Applying to UC’s and CSU’s
UCLA’s
Early Academic Outreach Program
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Agustin Vasquez
Email: avasquezlopez@saonet.ucla.edu
San Fernando HS Site Visit: Mondays
Location: YPI Office (Room 008)
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Admissions Requirements
Cal States (33%)
1. High School Diploma
2. A-G Requirements
3. 2.0 +
UC (12.5%) & Private
Universities
1.
2.
3.
4. SAT or ACT Test
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Four Systems of Higher Education
High School Diploma
A-G Requirements
GPA:
UC
3.0 +
Privates 2.0+
SAT or ACT with writing
Honors/Awards
Extracurricular
Activities/Community Service
Personal Statements
SAT Subject Tests (Highly
Recommended)
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
College Application Deadlines
•
•
UC Applications: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
Don’t forget, applying is the
– Opens: August 1st
first of many steps.
– Submit: November 1st
You must follow up by:
– Deadline November 30th
– Notification Admissions: February – March
1. Ensuring you send
– Submit final transcripts by July 1st
SAT/ACT scores
2. Checking emails
CSU Applications: www.csumentor.edu
3. Creating Portals
– Open: October 1st
4. Taking English & Math
– Submit: October 1st
Placement exams
– Deadline November 30th
5. Reporting D’s & F’s
– Submit final transcripts by July 15th
senior year, or changes
to courses reported
6. SUBMIT SIR
(Statement of Intent to
Register) BY MAY 1st
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
The University of California
UCLA
UCB
UCSD
UCSB
UCI
UCD
UCM
UCSC
UCR
TIER 1
TIER 2
TIER 3
Cost: $70/school
Fee Education
Waiver: 4 FREE
Four Systems of
Higher
Applications
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
UC APPLICATION
Academics
•Grades on “A-G”
•Test scores
•GPA
Activities
•
•
•
•
•
Four Systems of Higher Education
Honors/awards
Extracurr. Act.
Volunteer
Work exp.
Programs
2 Personal
Statement
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
9 Campuses – 1 Application
• Same UC Application for all
nine undergraduate
campuses
• Select campuses on
application: copy is
submitted to each UC
Apply broadly to increase your
chances of admission
COUNSELOR CONFERENCE 2015
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Freshman Selection
o Every UC campus gets the same application
o Each UC campus will review your application for
admission individually using the information in the
application
o Holistic Review will be used by all UC’s
o But each UC campus places a different value on
each section of the UC application
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Criteria for Holistic Review
o
o
o
o
o
o
Grade-Point Average
Test Scores
Courses Completed/Planned
Honors Courses
Top 9% Local Context (ELC)
Quality of Senior-Year Program
of Study
o Academic Opportunities in
California High Schools (API)
o Performance in Academic
Subject Areas
o Achievements in Special
Projects
Four Systems of Higher Education
o Improvement in Academic
Performance
o Special Talents,
Achievements, Awards,
Participation in
Educational Preparation
Programs
o Academic
Accomplishment Within
Life Experiences
o Geographic Location
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Holistic Review (continued)
Campuses Look For
Strong grades, test scores & course preparation
A robust educational experience
Assess Students Within Context
Educational environment
Available resources and opportunities
The Full Application
Not just the personal statement
Not just grades and test scores
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Additional Comments Section
Academic – setting the
context of the school,
academic program.
Non-Academic –
changes/life
circumstances that
affected a students
academics
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Additional Comments Examples
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Prolonged substitute teachers in one or more classes (explain how this
affected your learning experience)
Class and scheduling conflicts prevented you from taking more H/AP/CL
courses
You were limited in the number of H/AP/CL courses allowed to enroll in.
Explain poor grade (do not simply blame the teacher)
Very large class sizes not enough books etc. (explain how this affected
your learning experience)
No or very limited access to college counselor. (ie one college counselor
for entire school)
No or very limited access to academic counselor
Explain any health, social, or emotional issues that affected attendance
or academic performance.
Make sure to COPY
any that apply to
you
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Activities and Awards Section
o Non a-g Coursework
o Educational Preparation
Programs
o Community Service
o Work Experience
o Awards & Honors
o Extra Curricular
Activities
Choose up to 5 of your most
meaningful experiences for each
category.
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Personal Statement
Statement #1:
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.
Statement #2:
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?
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Showing vs Telling
For Your Information …
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Personal Statement (continued)
Cut & paste your response
into the application.
Notice that there is no spell
check or grammar check.
Notice that your word count
will add your two responses!
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach
Program
October 2013
30
Recommendations
Do’s for Statements
 Think outside the box
 Grab the readers attention 
Hook
 Focus on strengths:
Leadership, Initiative, tenacity
etc.
 Use your essay to explain
things: lack of H/AP classes,
extra curricular activities, drop
in grades etc.
 Talk about obstacles if there
were/are any: first generation,
low-income, single parent
household,
school/neighborhood
environment etc.
