*Average Student California* No one to turn to (very detailed)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello this is my first post here so please bare with me.</p>

<p>I would like to know my chances for the following and any other schools that I may be a good match for I also would like to know a few safety schools (Must be in California)</p>

<p>Reach for the stars:
UCLA
UCSD</p>

<p>High-mid reaches:
UCI (MY #1)
UCD
UCSB
UCSC
Matches/low reach
UC Merced?
Cal state Northridge
Cal state Long beach
Cal State Fullerton
Cal state San Diego
Safety:
Cal State LA?</p>

<p>Female
African American
California</p>

<p>GPA:</p>

<p>Weighted/Unweighted
Academic (9-12) 4.21/3.78
Overall (9-12) 4.18/3.79
10-12 GPA 3.95/3.67 (Low but it is what it is)
UC GPA: 4.1 (Avg of both semesters)</p>

<p>Rank: 40/649 (top 7%)</p>

<p>Schedule:</p>

<p>9TH GRADE:</p>

<p>AVID 1 A/A
Biology H A/A
English 9H A/A
Japanese A/A<br>
Cadet Corps A/A<br>
Plane Gmtry A/A </p>

<p>*Switched high schools old school was in a very bad neighborhood but had to wait a month for transfer and could not keep my honors classes because you have to apply the year before and all were full except math)</p>

<p>10TH GRADE:
Algebra II E C+/B
Chemistry A/A
English 10 A/A+
PE Co-Ed A-/A
Spanish l A-/A
W Hist/Geo A/A+</p>

<p>*Bit of senioritous in some of my classes</p>

<p>11TH GRADE:
AP Chemistry B/B-
AP Engl Lang A-/B+
News Prod A/A+
Spanish ll A-/A-
Trigonometry A/A
US History A- /A</p>

<p>SENIOR SCHEDULE:
AM Gov't
AP Art History (My art for a-g)
AP Psychology
AP LIT & Comp
News Prod.
Math Analysis E (Pre-Calc Honors)</p>

<p>AP EXAMS:
AP Lang:3
AP CHEM: 1 (extremely sick even puked during exam but forgot to cancel score)</p>

<p>SAT: 1640 (Couldn't afford prep books and time but saved for them and am retaking in Oct.) </p>

<p>EC:
* I Know they're not too strong but...</p>

<p>-Summer internship (2010) Senior center /Convalescent home
- 2 Years news production: First years as staff writing shadowing photography editor. I am now current Photography Editor.
-2yrs Baking for a cause
-Link crew leader (2011-2012 program cut due to budget cuts)
-Summer volunteer at County Museum (Brain drain activity 20hrs)
-CSF: 4 Semesters
-Baby sitting in neighborhood (on call)
-Always on honor roll many awards for grades science fair etc.
-possible EAP Qualification</p>

<p>please be brutally honest</p>

<p>Neither of my parents have graduated college, my father is a convicted felon and served 28 yrs in prison (released 2010) I don't really have anyone I can turn to for help with this information...</p>

2

<p>Bump!!!</p>

3

<p>first gen helps kinda, and wb Berkeley?</p>

4

<p>Why do you need to stay in California? Your applications are all over the state, which makes me think you might be travelling the same distance if you went to Arizona, Nevada or Oregon, depending on where you live.</p>

<p>Have you considered going after a scholarship at a private university? You didn’t say if you qualify for financial aid, but regardless, you might come out ahead at a private school that is willing to pay for a good portion of your education.</p>

<p>Definitely retake the SAT and get that score up! Other than that, you have a very interesting story to tell, and a private university might be more willing to listen than the publics.</p>

<p>I lived in California years ago (and graduated from two public universities), so unfortunately I can’t help you much with what your chances might be at any of the public schools.</p>

<p>Side note – your class rank calculation is incorrect. If you are 40/649, you are top 6% (.06163) rather than top 7%.</p>

5

<p>Why do you think you are ‘average’? You have a great GPA, test scores, and extra curricular activities.</p>

<p>Are you looking at any private schools in CA? You could qualify for some merit aid.</p>

6

<p>"first gen helps kinda, and wb Berkeley? " I know I have absolutely no shot at Berkeley!</p>

<p>@ScienceGirlMom: I guess I don’t have to stay in Cali (funny everyone is trying to convince me to go experience life) I’ve never ever been out of Cali and I guess it’s just more of a safety thing all my family etc. is here and I love it!! 80% of the schools are in SOCAL (I live in Redlands 1hr away from LA)</p>

