UCLA Freshman interview

Are you in your dorm?

Where are you at?

Um, I just left my room because my roommate's in there right now getting ready for something, so it was loud.

Yeah, it is so great to see you. Um, class of 2023, correct?

Yeah.

So tell me all about what is it like at college and how is it going for you?

Oh, it's good. It was definitely like an adjustment at first, like, okay, getting used to just not just being away from home, but just like classes are very different and professors are very different, especially like coming from like a small private school. Like, obviously it's very different. Yeah, but, um, I got used to it pretty quick. Like, you get the hang of it.

Can you remember a year ago when you were trying to decide, where am I going to go and what's it going to be like? And if you think back, what would you have told yourself now that you know, right, what it's been like? What, what would you look back and say?

Um, I think like for me at least, like a year ago I was just really worried that I would like make the wrong choice and that I was like not applying like where I should be and stuff. And it's just that, like, everyone says it, but that it'll work out. And like, you do end up where you're like you're supposed to, because I definitely had like my first year of like rejections that obviously hurt really bad. And I thought I was just like not going to go to college and like it wasn't going to work out, but it ended up working out.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And how did you decide, or what schools did it come down to for you? Do you remember?

Um, at first I was really set on UT Austin, um, and then I got capped. So like, I like didn't get in, but I could have gone for like a year somewhere else and then gone. So I was in between maybe doing that or going to University of Georgia. Um, but then once the UCs came out, I only applied Santa Barbara and here, and I got into both of them. So I was like, in between those two for a second. Yeah.

So, I mean, how did you decide no to Santa Barbara and yes to— what, what school are you currently at?

I go to UCLA.

Yeah, I just wanted to hear you say it because there's a lot of students who are like a little disappointed, and there's some students who had to make some tough choices. So you got into some great schools. UC Santa Barbara is a totally different experience than UCLA. What made you finally decide on UCLA?

Um, so I went to— we have like Bruin Day for admitted students, and I was like, I can't really like know if I want to go here unless I go and see the campus and I just see like the people I'd be with. So I went to that, and then after that I like I just, I really like the campus and I really liked everyone. And that's when I was like, it made the decision a lot easier because I felt like I knew, like I knew kind of what I wanted. And going into the process, I just kind of knew like I wanted like a bigger school and I wanted like a nice campus that I could be around. It just like fit everything like I had wanted before too. That's amazing.

So what has been your favorite part of being a freshman at UCLA?

Oh, I would say, hmm, I really, I really enjoy, like, we live like in Beverly Hills, like right outside of like Beverly Hills. So it's really nice to just like be able to like experience like a different city. And not only do I have like the comfort of like being in a really safe like area and like really nice area, but I also like I'm very close to like LA and like everything that's like around here. So it's like really nice to just go and like explore and see what's around me and like have the freedom to do that in college. I love it.

And your classes, are you taking any classes that you're really enjoying or is it just another year of high school?

I've taken classes I actually really liked that I thought I wasn't going to. My second— we were on the quarter system, so my second quarter's My bio class, like I thought I wasn't going to like it and I like actually really, really enjoyed the content that we learned. And then I took an English class my first quarter here and I like really loved my professor. So it made the class like very enjoyable and like I enjoyed researching for it and stuff. So it's like you get surprised with what classes you actually enjoy.

Yeah, and that's interesting. Are you going to school every day? Morning, afternoon, evening? What does your schedule look like?

Um, so it's been very different every quarter, but this quarter my schedule is I have like all of my lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays from like, um, I think it's 11 to like 2:30. Okay. Um, and then on Monday and Wednesday and Friday, I only have one class. So it's like I only have to go to campus for that and then I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want.

It's different, right?

It's very different. It's like It's a lot of time on your own. Mm. Yeah.

What has been the most challenging thing, the, the, from going to high school to UCLA?

Definitely like time management because I, in high school at least, like I was in school the entire day and then you'd come back and you would have like some homework, but you do it like maybe throughout the school day as well as like after school. And then I— in college, it's just very different because most of your work is outside of class. And like before class, like you're prepping for class. Like it's just— it's not— it's not the same. It's not like you're fully learning in class. It's like you have to learn outside of class.

