World Journal Education Exhibition, University of California, Los Angeles admissions auditors share tips

World Journal Education Expo, University of California, Los Angeles admissions auditors share tips (Alberta Times) World Journal will hold an autumn education exhibition at Rosemont University on the 27th, inviting four...

World Journal Education Exhibition, University of California, Los Angeles admission reviewers share tips (Alberta Times) World Journal will hold an autumn education exhibition at Rosemont University on the 27th and invite four educators to give speeches. One of the speakers is Ben Kwak, a Korean admissions reviewer at the University of California, Los Angeles, who will give a lecture on the admissions instructions of the UC system. The admission standards of UCLA have changed this year. Except for specific departments, incoming freshmen do not need to take the SAT-II test. Except for the engineering department of UCLA, which requires the SAT-II test, other departments have canceled the requirement. Students should obtain relevant information before applying and decide whether they need to take the exam. In addition, in the past, the top 4% of California high school students were guaranteed to enter the UC system, but this year it was increased to the top 9%. Although the admission standards of the University of California are transparent, there are still students and parents who believe in rumors and misunderstand them. Many students believe that if they are admitted to UC Berkeley, they will not be admitted to UCLA. Ben Kwak said that although all UC campuses belong to the same system, their admission decisions are absolutely independent and never interfere with each other. Asian students generally believe that the higher academic performance of Asian students leads to excessive competition, which is detrimental to them. Ben Kwak said this is the most common misunderstanding, "When we look at the applications, we can't see the gender or race of the students at all." All reviewers in the UC Admissions Office are trained regularly every year to ensure that students are not measured based on race or gender and that every application is treated fairly. Asians are academically strong and have a relatively high admission rate. They are now the race with the largest enrollment in Los Angeles, accounting for nearly 40% of the total enrollment, with Chinese Americans having the highest proportion. In 2011, 8,253 Chinese students applied to UCLA, 2,733 were admitted, and 899 of them decided to attend. Ben Kwak pointed out that it is not correct for outsiders to say that universities have hard and fast rules on racial ratios. "We have no pressure on racial quotas at all." Each university application is reviewed by at least two admissions staff. The process is commonly known as "Blind Read", that is, the reviewers do not know who the other reviewers are to ensure fairness. The school sometimes invites off-campus educators who have received the same training to participate in the review and review the application with the same standards. Ben Kwak reviewed more than 1,000 applications during this year's admissions period. When it comes to admission standards, Ben Kwak pointed out that UCLA focuses on academics, and GPA is more important than SAT scores. GPA needs to be maintained for four years of high school, while SAT is reliable in a short period of time. "We prefer to see students who are responsible and persistent." Extracurricular activities also focus on quality rather than quantity. Participating in the same student organization or sports event for four years attracts more attention. Ben Kwak said that the "Personal Statement" in the application is a relaxing part for students to express themselves without feeling too stressed. From the auditor's perspective, the first half of the application should explain the student's grades and extracurricular activities, and the personal statement should describe interests and hobbies. In recent years, the scores of applicants to the University of California in Los Angeles have been impressive, and sometimes a good personal statement is more attractive to reviewers. Ben Kwak recommends that students give their personal statement to at least two people to read. After completing the draft, proofread it yourself to correct inappropriate grammar and wording. Then ask one or two friends or family members who know you well to read it to avoid missing any information. Students should have at least a third reading from someone who does not know them well, such as a teacher or counselor. "Remember, the auditor is not familiar with you either. So ask someone who is not familiar with you to help you take a look. Sometimes you can get twice the result with half the effort." Auditors don't like students to make up stories. "We have read so many personal statements and can tell at a glance whether they are true or false." You should not just discuss your own difficulties. Auditors want to see students overcoming difficulties and determination, even if it is just a small problem, rather than discussing the degree of difficulty. Auditors appreciate honest statements more than earth-shattering stories. The government's education budget cuts have a great impact on UCLA. This year, UCLA will expand its enrollment of international students and out-of-state students to increase revenue. Ben Kwak said that California students do not need to worry. They do not replace California students, nor do they affect the admission rate of students from the state. There is no capacity problem in the UC system. Earlier this year, the "anti-Asian video incident" of white female student Alexandra Wallace occurred at the University of California, Los Angeles. Ben Kwak said that the school is working hard to build a diversified campus, recruit more out-of-state and international students, and encourage students to go abroad to appreciate foreign cultures. Asian students and parents usually choose universities based on school rankings. Ben Kwak believes that you only have one college experience in your life, and you should choose a school that suits you. He suggested that students and parents use their second and third years of high school to visit their ideal school on the spot before making a decision. If you are not admitted to UCLA, there is no need to be discouraged. Ben Kwak recommends applying to at least four UCLA schools and considering private universities.