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Thrive.

Applications are now closed for the 2024 cycle. 

The Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE) provides high-achieving California high school students from economically underresourced communities with the tools, support, and knowledge needed to confidently navigate the complexities of higher education. This online scholarship program will offer students the chance to earn college credit, access valuable mentorship from current UCLA students, and participate in co-curricular workshops that will enrich their academic and personal development. By the end of their time in BASE, students will have a well-rounded foundation to successfully prepare them for their future academic endeavors!

Have questions? Watch a recording of our informational webinar here!

Academics

BASE students will enroll in one approved UCLA six-week online course. By the end of the program, you will learn how to balance a rigorous college course load while earning college credit that will be reflected on an official UCLA transcript. In addition to your course enrollment, you will have access to academic tutoring support services.

Gain College Credit!

Students will be able to choose to enroll in one of the below courses (space permitting). Please click on the class title, where you will be taken to our Schedule of Classes and where you will find more information regarding the class day and time, instructor, number of college credit/units you will earn, and a brief class description.

More information coming soon.

Mentorship

The academic journey goes beyond the classroom and includes creating a community of support. BASE students will be paired with passionate and knowledgeable UCLA undergraduate student mentors. During their time in the program, students will receive valuable advice, share insights, and learn how to navigate the college experience with confidence, while being integrated into a network committed to their success!

Connect with a UCLA Student!

More information coming soon.

Co-Curriculars

Preparing for college, both academically and socially, can be overwhelming and daunting. BASE co-curriculars are meant to help students feel confident in adjusting to any challenges they may face in their journeys to higher education. The program includes a combination of  workshops that provide college advising, academic & social-emotional skill sets, and financial support options. Please review the sections below for a look at some of the topics covered in the co-curriculars.

Workshops, Panels, and More!

In tandem with your weekly mentorship meetings, the co-curriculars will follow a specific theme each week, seen in the below calendar. Additionally, you can find a calendar with the tentative co-curricular workshops we hope to offer for BASE 2024. Please note these co-curricular topics are subject to change.

 

 

 

 

More information coming soon.

More information coming soon.

More information coming soon.

More information coming soon.

FAQs

The entire program will be free of charge, with UCLA Summer Sessions covering course tuition fees and the cost of course materials/textbooks.

BASE is a comprehensive scholarship program that is only open to current California 10th and 11th grade students. It is completely online, with all BASE students enrolling in one online summer course and attending online co-curricular programming. Additionally, BASE will pair recipients with a UCLA undergraduate student mentor, which is not an opportunity offered in any other UCLA Summer Sessions program.

Summer Scholars Support is not its own program, but instead a standalone scholarship fund that can be used to apply to any of the following UCLA Summer Sessions offerings: Summer Courses, Summer Online, Summer Intensives, Precollege Summer Institutes, or SCIP. Modality (in-person or online) as well as access to co-curriculars will depend on the UCLA Summer Sessions program the recipients choose to participate in. 9th graders are also eligible to apply for Summer Scholars Support, but not BASE.

Participating in BASE will require you to commit a minimum of 6-10 hours a week, with additional time required for studying/homework.

  • All approved courses will have 4-6 hours of required lecture a week
  • Meeting with your UCLA undergraduate mentor and participating in BASE co-curricular programming will be an additional 2-4 hours a week

Therefore, it is very possible to have other summer obligations, as long as you are able to plan around the scheduled course lectures and co-curricular programming.

Yes, attending co-curricular programming is mandatory and will be an expected 1-2 hour time commitment a week throughout the duration of BASE.

Summer classes are regular 10-week UCLA courses compressed into 6 weeks at an accelerated pace. Therefore, missing any portion of the course would leave you at a great disadvantage and you should do your best to ensure there are no conflicts, such as family vacations or other obligations. If you must miss any portion of the course, you should consult with the instructor to determine if you will be able to make-up any material or assignments missed. While a majority of UCLA courses do not take attendance, missing large portions of the course may make it very difficult to pass the course and the opportunity to make-up missed work will be at the instructor’s discretion.  

BASE co-curricular programming and mentorship are integral parts of this program and you are expected to commit 2-4 hours a week for these additional programming components. If you must miss any BASE programming, you will be required to notify UCLA Summer Sessions staff accordingly.

A laptop/computer is required in order to attend your online course and co-curricular programming.

If you do not have reliable access to a laptop/computer, UCLA Summer Sessions encourages you to still apply to BASE! On the application, you will be able to indicate if you do or do not have access to a laptop/computer. If selected as a recipient, our office will contact you directly to coordinate a solution in order for you to participate.

The GPA requirement of 3.5 (unweighted) is strict. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this requirement, please email confidential@summer.ucla.edu.

The household Adjusted Gross income (AGI) requirement is strict, with the threshold limits coming from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s annual State Income Limits report. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding this requirement, please email confidential@summer.ucla.edu.

If your parent(s)/guardian(s) do not have a 1040 tax form available, we will still require some form of documentation confirming financial need and household income. Please email confidential@summer.ucla.edu for more information regarding acceptable alternative documentation.

It will NOT hurt your application and your chance of being selected if you choose to not submit a letter of recommendation.

You will NOT be able to re-access your application and make changes to it after submission. Therefore, please ensure all components of the application are filled out correctly and the proper documents are uploaded before submitting.

The approved course list for BASE is strict and students will NOT be able to enroll in any other online courses offered.

Yes, you can request to change to a different approved course as long as the request is submitted by Friday, June 14 AND there is still space available in the course you are hoping to switch into.

You will be enrolling into college-level courses that are offered at UCLA during the regular school year and earning college credit. Every course will require homework and/or dedicated time to prepare for lecture outside of class.

Most colleges/universities accept UCLA credit for transfer. Students who attend a university outside of the UC system should verify their school’s credit-granting process. Transfer of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Students who attend a University of California (UC) school in the future are guaranteed their UCLA credit will transfer. You may visit the Enrollment and Academics page and view more information under the “University Credit, Grades, and Transcripts” section.

BASE is a completely online program. As a result, BASE students will only be able to enroll in the approved list of online courses and meet with their mentor at their designated online meeting time.

Being selected to participate in BASE does not have any bearing on future admission to UCLA or any other University of California campus. With that being said, participating in a college-level program such as BASE will prepare students for success in their future academic careers at any leading college or university around the world and can strengthen their overall college application.