<p>Hello all,
I have heard stories that students with high GPAs, high test scores, great extracurriculars and essays, have been rejected from UCD because they chose to major in one of the biological sciences because too many applicants chose that major as well. Here’s some information to give you a better picture:</p>
<p>Overall academic GPA (grade 9-12 so far): 4.07
GPA (10th-12th): 4.38
ACT Score: 25 (planning on retaking it in September, shooting for at LEAST a 28)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Internship at an emergency room for 3 years
Member of:
-Physics Club for 2 years
-Spanish Club for 2 years (President & creator)
-Debate Team for 1 year
-CSF Club for 3 years (now vice president)
-Interact Key Club for 3 years (now treasurer)
-Class vice president (this year)
-Have had the same job for a year & a half
-NSHSS Ambassador
-National Honor Society Club for 1 year (President & creator)</p>
<p>Awards:
Honors English 10A & 10B
Honors Anatomy
AP Spanish (I’ve always been one year ahead in Spanish, I really enjoy the language)</p>
<p>Took 2 honors classes my sophomore year, 2 honors and 3 AP my junior year, and I am taking 3 AP during my senior year. I got straight As sophomore year, and junior year the only class I got a B in was AP Physics (hopefully they take it into consideration that I was also only in Alg. II). I plan to get straight As my senior year as well. </p>
<p>I plan to become an anesthesiologist and thus, am interested in majoring in some type of biology at UCD. Do you guys know if the stories that I’ve heard are true, and do you think it could make or break me as of right now? Thank you!</p>
<p>Shoot for a better ACT/SAT score and you should be reasonably safe. Your GPA is fine and your ECs are great as well. The average accepted GPA for Fall 2014 is 4.07 and average ACT score is 28.</p>
<p>A school doesn’t only accept “the best”, they accept enough students of each “tier” (for lack of a better word) to create a good distribution (aka the curve) because “someone’s gotta fail to make someone be on top” and to take some pressure off of the professors when writing exam questions with the curve in mind. </p>
<p>All else equal, that may be why you heard stories of the valedictorian who didn’t get in but the “average Joe” did (or the valedictorian is accepted but the school knows there is an extremely slim chance he/she will chose the school in the end if the school does not offer money/leverage), not just for UCD but for about every school.</p>
<p>UCD is a great school, I’m glad to be there, and the following may or may not pertain to you BUT:</p>
<p>If one is 90% CERTAIN about wanting to go to medical school (or any other profession school) it would be wise to choose a school in which you know you will be on top rather than a school in which you will be average or below average. (Within a certain margin of difference between individual schools in regards to reputation and preparation for the MCAT (for example UCD vs UCB), so lets not bring up any Harvard vs random state college counter scenario). Depending on the person, that may or may not be UCD. </p>
<p>Sorry if that part goes off topic, however med school hopeful + undergrad admissions question + “heard stories that great students don’t get into certain undergrads” tempt me to mention the above.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider for people have great stats and don’t get admitted: UCs take into account a variety of factors other than scores. A lot of times cases of high stats applicants getting rejected is because of some “behind-the-scenes” issue that you don’t see just from reading their post or hearing their story. Heck, it could be something completely out of their control (i.e. something with the admissions committee/applicant pool). This applies to any school with a holistic admissions process, not just UCs.</p>
<p>That said, I agree with redbeansoup. Raise that ACT score and write some really nice personal statements and you’ll have a good chance. Good luck!</p>