What must I do to get into UCLA?

What do I need to do in order to get in to UCLA?

• I Want to go to UCLA in the future and I'm wondering what i need to do in order to get in. I am a freshman in the IB program going into my sophomore year this fall. unfortunately , i started off the first semester with very low grades because i was overworking myself and never had time to do my homework or do well on it when i did have time to do it and i ended the first semester with a 1.69 GPA :(.However i got myself back on track and Im still in Full IB and i currently have a 3.0 but i still have 3 months to get it up. I am involved in three clubs, I play water polo, winter polo, and i do swim team. I didn't get any electives as a freshman but i am currently signed up for photography and Drama for next year. I take Piano, Guitar, and dance. I Feed the homeless with youth group every other Saturday, i am involved in a community service program called youth court and another one which is us basically turning graffiti into art. I was wondering, if my first semester grades will have any impact on my application at all. I have been improving my grades A LOT and there's still more time for improvement and again I'm only a freshman. Is there anything i need to do in order to get myself on the right track to go to UCLA? I'm hoping to major in the psychology department and minor in the theatre department. any advice would be so appreciated and helpful. Thank you.

• Answer:

  Fortunately for you, UCLA does not consider freshman grades. You are spending way too much time and effort on extracurricular activities and volunteer work. You should be trying for an unweighted GPA of 4.0 in your sophomore and junior years, which probably means doing homework for at least four hours a day, six or seven days a week. Doing the IB program is unlikely to improve your admission chances and will probably lower your GPA. A grades in four AP classes are sufficient. A grades in more AP classes are better only so long as you can earn them without lowering your GPA.