them to agitate for further change.

Maybe they wanted to stop developers from razing affordable housing communities. Perhaps they tried to fix un-level sidewalks. Whatever it is, applicants should share an anecdote here about their activism — whether successful or not.

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Things to consider:  If there’s anything you want us to know about you but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afraid to brag a little.

Since the University of California has a unique application and is not a member of The Common Application, this essay prompt presents a perfect opportunity for applicants to include an abbreviated version of their 650-word Personal Statements from their Common Applications.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with the University of California Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your chances of admission to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, and other UC institutions by submitting the most compelling essays possible, fill out Ivy Coach ‘s free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to delineate our college counseling services for applicants to the Class of 2028.

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College Essays: UCLA Admissions

Are you considering applying to UCLA? The college essay is an essential component of the application process, and it’s crucial to understand what admissions officers are looking for. In this essay, we’ll explore the UCLA essay prompts and provide tips for crafting an essay that showcases your strengths.

Understanding the UCLA Essay Prompts

UCLA requires one essay as part of the application. The essay prompt changes every year, but there are always a few options to choose from. For the 2021-2022 application cycle, here are the UCLA essay prompts:

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original, and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Tips for Responding to the UCLA Essay Prompts

The UCLA essay prompts are intentionally broad, which means you have a lot of flexibility in how you choose to respond. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Read the prompt carefully and make sure you understand what it’s asking for. Take note of any specific instructions or word limits.
• Brainstorm ideas and make a list of potential topics. Think about what sets you apart from other applicants and what experiences or achievements you’re most proud of.
• Choose a topic that allows you to showcase your personality and strengths. Admissions officers want to get a sense of who you are beyond your academic record.
• Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. Don’t just tell the reader that you’re a good leader or a creative person; show them!
• Edit and revise your essay multiple times. Ask someone else to read it and provide feedback.

Understanding the UCLA Application

In addition to the essay, the UCLA application requires a few other components. Here’s an overview:

• Personal Information: This includes your name, address, phone number, email address, and demographic information.
• Academic History: You’ll need to provide information about where you’ve gone to school and what classes you’ve taken.
• Test Scores: UCLA requires either the SAT or ACT, as well as SAT Subject Test scores (if applicable).
• Extracurricular Activities: This is your chance to showcase your involvement in clubs, sports, volunteer work, or other activities outside of the classroom.
• Additional Information: You can use this section to explain any extenuating circumstances or provide more context about your academic or personal background.
• Application Fee: The fee to apply to UCLA is $70 for US residents and $80 for international students.

Tips for Completing the UCLA Application

• Start early and give yourself plenty of time to complete each section of the application.
• Double-check all of your information for accuracy and completeness.
• Take advantage of the Additional Information section if you feel like there’s something important that isn’t covered elsewhere in the application.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. Give yourself a buffer in case there are any technical difficulties.

Understanding the UCLA Admissions Process

Once you’ve submitted your application, what happens next? Here’s an overview of the UCLA admissions process:

• Application Review: Admissions officers will review your application, including your transcript, test scores, essay, and extracurricular activities.
• Holistic Review: UCLA uses a holistic review process, which means they consider each applicant as a whole person rather than just a collection of numbers and achievements.
• Interview (Optional): Some applicants may be invited to participate in an interview with a UCLA alumni interviewer. This is an opportunity to expand on your application and demonstrate your interest in the school.
• Admission Decision: In mid-March, UCLA will release admission decisions. You may be admitted, denied, or placed on the waitlist.

Tips for Navigating the UCLA Admissions Process

• Be patient! The admissions process can be long and stressful, but it’s important to stay calm and focused.
• Follow up with any requests for additional information or documentation promptly.
• If you’re waitlisted, don’t give up hope. Send a letter of continued interest to demonstrate your commitment to the school.
• Remember that the admissions process is subjective, and there are many factors that go into the decision-making process.

Writing a strong college essay is a crucial component of the application process, especially for highly selective schools like UCLA. By understanding the essay prompts and following the tips outlined above, you can create an essay that showcases your strengths and demonstrates your fit for the school. Additionally, by understanding the application and admissions process, you can navigate the journey with confidence and set yourself up for success. Good luck!

