Has anyone heard if UCLA has become more strict with their GPA requirements lately? I'm trying to figure out my chances and plan out my junior and senior year courses. Need advice on whether I should take more AP classes to boost my weighted GPA or focus on maintaining a high unweighted GPA. Thoughts?
UCLA has not officially announced stricter GPA requirements. However, it's important to understand that admission trends can fluctuate, with GPA expectations perhaps rising due to an increasingly competitive applicant pool. When choosing AP classes, aim for a balance—take challenging courses in subjects you're passionate about, but avoid overwhelming yourself to the point where your unweighted GPA might suffer. The point of taking harder classes is to help prove your readiness for college-level work, and getting a D in an AP course doesn't do anything in service of that goal.
For example, if you excel in sciences and are considering a STEM major, AP courses in biology, chemistry, or calculus can not only boost your weighted GPA but also demonstrate your strength in these areas. In other words, rather than just signing up for as many APs as possible, you'll want to be strategic in your course selection. After all, there are other strategies for boosting your GPA beyond just taking harder classes, and you can read about some of those tips here: https://blog.collegevine.com/improve-your-high-school-gpa-with-these-5-strategies
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