This post is a transcription of an official UCLA video regarding their transfer program. This transcription is made strictly under the Fair Use doctrine’s exception for informational/news and education purposes.
Video source:
Transcript: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Vi6dsHHLs
TRANSCRIPTION:
Good Morning! My name is Vu Tran. I am the director of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations School at UCLA. I am very delighted to see many of you here today and hopefully I’ll be able to share with you some basic information about transfer admissions at UCLA.
Let me start by sharing with you, something that you probably know, that UCLA has a long-term commitment to transfer students. We are very unique among the national selective university by the fact that approximately about 40% of our new undergraduate students each year are from transfer population and we are very proud of that fact and we will continue to make commitment to transfer students in the years to come. Now, for 2009 is no exception. We received almost 16,600 applications that grew approximately over 10% from the year before. We admitted roughly about 5,300 for the admission grade about 32%, which is a drop from the 35% the year before in that aspect. One of the challenges that we have right now is that, as you know, we are undefended over the years. We have consistently enrolled approximately about 1,700 students, meaning that we enrolled and support these 1,700 students each year without any support from the state of California . Therefore, we are planning tentatively at this time a modest reduction in the enrollment of undergraduate students, however, for us to remain true to the fact the we continue the commitment to the transfer population the plan reduction in the undergraduate new students will primarily come from the freshmen population. Last year, we had an enrollment target of 3,200 for transfer. We will probably over-enroll roughly by 3,350 students; however, the enrollment target for next year at this time will remain to be at the 3,200 level or so.
Now, you are probably familiar with the admission at UCLA for transfer students; the fact that we admitted students by majors and although we review the application holistically and comprehensively we read all the applications cover to cover. Just like Buckley, major is a factor. You are probably familiar with the fact that we do have a transfer profile webpage that provide you information in detail concerning about the major and average accruement achievement of those students as well. We list here a few accruement update, but I just want to bring to your attention the second item which is that international development study major is closed until further notice. Actually, it is close for the whole 2009 and 2010. The decision to close the major temporarily was made even before the budget information came to our attention. The essential thing here is that there is an opportunity for us to enhance the curriculum in these majors and they made the decision to close down the major for two years to study it further before they re-open that again. Now, originally the plan is that we highly likely would have been open for 2011, however, because of the budget situation right now I am not sure and I will try to update you as soon as the decision is made in that aspect.
Usually, I continue to guarantee housing for one year and just like anything at UCLA we offer the students a lot of choices from a traditional residential to a suite private apartment and private bathroom as well. The cost varies approximately between $10,600 to about $16,000 a year.
Last but not the least; I just want to mention to you that our transfer students perform excellently and very consistent with the performance of the native students at UCLA; the graduate almost at about the same rate. Essentially, students who come to us 55% of them graduate in two years or less, 84% of them graduate in 3 years or less. Many times it is really just two years plus another quarter or so and eventually 90% of the students graduate from UCLA. Ninety percent of our students come from California community colleges. In that sense, we really appreciate the preparation and the guidance that you have done at the community college when they send the students to UCLA. On behalf of UCLA, again, I would like to thank you for your hard work in that aspect.
This sample essay outline and excerpt are based on information sent in by a reader of our network of blogs. If you’d like your own FREE outline and excerpt, fill out the form on the right side of this page.
Excerpt:
Having been born and raised in Anguilla, in the Caribbean, I grew up in a melting pot. A land first settled by native tribes who migrated from South America, then later colonized by English settlers, and inhabited by those from Barbados,Antigua, and Africa, Anguilla has truly become a culmination of cultures and peoples. Reflecting upon my heritage, I have come to realize that man, no matter where he is from or where he has been, benefits greatly from a sharing of culture and traditions. It is for this reason that I want to pursue a college education in America, where I can learn more about another culture, enrich my well-being, share my own experiences and heritage, and gain an education in business that will help me to reach my goals and aspirations.
Outline:
I. Introduction
A. Give a little background information about being raised in Anguilla, Caribbean.
B. Explain how my own heritage and the history of Anguilla has helped to shape my perspective on the world and in life.
C. I believe that people benefit from inter-mingling and sharing one another’s culture.
D. How studying in the US will help me not only get an education, but also broaden my personality, perspective, and understanding of life
II. Deeper description of outlook
A. I believe that achieving my college education in the United States will help open up my eyes and my mind to new and exciting experiences and realizations.