UCLA Admission Guide

The Ivy Scholars guide to UCLA’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location: Los Angeles, California

Mascot: Joe Bruin the Bear

Type: Public Research Institution

Population: 46,000 (31,000 undergrads)

Jump to Section:

Statistics  

Natl. Rankings  

Admissions Info

Academics  

Special Programs

Student Life  

Financial Info  

Fun Facts     

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, UCLA’s 419 acre campus is sun drenched. With strong athletics, academics, and more than 1,000 extracurriculars, UCLA offers opportunities to all students. Considered one of the “public ivies,” UCLA is consistently ranked as one of the best public colleges in the nation. With all of Los Angeles to explore, UCLA offers opportunities to investigate anything students are passionate about.

UCLA Statistics

Year Founded: 1919

4 Year Graduation Rate: 74%

Gender Distribution: 57% female, 43% male

Acceptance Rate: 12%

Residency: 85% in state, 5% out of state, 10% international

Location Type: Urban

Schedule System: Quarters

Student/Faculty Ratio: 18:1

Average Class Size: 26

Demographics: 29% Asian, 27% Caucasian, 22% Hispanic, 19% Other or Unknown, 3% Black

Need assistance with the college admissions process?

National rankings.

US News Rankings:

• #1 Best Public Universities
• #15 Best Undergraduate Engineering Program
• #20 National Universities
• #27 Most Innovative Schools
• #76 Best Undergraduate Teaching

Independent Rankings:

• #2 Top Public Colleges per Niche
• #6 Best Value Colleges per Kiplinger
• #17 World Universities per The Times of Higher Education
• #20 Best Colleges for Business per Niche
• #26 Best National Colleges per Money Magazine
• #26 Best National Universities per The Wall Street Journal 
• #36 Best Value Colleges per The Princeton Review

UCLA Admissions Information

Application Deadlines:

• Regular Decision: November 30th
• Transfer Deadline: November 30th

Notification Dates:

• Regular Decision: Mid-March
• Transfer: Mid-April

Acceptance Rates:

• Transfer: 24%

Average Applicant Pool: 111,000

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 14,000

Average Number Enrolled: 6,000

Application Systems: Apply California

Average GPA: 3.9 unweighted

*Test blind.

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1280, 75th% – 1510

ACT Scores: 25th% – 27, 75th% – 34

*Test mandatory. Writing sections are not required.

Demonstrated Interest:

UCLA does not consider demonstrated interest.

Recommendation Letter Policies:

Letters of recommendation are not required, and UCLA asks that you not submit them. Some majors or programs may require them, but the standard application does not.

UCLA Essay Prompts:

• Personal Statement (250-500 words) 
• There are 8 prompts, select and answer 4 of them (350 words each). 
• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
• UCLA Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

• UCLA has specific admission requirements , consisting of classes which a student must have taken in highschool to be eligible to apply. These are a baseline minimum, and going above and beyond the requirements is recommended. 
• The School of Arts and Architecture requires supplemental application materials, in addition to the standard application. 
• The Samueli School of Engineering is more difficult to gain admission to, and has higher academic standards, although the application is the same. 
• The School of Music has a supplemental application in addition to requiring the standard application. It further requires a portfolio and audition for some majors. 
• The School of Theater, Film, and Television requires supplemental applications materials.
• The School of Nursing requires supplemental application materials.
• Transfer students are only admitted as juniors. 
• Students are generally only evaluated for their first choice major, and must apply for a specific major.
• Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.2, some majors have stricter requirements .
• Students coming from California-based community colleges have additional resources available. The Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) gives a pathway for automatic acceptance for community college students.

UCLA Admission Strategy

Admissions Criteria:

The most important criteria is academic preparation. UCLA recalculates students’ GPAs without their freshman year grades. They also do not count grades from non-academic courses (such as band or gym) when calculating GPA. They do weigh the difficulty of courses, including APs, in their calculation. The average GPA for Letters and Science is 4.2, for Engineering its 4.3. A 3.4 GPA for non-California residents and a 3.0 GPA for residents is required to have the rest of your application considered.

Other factors which are very important are your essays and course rigor.

