u/Glad_Department6137

Is it worth it? Part of the reason I chose to attend UCLA over Imperial and NUS was the vibrant culture, LA atmosphere, and people from different walks of life that I'll get to meet on campus. I worry that joining this LLC would put me in the same type of group around the same kind of people that I've been surrounded by for the past 4 years of high school.

At the same time, I do want to do stuff like research, internships, and programs that foster and cultivate an active startup culture, since that's my passion.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, will it be worth it, or can I still do the career-oriented things mentioned above with no major downside or disadvantage even if I don't join the Tech and Innovation LLC?

I just received an email to interview for NUSC. I have no idea what to expect from this interview or how it will go, what kind of questions they will ask, and will there be an emphasis on technical rigor/understanding or will it be more of a discussion-based format?

Can somebody who's already had their NUSC interview for this cycle please shed some light on this? Would love to hear from first-hand experiences.

For context, I am an international applicant who selected AI under the Common Computer Science Programmes as my first choice major.

I know that UCLA, like all the other UCs, gives zero financial aid to international applicants, and that even OOS students often struggle to get sufficient aid.

I am not trying to bend the rules or use this route. Instead, I was wondering if there are any other, alternative ways to fund my education? Would appreciate if any internationals who attended/are currently attending UCLA could share their personal experience and how they funded/are funding their education.

Worse comes worse, my parents said they are willing to meet the full-pay demands, but I know it will definitely not be easy for them (I did some rough math, and the total costs will be around 65% of my family's annual combined income).

For example, any notable merit-based external scholarships, or scholarships within the Samueli School which I can apply for (after some digging I came across AcademicWorks and will set up my account there to see which I am eligible for). Any fellowships or other programs that might work maybe? Contacting my embassy isn't an option (I tried and they said no-which makes sense as I am not from an underrepresented country-thousands from here go to the US for higher education every year).

For further context, I do have good grades and high-impact ECs, so any merit-based options in particular would be really helpful.

If anyone knows any, please help me out, would appreciate it a ton!

I know that UCLA, like all the other UCs, gives zero financial aid to international applicants, and that even OOS students often struggle to get sufficient aid.

I am not trying to bend the rules or use this route. Instead, I was wondering if there are any other, alternative ways to fund my education? Would appreciate if any internationals who attended/are currently attending UCLA could share their personal experience and how they funded/are funding their education.

Worse comes worse, my parents said they are willing to meet the full-pay demands, but I know it will definitely not be easy for them (I did some rough math, and the total costs will be around 65% of my family's annual combined income).

For example, any notable merit-based external scholarships, or scholarships within the Samueli School which I can apply for (after some digging I came across AcademicWorks and will set up my account there to see which I am eligible for). Any fellowships or other programs that might work maybe? Contacting my embassy isn't an option (I tried and they said no-which makes sense as I am not from an underrepresented country-thousands from here go to the US for higher education every year).

For further context, I do have good grades and high-impact ECs, so any merit-based options in particular would be really helpful.

If anyone knows any, please help me out, would appreciate it a ton!

Title. I'm sorry I'm not that familiar with the process, would appreciate it somebody could help me out, thanks a lot.

I was waitlisted as an international CSE major at UCLA.

While I submitted my initial LOCI, I have new updates, which I believe are quite significant and could move the needle. Question is, will they be accepted, and can I try emailing the admissions office either way to see whether or not they'll take them?

For further context, the updates involve:

1. Having one of my original research projects now accepted for publication in the 2026 Spring Edition of the Wharton Sports Analytics Journal, as one of four high school students selected. In my LOCI I also mentioned being extremely keen on joining the Bruin Sports Analytics Club as well, so this would link directly.
2. Finishing third out of 1500+ participants in MIT Hack-Nation's Global AI Hackathon for the Databricks Challenge.
3. Another separate research project that was accepted for presentation at the International Conference on Next Generation AI and Machine Learning.

I was waitlisted as an international CSE and CS major at both UCLA and UC Berkeley.

While I submitted my initial LOCIs to both, I have new updates, which I believe are quite significant and could move the needle. Question is, will they be accepted, and can I try emailing the admissions office either way to see whether or not they'll take them?

For further context, the updates involve:

1. Having one of my original research projects now accepted for publication in the 2026 Spring Edition of the Wharton Sports Analytics Journal, as one of four high school students selected. In my LOCI I also mentioned being extremely keen on joining the Bruin Sports Analytics Club as well, so this would link directly.
2. Finishing third out of 1500+ participants in MIT Hack-Nation's Global AI Hackathon for the Databricks Challenge.
3. Another separate research project that was accepted for poster presentation at the International Conference on Next Generation AI and Machine Learning.

Apparently bro's saying that UCLA will accept 0-3 international students off the waitlist this year for CSE?

Is the yield for CSE really that high :(, I thought I'd have a chance at least but at this point it seems like the waitlist was nothing more than just a soft rejection because wdym they could legitimately just accept no internationals off the waitlist for CSE.

My dumbass over here was thinking that it'd be better this year because of Trump's shenanigans and the fucked up political state of America cuz more internationals would decline their spots.

I know like 2 in-states said they got off for CSE a few days ago, but I've heard absolutely nothing since. I don't even know anymore. I keep rereading my LOCI and thinking it's worse and worse after each reread and finding flaws, when I was deadass so happy with it like a month ago too.

Is it over :')

The general consensus was that international students are taken off the waitlist first, followed by OOS and then in-state students last. This year however, it seems like in-state students have started being notified first. Does that mean there's a chance that UCLA already met its target enrollment for internationals and OOS students, and won't be admitting as many of them off the waitlist?

If you are an international who has gotten off the UCLA waitlist, comment down below please. I might be wrong but based on the posts and comments I've seen thus far, this is what I've observed.

Is the program worth it? Will it meaningfully aid my US applications? I understand it obviously won't be as impactful as say an IMO medal, but do colleges know and appreciate it? Is it even selective?