UCLA / How to get in
How to Get Into UCLA
About 8.7% for the most recent fully reported cycle (roughly 12,700 admitted from about 145,900 first-year applicants, fall 2023 entry). One UC application covers all nine campuses. Here is the academic profile that keeps you in the running, what UCLA weighs most, and where to put your energy.
- 4.15-4.30
- GPA (middle 50%)
Every college publishes how heavily it weighs each part of your application in its Common Data Set. Here is how UCLA reads applicants, most important first.
- Course rigor
- Grades (GPA)
- The application essay
- State residency
- Class rank
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- First-generation status
- Geographic origin
UCLA is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores are not considered at all.
Application opens Aug 1 · Filing period Nov 1 to Dec 2. Applying early (Early Action or Early Decision, where offered) can modestly improve your odds and signals commitment.
Your grades and course rigor are mostly set by now. The highest-leverage things left are your essays and how you frame your activities. UCLA reads holistically, so a specific, well-told essay is where you separate yourself from other qualified applicants.
How to get into UCLA: FAQ
Is UCLA hard to get into?
About 8.7% for the most recent fully reported cycle (roughly 12,700 admitted from about 145,900 first-year applicants, fall 2023 entry). One UC application covers all nine campuses. At UCLA, applicants clear a high academic bar first, then stand out through essays, activities, and character.
What GPA do you need to get into UCLA?
Admitted students at UCLA typically have a GPA around 4.15-4.30 (middle 50 percent). A strong GPA in demanding courses is the foundation, though it never guarantees admission.
What does UCLA look for in applicants?
UCLA weighs course rigor, grades (gpa), the application essay, and state residency most heavily, alongside a strong academic record. The parts you most control late in the process are your essays and how you present your activities.
See your real chances at UCLA and every school.
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