This whole college application process has me all anxious. UCLA is on top of my dream list but I'm unsure about the GPA they expect from their applicants. Could you guys share what the average GPA for UCLA is?
UCLA is a highly competitive university, and for the 2024-2025 application cycle, the average GPA of admitted students was approximately 4.5. However, remember that this is simply an average.
This average GPA often seems quite high because of the weight applied to honors, AP, and college courses. If your high school uses an unweighted GPA system (out of 4.0), keep in mind that the number could look quite different. Unweighted GPAs will typically fall within 3.95 - 4.0 for competitive applicants at UCLA.
While it's helpful to understand these statistics, it's also crucial to remember that UCLA's admission process reviews the entirety of your application. This includes your extracurricular activities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation - not just your GPA.
In fact, for the UC application, some factors given the most consideration are your grade trends (if you showed improvement over your high school career), your senior year course load, and if you've managed to excel in spite of hardships. Essentially, Admissions Officers perform a comprehensive review, treating GPA as one component of a multi-faceted application.
So while maintaining a high GPA can enhance your application profile, it's equally important to show UCLA that you're well-rounded outside the classroom. Invest time in your essays, extracurriculars, and letters of rec - these really matter too!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.