Westwood : UCLA Has Smarter Freshmen

UCLA’s fall freshmen are academically better prepared than last year’s freshmen, according to a comparison of the two groups’ Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores.

Composite math and verbal SAT scores for freshmen who entered this fall averaged 30 points higher than last year’s scores, said Rae Lee Siporin, director of undergraduate admissions and relations with schools. This year’s average score was 1,117, contrasted with 1,087 last year, she said.

In addition to the test scores, the average grade point average for fall freshmen increased from 3.7 in 1986 to 3.74 this year.

Thomas Lifka, assistant vice chancellor of student academic services, said the higher scores and grades are attributable to higher numbers of applicants this year over last year.