So I think that’s about on par with Harvard, only difference is that there is a strong preference for Californians. So whereas with Harvard you will have an equal opportunity to get it, it’s an uphill battle to get into UCLA. Depends on how you want to look at it, in some cases it will be harder, in other it will be easier.

One good thing about UCLA, and the entire UC system, is that they require a mission statement/essay. I’ve known people who’ve told me “My grades were good, but definitly not THEIR standards, my scores were average, and I had the average person’s extracurriculars, and I got in some how. Only think it could have been was my essay”. I don’t know how accurate that is, and there’s really no way of finding out.

If you don’t get into UCLA, and feel you’ve wasted a year living here, you might want to try any of the other UCs. Say what you will about California high schools, we have a very good college system.

On the graduate level, residency doesn’t matter.