Interesting. I thought— I remember that was a shocker to me too. And then as far as your major, Have you declared your major? Are you sticking with your major? How are you feeling about that?

Yeah, I applied, well, like, for pre-majors right now, but I, like, applied a pre-psychobiology major, which is just, like, basically double majoring in psych and bio. And I think, as of right now, I'm sticking with it. The only thing, like, I would consider switching to is neuroscience because I, like, my class right now, the bio class I'm taking, is, like, very focused on like anatomy and we were doing like the brain section and I was like, I actually kind of like enjoy this. So like it's either neuro or my major right now. I love that.

I remember when my son was deciding if he was going to go on to med school and his biology, one of his biology classes, regenerative biology or something, he just was like, this is so fun. So when you have that, yeah. So what are you thinking now after UCLA? What, what's the next goal?

I'm still thinking med school right now. I'm trying to like, I've been very set on it for like a few years, and I don't know if my mind will change because I've just done so, like I've done a lot of volunteering in it, and I've like shadowed. So I don't know if there's anything that could change my mind. But as of right now, I'm still thinking about school.

And we are just cheering you on for sure. Now, when you were working with College Ready, what was the thing you remember being the most helpful part?

I would say, like, going into it, like applying, at least, like, you kind of just feel lost. And then having the College Ready and that helped really help me, like, feel like I was secure. Kind of like I felt like I had someone telling me like, yeah, you're doing everything right, and like, there's— you're not doing something wrong. Because I had that like doubt in the back of my mind always that like I was doing something wrong. Like me saying like a word wrong was not going to get me into college or something like that.

So yeah, yeah, maybe took away a little of the fear that you were experiencing. I love it. And do you think that your essays were a big impact on your acceptance or not so much?

I think for sure here it was like, because I've heard how much emphasis they put on their essays specifically at UCs, just because a lot of people have like very good GPAs and like extracurriculars and things like that. As much as like you put in a lot of work to them, like it's very common to have like high like GPA. But My essays, at least I feel like, is what got me in because it takes like— it talks more about like you personally and like why you like are a candidate for here. And I just felt like you were selling yourself more in essays than you were in GPA or like anything else.

Do you remember what your GPA was? I haven't.

I think I have honestly no clue. Like, isn't that funny?

It was super important about a year ago. And it happened to all of my, my students. They're like, I don't remember what it was, but it must have been pretty good because you got into a lot of great schools.

Yeah, like it was helpful, but like definitely not the most like impactful thing like in applying.

Now, if you were going to tell a younger student in high school some the best advice you could give them, what would that be?

I would just say maybe like, do like genuinely do put effort into things that you like love and that you want to do in your future, because the earlier you start in high school, at least the more you can like explore like maybe what you want to do. And coming into college, like while you don't necessarily have to choose your major right now and choose what you want to do. It's really helpful to like have that security blanket of like, I know I tried other things and I know what I don't like and I like know I'm on the right path and it makes it like the classes I'm taking and the things I'm doing are actually like helping me towards like the future I want rather than just like still trying to figure it out. Right.

So was there one class, one activity, one, one thing or two things that you did that were, you thought, were really helpful that maybe another student would benefit from?

I think for me it was, it was at first I just shadowed a lot. Like I was like, maybe I wanna be a lawyer, maybe I wanna be a doctor. So I just like, I would ask my parents, I'd, and be like, do you know anyone I could just like spend like a day or two with and like just like see what they do and see like if I genuinely like would enjoy it or could see myself doing it. And then after doing that for a few different professions, I really enjoyed shadowing one of my mom's friends actually, who she is a stomach doctor. And then after that, I was like, okay, maybe I should like explore getting medicine. And that's like kind of how it worked out.

I am so, so impressed. You've always impressed me. There's no doubt about it. But now you're living it. And I hope we get to have this conversation again when you're in medical school. And we're here for you. We're cheering you on. On and just know that we are so excited for all that you've accomplished, and I just wanted to check in and make sure you were good.

Yeah, nice to talk to you.

Yeah, good to talk to you too. We're wishing you all the best. Call if you need anything at all.

I will.

All right, have a good evening.

Bye-bye. You too. Bye.