<p>The one private I’m considering is University of Redlands it’s on my list but I didn’t mention I’m pretty sure I’ll get in.</p>

<p>Oh and yeah I didn’t calculate out the 7% just kind of did the math in my head thanks for the heads up on the 6%!</p>

<p>crizello: I consider myself to be average because most people, in this thread included have way higher GPAs and wayyyyy more impressive ECs (they’ve interned at Ivys etc) I didn’t know the importance of ECs because neither of my parents were college grads and when I started to express an interest in college it was kind of too late to do anything spectacular I’ve only done what I was interested in.</p>

7

<p>Oh yeah almost forgot we definitely qualify for financial aid my parents combined make less then 30,000 we are a family of 5 (I have two younger sisters both juniors who will be attending college fall 2014)</p>

8

<p>I would have to say yes to: most of the cal states. You have an interesting story and you have had good ec’s</p>

<p>UCSD with a higher SAT score, think you could swing it?
SDSU (not Cal State San Diego)
Try for Santa Barbara
Apply at Tuskegee and Howard</p>

9

<p>@Aunt Bea: Thank you! Which Cal states do you think will be most difficult to get into? And I have a higher chance at UCSD with higher sat score than UCI? Thanks for suggesting Tuskegee and Howard I will definitely look into them!!</p>

10

<p>CaliforniaRooted: You need to hook up immediately with CAL-SOAP- California Student Opportunity and Access program. It’s a program that helps to prepare California resident students with university and financial aid access for students who are the first to go to college. This program is funded by your California tax dollars and is especially made for someone like you, in that, they help with SAT prep and everything else. It is in 15 different counties and is probably in your county:</p>

<p>[California</a> Student Aid Commission - Cal-SOAP Overview](<a href=“http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=77]California”>http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=77)</p>

<p>RE Cal states: SDSU is very difficult to get into, but I think you really have a good shot. It’s a very diverse campus and it’s BIG, but good. They like stories like yours. This year, they received over 62,000 applications and accepted 7800. Cal State LA would immediately accept you. Why do I say this? Because your story is unique and diverse AND you have “spread your wings” through a variety of non-traditional ec’s. Keep it up!</p>

<p>I think you can get into UCSD, if you raise your test scores a little. UCLA is a reach, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, so add it on the checklist when you apply. Aim for UCLA. UCI is probably a go for you. Visit the campuses with the help of CAL-SOAP. Get into the Ventures Scholars Program. Check it online or through your high school counselor. You definitely qualify for that program and it will really help you! Don’t forget consider Tuskegee, Howard and Spellman! Good Luck from a Mexican Mama!</p>

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<p>Your ECs are unique, but a lot of its volunteering and stuff like that, which isn’t as important as you think it is. But, you still have crew and photography. I feel like you should expand on photography more (get some more experience, enter some competitions, take pictures for a cause, etc) because you’re obviously interested in it and it would do both you and your community good. For the colleges on your list, I would say that you have a very good shot at all of them. Not only do you have unique ECs and good grades, you are also URM and first generation (although Im not sure if UCs look that?). The only weak thing I see is your SAT. I say that you need to get it up to at least 2100-2200 ish and you’ll be good. Btw, just curious, did you copy that format from a previous post? I put a chance thread up a few weeks ago and it looks almost exactly like yours haha. Oh and I agree with the guy up there^, you should apply to Berkeley.</p>

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<p>@Aunt Bea: Thank you so much for all the useful information I will definitely be checking out these programs!! You have no idea how much you have helped me clear things out and don’t worry I’m researching other opportunities outside of California and will definitely consider Spellman, Howard, and Tuskegee. It is such a relief that you believe CSLA will accept me and I will put extra effort and time into all my applications to increase my chances if even in only the slightest amount :)</p>

<p>@Sclaag: Thank you for your response! Yes I realize my Ecs are a bit weak and I will try to expand on photography as it is something I really enjoy :slight_smile: I am currently studying everyday for the SATs and will be retaking in October I really hope that I will be able to raise my score up to highly increase my chances! As for the format Last week I had come cross College Confidential and took a peek at some of the threads to see how to post so it is quite possible that this is your format (I hope you don’t mind:))… and really?? I completely thought Berkeley was off my radar, but I’ll give it some thought. Again Thank you I appreciate everyone’s replys.</p>