How hard is it to get into USC or UCLA?

How do i get a full-ride scholarship for UCLA/USC?

• I'm a freshman in HS right now. I know colleges love seeing extracurricular activities. (sports, ect) And i'm doing that. But i want to know what else i can do to build up my resume so i can: 1. get accepted to the school (UCLA or USC) 2. get as much scholarship as i can 3. Hopefully, my main goal, is to get a full ride scholarship. What is the min. score that i need to scored on my SAT/ACT to be qualified for a scholarship? (full rude, regular) Just any info. would help! :)

• Answer:

  Hi, I'm a UCLA alum and I have a few thoughts for you - but first a word of warning: as you get closer to applying, you'll find people will obsess about GPAs, doing the right activites, getting the right test scores, which may make you nervous - IGNORE THEM. It doesn't matter what anyone else you know is doing to get in - make your application the best you can make it, for you. People freak out about all of that, but it doesn't do anything except divert your attention from your studies and your life. You're a kid - you have the rest of your life to be neurotic (not that I recommend it) - but freshman year only happens once; give yourself permission to enjoy it. GETTING IN: * Make studying your priority: first schoolwork, then fun. If you get into this habit now, the rest of your life will be a lot easier. I wish someone had told me that at 14! * If you don't ace every test, don't beat yourself up. No one is perfect - not even the admissions officers. They don't expect flawlessness. If you end up with a few B's don't worry - it gives you an opportunity to improve your grades and show an upward trajectory. That demonstrates to admissions people that you're willing to do the work to achieve your goals. * Grades are 90% about effort and preparation. If you have any problems with a subject, get help from the teacher or a tutor immediately so it doesn't snowball into a big mess of confusion. Always do the extra credit - never pass up a chance to improve your grade. * Get to know your teachers - they'll be writing your recommendations. Show them you make the effort - they'll respect that no matter how your grades turn out. * Get involved in activities you enjoy to whatever extent you can, as they don't affect your ability to get your work done. No need to letter in every sport, play every instrument, volunteer at every church function and solve the mid-east peace crisis. Be who you are. Do what you love. Sleep! Have fun! * Study for the SATs starting sophomore or junior year. SparkNotes website is great - and if you can afford Princeton review's prep course, it's very good. But again - don't stress it. Do your best but do not expect any more from yourself than honest effort. There are a lot of kinds of success, and failures are not fatal. * The sun doesn't rise and set on any one school (even UCLA ;) - if you're focused enough to be concerned about this so young, I guarantee you're focused enough to work your way into a great school in a controlled, measured, healthy and sane way. There are a lot of fantastic options - and the truth is, you really can be happy at a number of places. I'd definitely say go to the best name school you get into - and who says that can't be your dream school? SCHOLARSHIPS: * www.collegeboard.com has a scholarship search engine. There are a lot, and I mean a LOT, of different kinds of scholarships, with all kinds of requirements. There's no minimum SAT score for all scholarships - some don't even mention it. Research the options and apply to those that suit you. If you belong to a particular ethnic group certain additioanl options may apply (such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund) - or if you're from a military family, or if you want to study engineering, etc. - there's just a huge range of opportunities. Check that out first, but bear in mind that scholarships are not the only way to pay for college. Definitely apply for financial aid - most schools offer some kind of need-based aid, based on your parents' income and assets. There are grants, federal loans... all sorts of ways to pay for school. FYI, USC is way more expensive than UCLA, if that's a concern. Also, consider applying to schools like Harvard, Princeton etc. with huge endowments who assure students that money is not a barrier to attending - basically if your parents can't afford it, they aren't expected to pay. Good luck!