Real profiles & essays — Loyola Marymount

Student profiles

Representative applicants for Loyola Marymount — a mix of admits, waitlists, and rejects across the admit pool. Stats, hooks, and outcomes shown for each.

• GPA / Test: 3.88 / SAT 1390
• Major: Film & TV
• Geography: California (Los Angeles County)
• Hooks: None
• Standout: Directed and produced a 20-minute short that premiered at a regional film festival and won Best Student Film
• Other: Captain of school improv troupe, internship at a local production company
• Why admitted: Strong academic record combined with a clear portfolio and proven local filmmaking experience made her a great fit for LMU's Film & TV program.

• GPA / Test: 3.72 / ACT 30
• Major: Business Administration
• Geography: Arizona
• Hooks: First-generation college student
• Standout: Founded a profitable student-run e-commerce business that employs classmates and donates a portion of proceeds to local youth programs
• Other: Varsity soccer, DECA state finalist
• Why admitted: Demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership and first-gen background aligned with LMU's emphasis on practical business experience and community impact.

• GPA / Test: 3.60 / SAT 1305
• Major: Communication Studies
• Geography: International (Philippines)
• Hooks: Underrepresented minority, international applicant
• Standout: Led a nationally recognized youth media campaign on mental health that reached thousands online
• Other: Editor of school newspaper, advanced placement coursework
• Why admitted: Clear fit with LMU's Communication program and demonstrated impact through media advocacy outweighed a modestly lower GPA.

• GPA / Test: 3.84 / SAT 1370
• Major: Psychology
• Geography: Washington State
• Hooks: Legacy (parent alum)
• Standout: Conducted original independent research on adolescent sleep patterns, presented at a regional psychology conference
• Other: Volunteer crisis hotline counselor, National Honor Society
• Why waitlisted: Strong academics and research, but limited seats in his intended major and a slightly weaker supplemental essay relative to peers likely left him just short of an immediate offer.

• GPA / Test: 3.95 / ACT 32
• Major: Biology
• Geography: California (San Diego)
• Hooks: None
• Standout: High-level AP/IB coursework and regionally awarded science fair project
• Other: Varsity swimmer, hospital volunteer
• Why rejected: Despite excellent numbers, a very competitive applicant pool for STEM and less distinctive extracurricular differentiation meant admissions favored candidates with clearer aligns to LMU priorities or unique contributions.

• GPA / Test: 3.40 / SAT 1210
• Major: Film & TV
• Geography: Texas
• Hooks: None
• Standout: Active on school video team; several short clips posted online with modest local traction
• Other: Part-time job, film club member
• Why rejected: Academics and test scores fell below LMU's mid-50% ranges and his creative portfolio did not distinguish him enough against applicants with stronger reels or higher academic qualifications.

Real essays from Reddit

Actual essays shared by applicants who submitted to Loyola Marymount — pulled from r/CollegeEssays, r/EssayDeath, and r/A2C. Loads on demand since it takes a few seconds.