B. I will be able to benefit from a top-notch education, the likes of which cannot be found in my homeland.
C. I will also get to interact with new cultures, as America itself is one of the largest melting pots in the world.
D. I believe that as one interacts with new people and culture, he is not only enriching himself, but he also helps enrich those he interacts with, leading to a deeper level of education and learning.
III. My plans in college
A. In college, I plan to take up Business Administration.
B. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I intend on working for a while and perhaps earning a higher level of education.
C. My dream is to travel the world and to meet and interact with as many people as I can.
D. I believe that my Business Administration education will help me obtain a position with a multi-national company or bank.
E. Hopefully, such a position will have the rewards of being sent to other countries to work.
F. Ultimately, though, my goal is to set up my own business, culminating my travels, acquaintances, and life experiences into a product of entrepreneurship that reflects who I am, where I have been, and what I have done.
Applying to one of the top universities in the country can seem like a daunting task. Most applicants experience a great deal of stress and pressure, because they want so badly to get into a top university. Whether you are transferring from another school or you are a newcomer into college life, you will definitely want to put your best foot forward when applying to a top university. One of the best ways to increase your chances of getting accepted is to know what they expect from you. Here are some tips that will also help you with writing your personal statement:
1. Do your research
The first and most important step to understanding what the university expects from you is to do your research. Visit the homepage of the university and read about the school, the courses they offer, their educational system and values, as well as their history. Getting to know the university will give you a good idea of what the university expects not only from its applicants, but from its students as well.
Part of your research will be to gather all information regarding the application process, such as requirements, deadlines, and procedures. Once you are satisfied with the information you have gathered about the university, you should spend some time trying to analyze the information to understand what the university is looking for and how they choose the applicants that will be accepted. To round up your research, try to find some sample personal statements that were written specifically for the university you are applying to. These sample essays can give you an upper hand on your competition when it comes to writing your own essay.
2. Know the requirements for the personal statement
Another way of trying to understand what top universities expect from your personal statement is to know and understand the requirements for your personal statement. Different schools will have different questions, and these questions can give you clues to what topics to write about, what the tone of the essay should be, and how to go about writing the essay. Some questions will be very open-ended, leaving it up to you to find a creative and interesting way to present yourself, while other questions will be straightforward and precise. Use the essays that you found to guide you in meeting the requirements for your application. Remember that the requirements given for the sample essay may differ from those given to you, so only use the samples as general guides.
3. Aim to exceed their expectations
Finally, when writing your personal statement, it’s important to aim higher than just meeting the university’s expectations. Try to exceed them. Here are some of the expectations that top universities normally have for the personal statement:
- error-free (no spelling, grammar, or syntax errors) personal statements
- truthful information
- interesting presentation of facts
- meaningful topics
- clear, concise, and coherent essays
Write an essay that is unique, emotional, captivating, and, most of all, one that makes a strong impact on the admissions committee. If you are able to leave a good, lasting impression on the admissions committee, you can be sure that your chances of getting into the top university will increase greatly. Try to study how the sample personal statement essays were able to go beyond what is normally expected to make an impact on the reader. Use some of these techniques to embellish your own essay.
Photo Credit : PhillipC
The prestigious private school Yale University has been hailed as one of the world’s best universities to attend. With its top-notch education and fully featured facilities, it is no wonder why Yale is regarded by so many as one of the best schools. There are, however, some facts that may make you want to avoid attending Yale. Whether you are just getting ready to apply for college or your Yale application was rejected, you may want to know about these facts that make some people decide against Yale. This article will cover a number of reasons not to attend Yale University.