Factors which are important are: extracurriculars, work experience, volunteering, talent, and character.

Factors which are considered are: first generation status, geographic origin, and state residency.

Being a recruited athlete helps your chances of admission greatly, so long as you meet the academic minimums. Recruited athletes’ average GPAs are far below the general average.

What is UCLA Looking For?

UCLA uses an aggregate points added system to rate candidates, with points being added to the total rating for each category. They look for more well rounded candidates generally, as opposed to the Ivy League, although this does vary some by school. Students must meet academic minimums in order to be considered as candidates as a whole.

Every application which is considered is read at least twice before a decision is made, and many are read more than that. Beyond academic work, they want to see how a student spent their time outside of the classroom, and what their impact was on their school and the broader community they inhabit. They try to determine how the student will benefit and affect the community at UCLA based on their past actions.

Engineering has faculty involvement in the admissions process, and a much higher academic bar. They also like to see research experience and heavy involvement in STEM. Due to attempts to maintain fairly even gender ratios, women have a slightly easier time gaining admission to the school, as there are fewer female applicants overall, and thus a greater percentage is admitted.

Out-of-state students have a slightly higher acceptance rate than in-state students, but this is due to disparate application rates, and it is much harder for out of state students to gain admission generally. International students have a harder time than all domestic students.

UCLA Strategy:

Students applying to a specific major, especially in Engineering, should use one of their essays to discuss how they have already engaged with the major, and why they are interested in it. Evidence of past competence is seen as a marker for future potential.

While all UC schools are forbidden from considering race in college admissions, they do look at socio-economic status, and they want to recruit students who have succeeded academically in spite of hardships they have endured. If you have undergone hardship, you should definitely use the essay question on that topic to address it. This is especially true if hardship you have undergone has affected your academic performance. While it might not completely excuse poor grades, additional context is always helpful.

Leadership is one of the factors the school considers, and as one of the essay topics directly addresses this, if you have leadership experience, you should discuss it here. This is an easy way to add a few points to your application’s total.

Because applications are decided by school (and often by major), your application should reflect why you are a good candidate for the school and major you are applying to. Students applying to study in the sciences in the engineering school should have practical experience, ideally hands-on, in their chosen field. Letters and Sciences also offers many of the same majors, and has an easier acceptance rate, so students who wish to study the sciences but are not as confident about their application should apply there.

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UCLA Academics

• College of Letters and Sciences
• School of Arts and Architecture  
• Samueli School of Engineering 9.7% acceptance rate
• Herb Alpert School of Music 20% acceptance rate
• Luskin School of Public Affairs  
• School of Theater, Film, and Television 4% acceptance rate
• School of Nursing 2% acceptance rate
• It is fairly easy to transfer into Letters and Sciences, but hard to transfer from there into other schools. All transfers between schools require consulting with and permission from the school you will be entering.

Core Requirements:

• Core requirements vary based on which school students are in. 
• Arts and Humanities
• Foundations of Society and Culture 
• Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
• Detailed Requirements

Courses of Study: 

• 130 Majors Offered
• Option to double major
• Popular majors include Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, and Biology
• Changing majors within a school requires permission from the department. Changing majors between schools is more difficult.
• Minors Offered
• Course Catalog

AP Credit Policies:

• UCLA awards credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5 on most AP exams, and awards 2, 4, or 8 units of credit. They also accept IB exams. What scores are accepted varies by school. 
• Comprehensive AP Credit Information

Honors Programs:

• The College of Letters and Sciences has its own honors program; while the other schools do not currently have honors programs, students in the other colleges are allowed to take honors classes in the program. The program has its own admissions requirements. 
• Departmental Honors (contact individual departments for more information)
• Graduation Honors (Including Latin honors) based on cumulative GPA
• Academic Honors Societies

Research Availability:

• UCLA offers two tracks for undergraduates interested in research, one for sciences, and one for humanities and social sciences.

Study Abroad: 

• Study Abroad Options

Business Options: 

• There is no official business school or program for undergrads, but the Business-Economics Major , offered by the Department of Economics, offers an introduction to the world of business.
• Many students interested in business take classes in the Economics Department .

