UCLA experts?

[SaraMac13]

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Hey guys, I hope everyone is recovering from those MCAT-induced heart attacks this weekend. I have a question for those who may be a little more familiar with admissions, especially UCLA. My fiance is currently a student at UCLA and will be for at least 4 more years, so obviously my life becomes a heck of alot easier if I can get into UCLA. Here are my stats: GPA: 3.8, MCAT: 10,10,12. What are my chances and does anyone know specifically what UCLA looks for? Also, should I even mention my connection to the school? Thanks to all those who respond!

 

[BlackPuma]

I think you should definitely mention that your fiance is at the school..

your stats are extremely good...UCLA definitely looks for research and good extra curricular activities...

best of luck :wink:

 

[smid]

Seems like with you GPA and MCATs (and from Berkeley) that you are in good shape. I've heard a lot of stuff about UCLA wanting similar types to UCSF (primary care, underserved populations), but I don't know if any of that is true.

I also read somewhere on this board that it is not a bad idea to mention the connection at the interview or in a follw-up letter. But I'm speaking entirely on something I only read on this board.

What's you fiance doing down there? Med School?

 

[SaraMac13]

Thanks guys for the advice, if anyone else has any more words of wisdom I would really appreciate it! Good luck filling out that AMCAS!

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by smid:
•Seems like with you GPA and MCATs (and from Berkeley) that you are in good shape. I've heard a lot of stuff about UCLA wanting similar types to UCSF (primary care, underserved populations), but I don't know if any of that is true.•••••Once again SMid you are a little too positive on your outlooks 🙂
I don't mean to push you down and punch you over and over again...here are some stats of people from Berkeley getting into the UCLA program. This site right here is one of the most INFORMATIVE sites about acceptances to top 20 schools (and UC's) coming from Berkeley.

<a href="http://career.berkeley.edu/MedStats/19972000top20.stm" target="_blank">Awesome site about Berkeley grads</a>

University of California-Los Angeles (14)
2000 144 5 12 2 11 2 34 3.77
1999 136 8 6 1 0 0 35 3.84
1998 151 13 10 2 6 1 35 3.87
1997 135 11 6 0 2 0 36 3.82

(I deleted the URM averages just to clean it up a bit - go to page for exact stuff)
Average GPA from Berkeley for people who are ACCEPTED to UCLA is 3.77, 3.84, 3.87, and 3.82. Now check out those MCATs that go along with those GPA's. 34, 35, 35, and 36!!! Damn!

Having said that, I think that this girl here right now is in decent shape with a 3.8 and a 32. HOWEVER, she better have some REALLY GOOD EC's to follow that stuff up. Having a fiance there is a DEFINITE GOOD Part! Definitely mention that in the SECONDARY! My stats were above hers and I had to kick and scream at UCLA to get an interview (I was rejected and it took me 4 months to appeal and get an interview for those who didn't know)...This is just so you know and don't assume that b/c you are coming from Berkeley you are the $hit and can get in whereever you want.

Got it?

Good!

 

[pocwana]

just thought i'd pass along some info i received from a counselor at ucla:
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Subject: Medical school applicants from UCLA for 2001

You'll be happy to note that of the 621 applicants from UCLA last year to US medical schools, 308 were accepted, and 299 matriculated for 2001-02. 50% is great for our large population.

For UCLA Medical School, they received 525 applications from our students, 34 were accepted, and 24 matriculated. 24/121 are from UCLA, 20% of the class. Still a very good rate. Our matriculation rate tends to fluctuate between 20-40% of the starting class.

 

[smid]

Scooby-

It's funny that you think that because I'm from Berkeley that I think I'm the "****". LAst I checked, Berkeley is ranked behind plenty of other schools, so in terms of rankings, I'm more in the inferiority complex category. But whatever. Anyway, depending on her major, a 3.8 from UCB is excellent, certainly not a "sure thing" for UCLA, but no one is a sure thing for any school from what it sounds like on this board.

Anyway, I feel like people (maybe just you) are being kind of mean to me. I'm not the ****, nor do I try to act like I am. I think maybe the way I write on the board could be portraying me in some funny way. I suppose I'm just not that eloquent.

BTW- When I get my MCAT scores (I'm too cheap to give in to their stupid online access ploy to steal more money from us), THEN I'll let you know if I'm the ****...I'm sure I won't be!

:wink:

 

[Cletus]

In regards to Scooby Doo's post of Berkeley Accepted Stats to California and Top 20 Schools - I was looking at those stats about a month ago and they made no sense to me that Berkeley students had to have higher MCATs and GPAs than those of overall acceptees to these schools. This is not because I went to Berkeley and assume it is the S**T, but because given Berkeley's reputation common sense should dictate that the scores should at least be equal to the average of all acceptees to these schools (3.6 GPA and 33 MCAT and not 3.8 GPA and 35 MCAT). People used to even tell me that Berkeley GPA's get rounded up because ADCOM's understand how much more competitive the premed courses are in Berkeley in comparison to most other schools.

Anyways, I wrote the lady who compiled these stats and asked her if they were in fact accurate. She said that these numbers are in fact the real deal, but with some contingencies. These are the numbers of those who chose to reveal their stats which she estimates to be about 85% of the people. Also, these are the stats of Berkeley seniors only who applied the summer before their senior year at Cal. I, therefore, think these stats are a little skewed because of that. The smaller pool the stats are drawn from would tend to skew things and maybe med schools set the bar higher for those applying that early in their academic career. I also assume that people applying later on in their academic career have had more time to add EC activities so maybe they don't necessarily need as high of stats. However, if you are in fact applying the summer before your senior year, good luck to you because those stats are pretty disheartening. While at Berkeley I never personally met anyone with those kind of Stats. But maybe its cuz I hung out with stupid people or those who just spent more time pursuing all the other "educational" activities/diversions that Berkeley has to offer :wink: .

 

[SaraMac13]

Thanks for all of your help guys. Yeah, I saw that graph on Berkeley's career site, but I'm not too discouraged, numbers aren't everything!! Besides, if you notice the MCAT averages are going down, I think because less people are applying to med school every year (at least I hear that is the trend). As for my EC's, I don't have much research experience, but I have worked for two summers as a clinical lab assistant, so I hope that looks good. Oh, and I am really involved in a cappella, anyone else out there sing? If you go to Cal, you can come see me next year in the Overtones! Thanks guys, and good luck!