New UCLA admissions figures released today show that approximately 10,366 prospective freshmen have been admitted to the campus for fall 2002, compared to 10,733 last year. The 2002 freshman class was selected from a record 43,369 applicants to UCLA.

While the campus admitted fewer students than last year, the number of underrepresented students continued to increase. Preliminary data show that underrepresented students — Native Americans, African Americans and Chicanos/Latinos — constitute 17 percent (1,724) of the admitted freshman class, up from 15.5 percent (1,630) last year.

“We are delighted to have admitted such an accomplished group of students with exceptional academic qualifications,” said UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale, “and we will work very hard to encourage these young scholars to enroll at our university.”

The fall 2002 freshman class is the first admitted under the UC “comprehensive review” policy. Adopted last November by the UC Board of Regents, the new policy requires campuses to use a wide range of academic, personal and socioeconomic factors as criteria for admission to the university.

“The quality of our applicants is increasing every year, with 90 percent of the student applicant pool meeting UC eligibility requirements,” said Vu Tran, UCLA’s director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations With Schools. “Unfortunately, this results in our having to turn down exceptional students whom other universities in the country would love to have.”

“For every four applicants, only one will be happy,” added Tran, noting that UCLA’s admit ratio is nearly 24 percent, one of the lowest in the country.

Admissions data show that among underrepresented students, Chicanos/Latinos account for the largest increase. A total of 1,354 Chicanos/Latinos were admitted for fall 2002, up from 1,277 last year. Chicanos/Latinos constitute 13.3 percent of the admitted domestic class, compared with 12.1 percent in fall 2001.

Among African Americans, UCLA experienced a slight increase over last year. For fall 2002, 331 African Americans were admitted, compared to 305 last year. They constitute 3.3 percent of the admitted class, up from 2.9 percent the previous year.

The only decrease in the underrepresented sectors was among American Indians, who account for .4 percent of the admit pool, down from .5 percent last fall. A total of 39 American Indian students were admitted for the fall, down from 48 last spring.

Said Tran: “The diversity of our admissions pool reflects the demographic trends in California. Each year, thanks to extensive outreach efforts on behalf of UCLA and the UC, we are seeing an increase in the number of admits from underrepresented sectors.”

Tran noted that the number of underrepresented students admitted to UCLA is getting closer to those before the implementation of Proposition 209. The California measure, passed by voters in November 1996 but implemented at the UC in 1998, eliminated the use of race, ethnicity and gender as criteria for admissions.

In other categories, admissions data show that a total of 4,306 Asian Americans (42.3 percent) were admitted as freshmen this fall, compared with 4,314 (41.2 percent) last year. UCLA admitted 3,217 white/Caucasians (31.7 percent) this coming fall, a decrease from last year’s 3,431 (32.7 percent). Among those students who declined to state their race or ethnicity, UCLA admitted 779 (7.7 percent), compared with 955 students (9.1 percent) last spring. Another 128 students (1.3 percent) who identified themselves as “other” were admitted for fall 2002, down from 172 (1.6 percent) the previous year.

The admissions figures, Tran said, reflect about 97 percent of the total admits. Final figures, which take into consideration special admits and athletes, will not be available until October.

Students admitted for the fall 2002 freshman class had an overall grade point average (including honors and advanced placement courses) of 4.23, very slightly higher than last fall’s 4.22. The raw grade point average (excluding honors) was 3.77, equaling last year’s average. The median SAT score for the admitted class was 1,321, down from 1,325 in fall 2001.

However, the average score for the three SAT II tests increased by about five points, reflecting the UC policy that emphasizes the importance of achievement tests. The average SAT II Writing test was 663.7, compared to 658.3 last year. For SAT II Math, it was 679.7, compared to the fall 2001 score of 675.6. The third SAT II test — a subject test chosen by the student from a list of specified subjects — posted a gain of 5.6 points, from 678.1 last year to 683.7 for fall 2002.

Students took an average of 18.4 honors and Advanced Placement courses, topping last year’s average of 17.7.

Of the 10,368 domestic and foreign students admitted for the fall as freshmen, UCLA expects to enroll 4,200. Admitted students have until May 1 to indicate their intent to register at the campus. Transfer students who applied to UCLA will be notified at the end of April.


NOTE: Fall 2002 figures are extracted from March 21 files and do not reflect final figures. This year’s figures are compared with March 29, 2001, figures, not final figures. Admissions numbers will change slightly, as several cases are still under review.