Pre-Med Options:

• UCLA does not have a dedicated pre-med major, but does offer a dedicated advising program for pre-health students .
• Pre-med Peer Association

Pre-Law Options:

• Pre-Law Advising Program
• Pre-Law Society

Computer Science Options: 

• The Department of Computer Science , run through the School of Engineering, offers a BS in computer science.
• The Undergraduate Research Program is a new initiative in the school to promote undergraduate research in engineering and computer science.

Additional Specialty Programs: 

• Naval Science
• Aerospace Studies
• Center for Community Learning
• Bruin Leaders Project

Programs for High Schoolers:

• UCLA Summer Sessions offer students three ways to participate in activities on campus: immersion programs , academic courses , and pre-college summer institutes. Immersion programs offer students a chance to sample college life and coursework, academic courses allow talented high school students to take courses for credit at UCLA, and institutes allow students to explore their interests more deeply through coursework and research.

Student Life at UCLA

School Motto:   Let there be light

Mission and Values:

• Mission: UCLA’s primary purpose as a public research university is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. To fulfill this mission, UCLA is committed to academic freedom in its fullest terms: We value open access to information, free and lively debate conducted with mutual respect for individuals, and freedom from intolerance. In all of our pursuits, we strive at once for excellence and diversity, recognizing that openness and inclusion produce true quality.
• Additional Information
• Student Testimonials ( Niche , Unigo , Grad Reports )

Residential Housing System:

There are numerous dormitories on campus, clustered in a group known as “The Hill” which hosts more than 10,000 students. Students are guaranteed a room on campus for up to 3 years if they desire it. Students also live in Greek Life associated buildings and in apartments off campus.

Housing Statistics:

• 92% of freshmen live on campus
• 39% of students live on campus overall

Campus & Surrounding Area :  

• Located in the Westwood neighborhood of LA, the campus is bordered by Sunset Boulevard, with Bel-Air to the North and Beverly Hills to the East. 
• The campus is divided into North and South, bisected by Bruin Walk, which joins the residential hill to the main campus. 
• North campus is older, with more traditional romanesque architecture, while South campus is done in a more modern, minimalist style.
• UCLA is in a generally safe area , although minor thefts and scammers are present.
• Virtual Tour

Transportation:

• UCLA subsidizes transit passes , and supports various ways for students to get around campus and into the broader metro area. They have dedicated carpool and vanpool options, but do not guarantee students who drive parking passes, as parking on campus is extremely limited.
• Parking Information

Traditions:

• True Bruin Welcome – New students are welcomed to campus with a week of events, parties, and activities.
• Undie Run – On the Wednesday of finals week, students run across campus in their underwear.
• Spring Sing – An annual singing competition where students are allowed to compete.
• JazzReggae Festival – A two day long festival held over Memorial Day weekend.

Student-Run Organizations:  

• Organization Database
• Sample Organizations ( Bruin Entrepreneurs , The Daily Bruin , Clean Consulting )
• D1 Athletics (Good men’s water polo and women’s softball)
• Intramural Sports
• Club Sports
• Main Rival: USC

Greek Life:  

• 13% of students are involved in greek life, including social, service, and academic organizations.
• The Westwood neighborhood is a common destination, as is the Santa Monica beach .
• Fraternities and Sororities have parties most weekends.
• Football games and other sporting events are common, as are activities put on by various student organizations.
• Considered the #4 party school in California by Niche.

Financial Information

Yearly Cost of Attendance:

• Total: $65,089
• Tuition and Fees: $13,239 (+ $29,754 non-resident fee)
• Room & Board: $16,104
• Books: $1,314
• Personal Expenses: $1,422
• Health Insurance: $2,668

Financial Aid:

All students who apply must complete the Free Application for Federal Student AId (FAFSA), to be considered for aid. Most scholarships and aid are based on financial need, although some are merit based. Priority for funding goes to students who submit applications before June 30th each year.

