<p>I'm basically looking at my chances for the whole University of California system. Please don't scorn me for looking at
Berkeley, while I know it is out of reach for me, I am still looking for opinions since I don't know if they would ignore my low GPA for other factors. I'm basically probing the waters of uni's I am capable of getting accepted in.</p>
<p>General Information
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Grade: Currently Junior
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Ethnicity: White/Caucasian</p>
<p>**Grade Point Average<a href="Did%20poorly%20my%20freshmen%20year%20but%20moderately%20well%20all%20other%20years,%20if%20that%20helps">/B</a>
Weighted: 3.22
Unweighted: 3.77
Rank: Top 7% (uncompetitive, high dropout rate high school however)</p>
<p>Extra Curricular Activities<a href="only%20listed%20activities%20that%20matter">/B</a>
**-Commanding Officer of the school's JROTC program (4 years).
-Officer in Tennis team (2 years).
-Varsity Quiz Team (2 years).
-President of school's new Russian Language Club. (1 Year)</p>
<p>I have not taken the SAT's. I have not taken the ACT's. Based on my high PSAT score, and the fact that I will spend a good amount of time this summer studying and preparing for the SAT, I am guessing I will score in the 2,000+ range.</p>
<p>Please chance me at any of the following!
Berkeley
Davis
Irvine
Los Angeles
Merced
Riverside
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz </p>
<p>Any comments and advice are highly appreciated! And yes. I know I have a low GPA... :(</p>
<p>Well, do keep in mind that it will be harder for out of state students to enter the UC system (they're supposed to have higher standards for them) as well as the higher expense (around 45k the last time I checked), that said, I'll give you the best chances from what I've seen so far. And ah, how can your weighted GPA be lower than your unweighted one? I'll just assume it's switched.</p>
<p>You would have a rather good shot at Davis, Merced, Santa Cruz and Riverside. A bit iffy on Irvine, Santa Barbara and probably rather long reaches for San Diego, Los Angeles and Berkeley; I have no clue about San Francisco though.</p>
<p>Alex pretty much summed up what I was about to say. I think you might even have a fairly good shot at Irvine and Santa Barbara as well taking into account that your SAT score does turn out well.</p>
<p>Best wishes.</p>
<p>UCs calculate your GPA using only your sophmore and junior year.
And you accidentally switched your weighted and unweighted right?
And, being out of state is a huge disadvantage, UCs want their homegrown cali kids
Anyways, if i were to guess</p>
<p>Berkeley-far reach
Davis-reach
Irvine-reach
Los Angeles- far reach
Merced-in
Riverside-in
San Diego-reach/far reach
San Francisco - UCSF is a medical school
Santa Barbara-reach
Santa Cruz -match</p>
<p>Sorry if i seem cold, but being OOS just makes it a lot harder</p>
<p>However, maybe if you calculate your GPA using only 10th and llth it will look a lot better. Also, more ECs couldn't hurt</p>
<p>best of luck</p>
<p>Do recalculate your GPA using the UC GPA system (you can find an explanation at <a href="http://www.ucop.edu/pathways)%5B/url%5D">www.ucop.edu/pathways)</a>. For out of state students, the mininimum UC GPA is currently 3.4, so the first thing to do is make sure you've hit the minimum according to the way the UC system calculates it. (It is not just classes in 10th and 11th, but grades in certain key subject areas taken in those two years). Meeting the minimum doesn't guarantee admission to any of the campuses, of course, but if you don't have the minimum, you are not eligible for admission out of state right off the bat.</p>
<p>In addition to your UC GPA, the UC's also have minimum score requirements for the SAT PLUS two subject tests. Without knowing your test scores and actual UC GPA, no one here can accurately predict your chances at any of the UC schools.</p>
<p>While the UC's do look at other factors, the major piece of their criteria for admissions is UC GPA plus SAT plus subject test scores. It's a tougher road for out of state students than in-state, so no one should count on "other factors" over-riding things if you don't meet at least the minimums.</p>
<p>By the way, the UC's will be raising out of state tuition and fees next year to $28,615 --- and that doesn't include room, board, books, and expenses. Add those in and you'll be looking at over $40,000 a year. Financial aid for out of state students isn't the best at the UC's, and is likely to be even worse in the future due to the California budget crisis. So, if you can't afford to pay a good chunk of the cost out of pocket, it might be wiser to focus on other great options.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I have taken my average academic GPA for Sophomore and Junior years (even though junior year isn't over, I'm pretty certain what my grades will be), and I came out with 3.49. However I think that the figure is a bit low, I will revise the figure tomorrow. I'll also calculate my UC GPA.</p>
<p>And wow! I knew UC's were expensive but jeez! I suppose it would be wise to perhaps look at other schools in other states...$40,000 per year is simply too expensive, even if I start drug dealing in a UC fraternity I would have trouble keeping up (kidding lol).</p>
<p>Do you guys think I could make schools in the top 100? Top 50? I'd like to major in international business, but my major is definitely not set in stone so it may change.</p>
<p>You guys are worlds of help, thanks for your posts!</p>
<p>You do have a good shot at schools in the top 100, so focus on defining what exactly you are looking for and then identifying colleges that fit those needs. By the way, the UC's would not be my top choice for international business -- some of the California State schools (different system than the UC's) might be better options (and less expensive as well). If you PM me, I'd be happy to give you some suggestions after you answer some additional questions.</p>
<p>One thing I would suggest is looking into the Western Undergraduate Exchange (google it) - this will give you a reduced rate on out of state tuition at a number of universities in other western states. Some of the WUE schools also have merit scholarships available to WUE applicants.</p>