Expert: Rolland Puckett - 1/3/2001

Question
I want your brutally honest opinion on this: Do you think I stand a chance of getting into UCLA?

Background info:
I am a junior in a small town in Mississippi. Our school does not offer AP or Honors courses. Our counselor is lazy and has not computed our class rank or gpa since the end of my freshman year. But last time it was computed I had a 3.78 and ranked 11th. Our gpa system has changed this year from weighted to unweighted. I took the ACT for the first time this past October and scored a 27. I plan to retake it in April. I also am involved in extracurricular activities. I have earned a Girl Scout Gold Award(highest accomplishment available). I was student director of our drama department's fall production. I am a member of the science team, and I am planning on trying out for the scholar's bowl team. I have played varsity fastpitch softball for the past two years and summer softball for the past 5. I am in the marching band color guard. I am also a member of: Beta Club, Science Club, Math Club, Spanish Club, Drama Club, SADD, Anchor Club, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I also play recreational roller hockery whenever possible.

I will appreciate any feedback you can offer. Thanks.


Answer
Dear Laura,

Please accept my apology for my tardiness in answering your question.  I didn't think that at my age I'd ever suffer from the time starvation that afflicts most of our society.  Always so much to do!

Whew! You certainly know about "so much to do!"  Laura, you don't need a brutally honest answer.  If I were serving on the admissions board at UCLA you'd be in already.  But, I'm not serving on the board.

That counselor is not so helpful, huh.  I'd think a principal would have something stern to say about that situation.  A piece of advice, though, my friend: don't antagonize the person.  That gets into politics (yes, even in secondary school), and when a student gets controversial in relation to staff...well, you just do NOT want to do it.  Right and wrong?  Yep.  You're very, very much in the right, but it's not worth it.  You have so much to do, and things in that arena are stacked against you.  You'd best skirt around the issue.

Institutions of higher learning are of course interested in your grades, and your GPA.  A grade or two which may not be distinguished (C) doesn't conern them so much if the overall academic picture is good.  (I didn't do well in course holding little or no interest for me, but there weren't many of those.)  

Next, they're interested in your extracurricular activities, to find out if you're a somewhat multi-faceted person who is interested in more than one narrowly focused area in which you intend to major.  (More than half of college freshmen do not know what their major will be.) Students whose activities include different pursuits are apt to be those who are not only more interesting, more intellectually alive and capable, but they are also better at coping with the new and powerful rigors of college/university life.  (Believe me, Laura, there are new rigors.  If you get curious about them shoot me a message at rpuckett@telalink.net)

You're involved in just about everything!  I can conceive of an admissions staff person wondering if you're doing all that to impress the admissions and scholarship board members.  Really, you ask!  I've heard and read of that very thought being discussed by admissions people!  Kind of cynical, it seems to me.  However, there are such students.  They will join everything around and put that on their application to colleges.  I guess, Laura, that it seems almost incredible that a student could effectively cope with their course requirements and participate in any meaningful way with a slew and a heap of activities which would require gigawatts of energy and twenty nine hour days.

It CAN be done, and you may be one of those very rare and most admirable young people who is capable of doing all those things.  The question immediately came up in my mind, however, as to the impression that great list engenders: Is she one of those students who's trying to impress us?  Can any student do all that - effectively?

Let me tell you that I know a young person at this time who is incredibly capable in so many things, but he purposely limits himself to two extracurricular activities, and he does them extremely well.  Three would be fine for anyone, but he just really concentrates on Kung Fu.  A summer activity is also above suspicion on the part of those boards because of the out of school season.  One has the time.

I notice that your activities are fairly spread out, and that's good.  If those clubs are really active, however, it looks like an Olympic load.  Your Scout award is a huge plus, just HUGE, in their consideration.  I recently took a young friend to my alma mater, and he's an Eagle Scout, and I hear that has pushed him far ahead, especially since his transcript is marvelous.  He must have a big scholarship to go there.  One might consider listing "various clubs."

It's really a difficult call, Laura, about the activities.  I would NOT recommend "hiding your light under a bushel" just because they may be incredulous.  It just concerns me that I've heard about such incredulity on the part of admissions people.  If you do list everything I would, for certain, include a message in your essay or just as a separate message (which they would very much like to see) telling the board that you've participated in this or that activity because....  You did it with the expectation of....  You derived ______ benefits and learned _______ from the activity.

If you explain your thinking and very briefly describe what you learned from these activities, that will educate them concerning all those things.  It will allay their suspicions.

Laura, why UCLA?  There are so many great schools.  Allow me, if you will, just this word about going to a BIG school for undergraduate work.  It's okay, but I've known many who've done it both ways: smaller school for undergrad work, big university for grad school - or big university all the way.  (You know, of course, that you MUST get at least a master's degree.)  There are really large disadvantages in choosing to go to a big school for undergrad work.  It is much better, I'm convinced, to find and visit a smaller school (from 2K to 4K student body), a school of long establishment and excellent reputation, a degree from which is immediately recognized as superior by ANY admissions board at ANY university.  I could name more than a dozen right now.  Life is so very different, too, at a smaller college.  Well, I won't argue the case right now, but do consider that issue.

Laura, I didn't mean to inundate you with information.  It's just that you're about to embark on a tremendous journey, and there are so many things to think about and to watch out for.  The competition is fierce - especially if you intend to apply for a scholarship.  Your future looks very bright.  There are great pitfalls to beware of.  I'm here if you ever want to discuss them.

I do wish you the very best, Laura.

Yours,
Rolland Puckett