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APPLYING TO UCLA
Berkeley was my backup school for UCLA. I had heard about it while researching a physics project. Since I was sooooooooooooo sure I would make it to UCLA I never bothered to see Berkeley for myself. So I found no reason to attend Berkeley's CalSo. They offered an introduction at the campus over two days for a ridiculous amount of money, and it was not worth it. You don't understand, I could have bet my life I would get accepted to UCLA. I did everything I could possibly think of to get in.
I applied to the theater program. Unfortunately, when I went to UCLA, they didn't tell me in the campus tour, or the website, or the admissions advisor that they only accept very few students a year (go to their website for more info). I learned on the day of the audition that they go all around the country, looking at thousands of students.
I got an audition, but during the introduction someone said that I would have to be a slave for two years being a production assistant before I could be in the plays or take any acting classes. What kind of crap was that! I'm not going to pay someone to subject me to torture!
I still did my best at the audition, but didn't get in, big surprise! Again, I think I did everything I could to get in.
Let's list:
1) Good grades, 3.98 GPA (in a 0.0-4.0 scale)
2) Got a scholarship to a private high school
3) Finished high school in three years
4) Took summer classes at UCLA to finish up high school early
5) Was in high school theater and directed an anti- drug play
6) Speech and debate almost every weekend for two years
7) Volunteered independently and through school
8) Ran my own public access show in Denver, CO and Marina Del Rey, CA (LIVE)
9) Letter of recommendation from a UCLA teacher (See my website for transcripts, www.berkeleyintwoyears.com)
Another problem and one of my BIG mistakes with UCLA admissions is that they did not allow me to apply for both the theater program and The College of Letters and Science. I was allowed to apply to only one or the other. What I should have done was apply for an unpopular major like philosophy, get accepted, and then work my way into the theater program after two years and change majors. A couple of people told me that they got a 2.5 GPA in community college and were accepted to UCLA because they choose an unpopular major and then changed it once they got in. I guess I wasn't good enough for UCLA, but surprise, I was good enough for Berkeley.