It’s a home of world changers and jerks alike
Throughout the years, Yale has produced some of the finest graduates, including US Presidents, Nobel laureates, academic leaders, masters of technology and innovation, and Pulitzer Prize winners.(1) Aside from these numerous world changers, however, Yale has also been associated with a number of disappointments. In 1977, for example, a Yale graduate by the name of Richard Herrin used a hammer to murder Bonnie Garland, a senior at Yale at that time. Garland tried to break off the relationship with Herrin, sparking the murder.(2) Another shameful truth about Yale is that the university supported slavery and slave-owners in the past. In fact, some of the buildings and colleges at the university are named after pro-slavery politicians or slave-owners. Just because slavery was accepted at that time, it does not mean that an intellectual, scholarly, and academic institution such as Yale should also approve slavery and its resulting degredation of human dignity.(3)
It’s just too expensive
Let’s face it. Most Ivy League schools are just plain expensive. You may be paying for a great education, but you can probably get a similar education at lower costs in another school. Ever since the 1998 to 1999 school year, Yale has been steadily increasing its tuition. From the 1998 to 1999 to the 2008 to 2009 school years, there has been a compound growth rate of about 4%. For the 2008 to 2009 school year, the normal tuition at Yale was over $35,000.(4)
The students can be jerks
Another annoying thing about Yale University is that many of the students are pompous jerks. Just because you go to a school with a great reputation, that doesn’t give you the right to treat others as though they are lower than you. They may be rich, smart, and talented, but some Yale students can still be asses – literally.
You’re not trying to be the cream of the crop
As mentioned above, Yale has helped to train, educate, and mold numerous influential figures in the world. Still, if you aren’t looking to make a huge, world-altering impact, you may want to think of going to another school. If all you want is to get a degree and get by at a reputable school, then you may not want to deal with such high tuition, a disappointing history in slavery, and a pompous student body. It seems that Yale isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Yale_University_people
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Garland
(3) http://hnn.us/articles/213.html
(4) http://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W082_Tuits_U.pdf
The University of California, Berkeley is one of the oldest universities in California and it has also become one of the most well-known universities in the world. There are a number of reasons that may persuade you to go to school at Berkeley, such as the wide variety of courses in both undergraduate and graduate degree courses. If you applied at the school and got rejected or changed your mind about attending Berkeley, you may want to know some good reasons for not attending Berkeley – here they are:
Massive classes
Berkeley may be a well-known school, but it isn’t well-known for having small class sizes that are conducive to learning and teaching. If you’re used to a nurturing educational environment wherein each student can easily communicate with the teacher, you probably won’t get it from Berkeley. In fact, Berkeley is known to have classes with 500 students, making it practically impossible for teachers to get to know every student and cater to a student’s specific learning needs. Small classes are rare in Berkeley because of the large school population and the budget constraints that the school deals with. Going to a class at six in the morning to make your way through an oversized crowd doesn’t exactly create a motivating experience.(1)
Better system at Stanford
As though it weren’t so obvious already, another reason not to go to Berkeley is because it isn’t Stanford. A number of the people who go to Berkeley are those who did not get accepted into Stanford, which is considered by some to be more prestigious than Berkeley. There are a lot of reasons to choose Stanford over Berkeley, including the more relaxed environment that makes Stanford a great place for learning. With Stanford’s smaller student body, the school is able to provide smaller class sizes, better enrollment options, and more privileged treatment for the students.(1, 2, 3)
The “active” student body
Both the residents of the city of Berkeley and the students at UC Berkeley have a reputation for being activists, hippies, and leftists. In fact, some have even gone as far as to call Berkeley students “tree huggers,” “marijuana smokers,” or “reggae lovers” because of the strong activist and hippie history at the university. Many students actively participate in rallies, protests, or other public showings of political and social beliefs. If you’re not one of the “hippie” types or you don’t like the commotion that they bring, you’d probably be glad about not going to Berkeley.(4, 5, 6)
The fraternity system and sports
Another disappointing fact about Berkeley is that the fraternity system and the school’s sports teams aren’t that good. People looking to have a great time enjoying fraternity parties or sports games with beautiful people and successful school teams will find Berkeley lacking. Cal has a bad record when it comes to football and basketball, and they are probably better known for producing Nobel laureates and post-graduate degree holders than having a good-looking student body.(7)
(1) http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/327444-stanford-vs-berkeley.html
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford
(4) http://www.truthout.org/031209A
(5) http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-09-2142499057_x.htm
(6) http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/12/18_pov.shtml
(7) http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/96legacy/sigma.html