Additional Financial Aid & Student Loan Information

Scholarships: 

• There are a number of more selective scholarships , open to students who meet certain criteria. Students must fill out a form on the Apply California site when applying to determine which of these scholarships they are eligible for. Many students change their residency status to California residents in order to qualify for additional scholarships and aid.
• The first message sent over the internet was sent from UCLA. It was”LO” (it was supposed to be “login” but the network crashed).
• Dozens of films and TV shows have been shot on campus, including Legally Blonde and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 
• UCLA’s school colors are slightly different shades from the rest of the UCs. 
• Ray Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451 was written in the basement of Powell Library. 
• The victory bell awarded to the winner of the USC-UCLA game is a tradition which started when USC students stole UCLA’s 295lb bell in 1941. 
• UCLA will host the wrestling and judo events at the 2028 summer olympics. 
• UCLA student-athletes have won gold in every olympics since 1932. 
• UCLA has won 118 NCAA team championships, the second most in the nation. 
• Notable alumni include composer John Williams, and actors Sean Astin, James Franco, Ben Stiller, and George Takei.

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Successful UCLA Essays

Ucla essays →.

UC PIQ: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? | Sabria

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?  Overtime, I learned that Armani wants to be spoken to as…...

UC PIQ: Think about an academic subject that inspires you | Sabria

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.  It was not until…...

UC PIQ: Describe an example of your leadership experience | Sabria

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.  Junior…...

UC PIQ: What do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? | Tevin

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the

UC PIQ: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?  | Tevin

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?   “It’s near impossible, your seniors have tried”, I was told. Zhengyang…...

UC PIQ: Describe an example of your leadership experience | Tevin

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Planning…...

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Introduction to Writing College Essays Part 1: Brainstorming

This two-week intensive course trains aspiring college counselors, advisors, and other education professionals on the purpose, role, and structure of college admissions essays. The course will explore techniques, standards, and ethics to be used when supporting students through the college essay writing process.

What you can learn.

• Learn about the purpose and role that college essays play in the admission process
• Learn strategies your students can utilize for brainstorming their college essay topics
• Understand the various types of essays such as personal statements, personal insight questions, and college-specific supplements
• Explore techniques behind providing ethical guidance and support to students in the college essay writing process
• Identify different approaches for helping students navigate and maintain their own voice throughout the writing and editing process

About this course:

Spring 2024 schedule.

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I recently toured a college where they prefaced that they don't take into account that I've visited the campus during the admissions process. One of my essay ideas for this school though was using my tour experience as kind of a starting point in the essay; is it still ok to be using that experience in my essay even though they say that they don't care about whether or not you've visited?

Good question...would you please share more specific details? Like what about the tour? Something you encounter or learned or liked? Also, what is the prompt?

Sorry for peppering you with questions :) Just trying to give the best help I can.

No problem! The required essay prompt: Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. The required short essay prompt: Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity.

Ok, and now could you please explain why were you going to mention the visit? What about the visit answers this prompt? Because at first glance, it doesn't seem to fit the prompt. Then again, it could be a creative approach but I need a little more info about why you would mention the visit to understand that.

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Markel Corporation

2024 finance internship.

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What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. Because, at Markel, the work you do gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities. Whether you’re wild about horses, bananas for boats or driven by data, you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs.

Join us and play your part in something special!

Are you interested in becoming a Finance Intern for Markel’s Summer 2024 Internship Program? As a Markel Finance Intern, you will be working directly with our team to learn about financial operations in a global, publicly traded company. You will have hands-on experience within our accounting, finance, or internal audit operations. You will be completing valuable business projects, as well as enjoy networking opportunities and educational sessions. You will apply your educational insights and learning in a real-world business setting.

Program design:

• Please note: Interns are responsible for their own housing for the duration of the internship. Markel does not currently provide housing for students.
• Multi-faceted, providing opportunity to work within the accounting, finance, global procurement, global disbursements or internal audit departments of Markel
• Opportunity to execute actual work deliverables and contribute toward team goals

Qualifications:

• Current college student (rising juniors and rising seniors preferred)
• Strong academic performance (3.0 GPA minimum)
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and analytical skills
• Computer proficiency
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Candidates who have extraordinary potential and share our passion to live The Markel Style. It’s our core value which underpins how we do business, while influencing our behavior and exceptional performance.

Application requirements (upload these at the time of your application – do not apply until you have all three documents)

• Your resume
• College transcripts (unofficial)
• Essay describing a time you demonstrated the Markel Style (300 words max)