I was planning on applying Computer Science to all of my UC schools but didn’t realize how difficult it was to get in. Should I switch to another field (ex. business, econ) or apply and hope I get in. The same goes for the privates I’m applying to.
-California resident
-Race: Black (i know this doesn’t matter for uc’s)
- ACT: Composite - 33, English - 35, Math - 27, Reading - 34, Science - 34 (I retook the ACT and hope to improve my math score)
-SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry - 640, Math II - 580 (I was really disappointed with these and don’t know if I should submit them but, oh well)
-Unweighted GPA: 3.97
-Weighted UC GPA: 4.17
Class Rank: 4/395
Freshman:
English Language Arts 9 Honors
World Geography/Healthy Living
Geometry
Biology
French 1
Sophomore:
English Language Arts 10 Honors
AP European History (3)
Algebra 2/Trig Honors
Chem Honors
French 2
Junior:
AP Language/Comp (4)
AP US History (4)
AP Art History
Pre-Calc
AP Chemistry (4)
French 3 Honors
Senior:
AP Biology
AP Psychology
AP Literature/Comp
AP Government
AP Calc AB
Physics
Economics
Work Experience: Referee for the youth soccer league, Tutor for elementary school students
Volunteering: Volunteer for Public Library - 400 hours from 8th to 12th grade, Key Club - 25 hours
Extracurriculars:
-Treasurer of French Club (10-12)
-Key Club
-Traveling soccer team (8-12)
-Varsity tennis team (11-12)
-National Science Bowl (12)
Honors/Awards:
-Member of the Honorary Society of French
-AP Scholar with Honor
-Principal’s Scholar Honor Roll
If you want to do CS, apply as a CS major. At colleges where CS is more competitive than the school overall, it will be difficult to change into CS after enrolling in another major or as undeclared.
With a UC-weighted-capped GPA of 4.17, you probably have (for CS) 3-4 reaches, 2-3 matches / high matches, and 3 low matches / almost safeties among the 9 UC campuses.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1903428-faq-uc-historical-frosh-admit-rates-by-hs-gpa-p1.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/freshman-admission-matrix.pdf indicates that most UCs (other than UCB and UCLA) will consider you for admission to your second choice major if you are not admitted to your first choice major. So you can put down CS as your first choice major and whatever else as your second choice major.
I suggest that you don’t submit your subject SAT scores. Good luck!
I agree with @ucbalumnus in that if you are interested in CS, then apply for CS and be flexible in your college choices. As indicated, you are competitive for several of the UC’s so you will have several good choices come Spring. You do not have to go to a top UC to do well as a CS major and graduate.
Ok Thanks. Do you happen to know whether Davis or Irvine is better than CS? Also what about UCSD?
All of these UC’s will give you a great CS education. UCSD is the most selective of the three and extremely important in getting in as a direct admit. If not, then you have to deal with a lottery selection to switch into the major later.
I would look at the CS course curriculum for each campus and see if there are any notable differences in the CS programs. I would try to visit each school and talk to CS students and get their views/opinions about the program. If affordable, I would just apply to all three so you have some choices and time to explore which school(s) would be a good option after the decisions are in.
Remember “fit” will depend upon you and what is academically/financially and socially important to you.