Hello,
My daughter has started her CSU application recently. It seems like the CSU administration only focuses on the GPA and standardized test scores since no essays or extracurricular activities is taken into consideration. Is there any data for the eligibility index from the previous year that can be used as reference?
For which campuses? SJSU is the only Campus which lists EI threshold by major.
http://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/impaction/impactionresultsfreshmen/index.html
This link shows average CSU GPA and test scores for admitted students so you can calculate target EI’s for each campus. For example SDSU’s average CSU GPA was 3.97, SAT 1283 and ACT 27 so target EI’s would be 4459 and 1064. EI’s by major for SDSU are not significantly different so meeting the average makes an applicant competitive.
Also this discussion can help.
Also note that Cal Poly SLO does not use Eligibility index but MCA points and their CSU GPA is 9-11th grades with a 8 semester Honors cap.
Here is the MCA calculator: https://mca.netlify.com/
Depending upon major a target MCA of 4600+ can be competitive.
there are 23 CSUs and they all offer credible degrees but, the student experience and their selectivity varies widely.
What are your daughter’s stats and interests?
@NCalRent:
From another post by OP:
Business/Accounting are target majors.
So @doowife: Unless something has changed, your D’s EI is 4580 so all the CSU’s would be a good option including CSU Long Beach, San Diego State and Cal Poly SLO. I would not call these Safety schools but solid Match schools.
Her SAT super score is 1400 and UC GPA is 4.0. She intends to apply for Long Beach, Pomona, Fullerton and Cal Poly SLO. As for Cal Poly SLO, would you recommend her to apply for an accounting major (her plan) or make an un-declared major?
SLO does not accept Undeclared. She should apply for Business Admin with an Accounting concentration if that is her preferred major. Changing majors can be difficult at SLO especially since one of the change of major criteria is that a student needs to be eligible for that major change at time of admission so no backdooring (applying for an easier admit major and then trying to switch into a more competitive major).
With her SAT superscore and GPA, she has very good chances at all her preferred CSU’s.
Best of luck of her.
Thank you for your useful info!
I’d add SDSU to your list - outstanding biz program, great weather and lots of fun to be had. A couple others to consider, Sonoma has a solid biz program, and is a small (for a CSU) and highly residential campus. Chico is another one with a different student experience -mid sized CSU and a great college town. I think they both have honors programs for high stat students like your daughter.
good luck.
About half of the CSU’s also acknowledge that overall rigor is an important factor in their decision. Basically, this would most likely be taking Honors/AP classes over the 8 point capped GPA bump and taking A-G classes beyond the minimum. The following schools list rigor as a Very Important, or Important admission consideration:
San Diego
Monterey Bay
Cal Poly SLO
Cal Poly Pomona
Fresno
Humboldt
San Francisco
Northridge
Bakersfield
Los Angeles
Stanislaus
One school, Long Beach, claims that class rank is an important consideration.
The rest either did not publish this information (SJSU, CSUSB, CSUCI, CSUEB) or only considered GPA and SAT scores.