School of Medicine must be transparent about raised admission thresholds

Applying to medical school is the apex of any pre-medical student’s journey. But for some students, it’s possible their efforts may not even be considered. The Daily Bruin reported in January that the David Geffen School of Medicine is raising its admission thresholds to a minimum 3.4 math and science GPA and a minimum 512 […]

Stop the clock on daylight saving time to reduce health, safety risks

UCLA’s official motto “Fiat Lux” means “let there be light.” But come Election Day, Californians will have the power to decide when there should be light in the day. Daylight saving time was first adopted in the United States to save energy and electricity during World War I by maximizing daylight during working hours in […]

Ankita Nair: Alumni scholarship application deadline disadvantages incoming students

As high school students all over the country rejoice about gaining admission into UCLA, some may be disappointed to find out it is too late to apply for one of the university’s most prestigious merit-based scholarships. The Alumni Scholarship is a merit award given to 150 students every year by the UCLA Alumni Association. The […]

UCLA common book program should expand mediums to appeal to wider audiences

Reading UCLA’s common book wasn’t all that common. But this year, that seems to be changing. The Common Book Selection Committee, which consists of faculty members, students and UCLA community members, selects a book each year they believe is noteworthy and important for students to read. The common book program has existed since 2008 and […]

Ankita Nair: Graduate students need financial support from UCLA if tax bill passes

Graduate students at UCLA might have to pay taxes on money they don’t make. The United States House of Representatives passed a tax bill Nov. 16 aimed at reforming the tax code system. Among the bill’s changes is the repeal of Section 117(d)(5), a provision that allows graduate students to not pay taxes on their […]

Ankita Nair: UCLA should improve shadowing opportunities for pre-med students

Admission into a top-20 ranked medical school is notoriously difficult – acceptance rates hover around 1.8 percent to 3.9 percent. But for many pre-med students at UCLA, gaining access to student shadowing opportunities can seem just as challenging. Aside from requiring a strong academic record and stellar extracurricular activities, getting into a medical school often […]

Ankita Nair: New students need to be taught the importance of sleep at orientation

For the nearly 9,000 incoming first-year and transfer students preparing to matriculate at UCLA, getting a good night’s sleep is probably the last thing on their minds. High school students are long accustomed to sacrificing sleep in order to maintain high academic standing and extracurricular involvement. But students who continue to practice the same habits […]