 If there are a lot of resources at
school/home, how did you take
advantage of them?
Four Systems of Higher Education
Things to Avoid in Statements
 Personal Statement is
not an essay!
 When being creative be
careful of being too
creative.
 Avoid using comedy,
pop-culture references
etc.
 Do not give information
that the evaluator already
knows like: I took 5 AP
classes, I was Captain of
the football team etc.
 Do not provide lists, build
on things.
 Do not write in a passive
voice
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
One, two, three...Push!! Come on mom you can do it, she's almost out! One...two...three..." All I hear next are
the cries of a baby and the sighs of relief of my mother. My heart is pounding hard against my chest and
suddenly I feel weak in my knees. I look up and realize it is not a dream, but in fact a crystal clear reality; I am
now holding my newborn baby sister for the very first time. I was fourteen and should have been in school
learning quadratic formulas. Instead, I was in the hospital as my father's substitute because he was no longer
living with us. Despite every last drop of sweat that poured from my body and the adrenaline that consumed
every breath I took, I kept reminding myself to stay strong for my mother. She needed me as much as I
needed her.
Being the oldest of six has never been an easy role. After my parents separated, performing daily tasks only
became harder without a father. The birth of my baby sister brought many new challenges and responsibilities.
As the eldest and the only person my mom can depend on, I cook dinner for my family, wash their laundry, and
help my siblings with their homework everyday. When most girls are out with friends or their sweethearts, I am
at home changing diapers and babysitting. And while most teenagers my age deal with the mere stress of
school, I am divided between schoolwork, housework, and the emotional afflictions of a broken family. My daily
routine is very different from others; sometimes my responsibilities are too heavy of a load to carry I feel like
giving up. Other times, I feel trapped in a cage of stress and depression, and crying myself to sleep is all I can
do. But then I wake up the next morning with a different attitude; my hardships are not so much a burden as
they are beneficial to my growth and maturity.
Looking back, I realize that the challenges I face daily have enabled me to work beyond the minimum
requirements-as an undocumented prospect student, daughter and sibling. As the eldest, my role is not an
overload of responsibilities and expectations but rather blessings to learn and grow from. I have gained
considerable amounts of leadership skills because of it, and thus have learned the virtues of a leader. I am
proud to be someone my siblings can look up to and learn from. I will be the first in my family to attend college
and myFour
reality
fuels my
take on new challenges. WhateverUCLA’s
life throws
at Academic
me, I will be
ready. Program
Systems
of desire
Higher to
Education
Early
Outreach
I come from an indigenous, agricultural and destitute community in Oaxaca, Mexico that view education as a
luxury they can't afford. ….I didn't make a conscience choice to be brought to a foreign country but this is all I
know, all that I can relate to. I am an undocumented, AB540 student forced to continually overcome countless
barriers to ingress into an institution of higher education. One barrier is the constant psychological assault filled
with anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and feelings of uncertainty that result in depression and at times despair.
At times I feel like I'm being punished, but then I realize that I have been blessed to have had access to a free
education, resources that continue to help me progress my education and my nuclear family. I am a resourceful
student that has taken advantage of the opportunities that school has to offer since I have to be strategic on
how to pursue higher education.
…This past summer while participating in UCLA's VIPS program, I conducted research on the tribulations that
undocumented AB540 students face while pursuing a post secondary education. In my research I found that
the main obstacles were that students lack the information about their rights as AB540 students and the rising
cost of college tuition. I realized that I do not qualify for any type of federal or state aid and that have to rely on
scholarships to pay for my education. From my research I realized I am not alone in my struggles and that as
hard as it might be, I have much to contribute to the United States as an educated professional. My experience
has exposed me to the world beyond my bubble. I have come to realize the need of programs that help not only
undocumented students but minorities as well. Hence my occupational goal is to be the founder of an afterschool program that facilitates the ingression of minority and undocumented students into institutions of higher
education. I returned to Hands for Hope, a non-profit after school program that provides resources, instills life
skills and offers courses in visual and performing arts to youths from low-income, single-parent family
households. In Hands for Hope, I assist the youth program in the administrative and fieldwork aspects. I interact
with youth by tutoring, supervising, instilling life-skills and enhancing their self-esteem. At the same time I
create environmentally friendly art lesson plans. My only possibility of realizing my aspiration is by attaining a
higher education. I can't alter my situation or the situations of other undocumented youths. However, I intend to
Four
Systems
of Higher
UCLA’s
Early Academic Outreach Program
ease the
amount
of stress
that Education
undocumented students face on a daily
basis.
The California State Universities
• Application filing period is from:
October 1st – November 30th
• CSU Applications are available at
www.csumentor.edu
• Application fee is $55 per application
 Application fee waivers are available
for students who qualify
 The application fee waiver waives the
application cost for 4 CSU applications
• Please have your transcripts available
when you are filling out your
application
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program
Four Systems of Higher Education
UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program