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The original version of this article contained information that was unclear and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
While state funding to the University of California remains up in the air and growing enrollment has placed pressure on campus resources, UCLA admitted its biggest freshman class in university history, according to admissions data released Thursday.
This year’s number of UCLA admits increased by 4.7 percent from last year to more than 16,177 students, while the UC as a whole admitted 82,850 freshman students, also a record high. Nonresident admits, which have grown in recent years, account for the majority of that increase at UCLA.
UCLA is steadily becoming more competitive – it saw a total 20.1 percent acceptance rate, the most selective of the UCs. The UC admissions data released Thursday do not include students on the waitlist.
UCLA officials said they are confident the university will not have much extra difficulty accommodating the large expected class.
Their confidence is partly based on UCLA’s enrollment targets, or the numbers of residents and nonresidents they expect will enroll at UCLA for the fall, said Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at UCLA. Enrollment targets, set by UCLA admissions officials, guide how they decide who and how many applicants they accept.
Copeland-Morgan said UCLA officials expect to enroll about 4,100 residents and 1,600 nonresidents this year, about 200 fewer students than the 2012 enrolled freshman class.
“We will make sure that students continue to have the classes that are needed for them to stay on track for graduation,” Copeland-Morgan said.
Also, much of the increase in admitted students this year is from nonresident students, who are less likely than residents to enroll at UCLA since they typically have a wider range of college choices, Copeland-Morgan added. Out-of-state and international students in total made up 41 percent of all admitted freshmen, compared to about 40 percent in 2012.
But UCLA has not always stayed within its enrollment targets. Last year, 100 more students than UCLA had planned for enrolled.
The year before, UCLA over-enrolled by about 600 students and unintentionally ended up with its largest freshman class ever. UCLA bore the brunt of the sudden increase by spending an extra $16 million to provide enough courses for the incoming students.
“It’s always possible some more students may come,” said Bob Cox, manager of the UCLA Office of Analysis and Information Management. “In that case, we’d have to go back (and plan) again.”
To adjust for large freshman cohorts, UCLA departments may have to stretch their course schedules and request more funding from the university for more classes, among other actions, Cox said.
“We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think we could do it right,” Cox said. “We believe that UCLA can handle it, that freshman cohorts of this size are possible.”
Nonresident applications to UCLA jumped by more than 5,000 this year, partly because of UCLA’s increased efforts to recruit nonresidents, who pay an extra $23,000 in tuition, in recent years.
This time, however, international students faced significantly higher competition for a spot than out-of-state students. UCLA admitted 19 percent less international students compared to last year, while out-of-state admits increased by about 34 percent.
Nonresident students are also held to higher standards than are California residents, said Michael Treviño, UC director of undergraduate admissions, in a conference call.
Copeland-Morgan said she does not know how many students are on the waitlist, but added that UCLA will accept students from the waitlist to reach their enrollment targets for resident and nonresident students. Students from the waitlist will be accepted depending on whether they are in-state or from outside of California, she said.
Students must submit their Statements of Intent to Register by May 1.
Clarification: Last year, 100 more students than UCLA had planned for enrolled.
I bet $10000 that they accepted more Hispanics this year.
What’s wrong with this?
Because UCLA is no longer an academic institution that selects students based on their academic competence, but rather on how well their victim narratives are written. I can guarantee you that more than half of the Hispanic students at UCLA don’t meet the academic standard…we gotta scrutinize UCLA admission office…but too bad that’s not gonna happen…UCLA’s always gonna stay as the so-called “beacon of hope” rather than a presitgious, competitive academic institution… I only hope that our posterity would see how ridiculous our society is right now…
you are making a lot of racist assumptions here.
I am hispanic. I got a 4.6 GPA in high school and a 1900 on my SAT. While also being an eagle scout and varsity football player and varsity track and field discus thrower. I had a great personal statement. I was admitted in 2012 and am just completing my freshman year and I am doing just fine. Go back to USC you racist bigot.
The average SAT score for UCLA is well above 2000, and well above 2200 for Asians.. dumbed down by people like you with below 2000 SAT scores lol
Chris, the average SAT score for UCLA is above 2000. you yourself has proved Pelos’ point. lol
First, “ddd” I’ll agree with you that ucla has probably admitted more “hispanics” this year, but that’s largely because the number in this demographic group has been steadily increasing over the years. That would explain the slight jump in admits. This also reflects a growing trend throughout the State of California and in U.S. population as a whole. So I am puzzled at what the big “shocker” is here and why you’re “betting $10,000” of your hard earned green backs? You’re not going to yield much on that win because virtually no one would bet against you unless they’ve been living under a rock with you for the past several decades.
Secondly, “Pelos” let’s just say that your fears are well founded for a second and “posterity” does have much to fear about UCLA’s terrible habit over the years of admiting just “any bum off the street” (errrrrr… you mean hispanics and other people of color). You would definately have to worry about having such a “loosers” in your company like:
1. Jackie Robinson a Bruin who broke the color barrier in baseball.
2. Antonio Villaraigosa the first Latino Mayor in L.A. in generations.
3. Tom Bradley L.A.’s first black Mayor.
4. Kareem Abdul Jabbar (N.B.A. legend and Community Activist)
5. Too many successful lawyers, doctors, scientists, engineers, businessmen, scholars, politicians, athletes, artists, and entertainers of color to list here….
So don’t hate because UCLA now uses the same method as the Ivies to select students. In a world where bigotry and ignorance are less and less appreciated or tolerated, you’ll be glad to have any association with UCLA, a more competetive institution than ever before, and one that represents the population of the nation it serves.
First of all, those people who have mentioned have nothing to do with academics. Are you dyslexic..? Just don’t overlook the point that most Hispanics don’t even meet the academic standards, and UCLA admits the Hispanics who don’t academically qualify over the students who dedicated four years of their high school to accomplising various academic feats. Second, do you even understand what bigotry is? bigotry is an irrational hatred, while I was simply stating “facts”. Prove that UCLA uses the same method as the Ivie, ( and elaborate on methods moron) why do minorities like you always use the word “bigotry” to the people who seem to question the current system of reverse discrimination? If you can explain to me why Hispanics from disadvantaged background deserve to study at UCLA more than Asian / White students who perspired really hard throughout their high school for their resolve to study at UCLA as a pedestals for their goals. And believe it or not, among South Korean academic websites, UCLA is losing its reputation due to its “Hispanic loving” 🙂
hey, 42, if you could answer this one question for me, i will gladly retreat. does a person from a more disadvantaged background deserve more chance to study at UCLA than a very hard-working student from less disadvantaged background yet has dedicated his whole life for a chance to study at UCLA? (please provide valid reasons why)
and please check this video out.
I believe that everyone is equal, regardless of their skin color. But, instead of begging to be admitted, why don’t work hard to earn your place? and if you don’t have enough resources to have the chance to study at UCLA, then why not be less greedy and apply to less prestigious schools?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PNhtG2z_w8