hey guys!
I’m applying to university soon, and I’m really worried about the process ><
I have relatively low gpa:
3.76 unweighted, 3.97 weighted, and okay scores on ap testing.
however, I have a high act score: 34 composite, (35,34,34,34) along with many extracurriculars: (two sports, two internships, gold presidential volunteer award, work, etc)
i have family issues that have led to my low gpa.
i’m aiming for ucla/uc san diego/dartmouth/uc santa barbara/uchicago/scripps!
what are my chances?
I think I’m okay at essay writing, but not spectacular.
Since when is a 3.76 GPA bad? Unless your course load is lacking rigor, it’s damn good. You can go crazy on the site seeing some of the stats posted.
As the poster above mentioned, 3.86 UW is by no means bad.
Are you in-state for the UCs? Otherwise you will be talking about 60,000 a year without financial aid.
Also if you can calculate your UC GPA, that might give a better idea of your chances. Any potential majors in mind?
Have you run the NPCs on all these?
Is 3.97 your UC GPA?
If so, UCLA and UCSA will be reaches, and UCSB and Scripps are high matches.
UChicago and Dartmouth are polar opposite (urban/rural, Friday= intellectual discussions/ Friday=fraternity parties, intellectual/preprofessional…). If you like Dartmouth, add Duke, Northwestern, Whitman, Colgate, Middlebury. If you like UChicago, add Carleton, Barnard, Bry Mawr, Reed.
Freshman admit rates (2016) for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19:
UCB: 14%
UCLA: 14%
UCSD: 44%
UCSB: 54%
UCD: 58%
UCI: 65%
UCSC: 85%
UCR: 94%
UCM: 96%
Major will make a difference in your chances. The more competitive the major, the lower the chances. Addressing your family issues in one your essays can help.
Thank you all so much!! I appreciate your responses a lot.
@57special thank you so much. I didn’t realize that it would be high, as my high school is extremely competitive and i’m actually considered lower in my school, but thank you for allowing me to see outside of the picture!
@Hamurtle yes! I’m a instate for uc. my uc gpa is:
Unweighted GPA: 3.62
Weighted GPA: 4.04
Weighted and Capped GPA: 3.92
i intend to major in chemistry, and in the future, id like to go for optometry school!
@MYOS1634 unfortunately thats not my uc gpa 
my uc gpa is lower (written above). thank you for the clarification! if thats the case, id prefer a university like uchicago so much more.
is a chem major very competitive?
thanks for the stats @Gumbymom !!!
I might add Emory, BU, and USC as target schools. 3.76 UW is by no means low and the ACT score is good enough.
The family circumstances essay can be a touchy subject. If you can demonstrate that you persevered and give a few concrete examples, it could work. Try not to divulge too much information that might make adcoms worried (essays about mental issues/depression are a no-no).
@Hamurtle thank you!! i gained tons of experience from the family situation, much more than just hard times and depression, so I’m pretty confident on that one 
Lots of ECs don’t make up for bad grades (though I don’t think yours are that bad). Unless you have a Pulitzer or something.
For tippy tops, it’s not just gpa. It’s the actual courses and grades, especially those classes related to your possible major. You need to get a better picture what Dart and Chicago want.
Further, it can matter what the internships were and the vol work (Presidential is about hours.) Try to get the hang of what holistic is. Your whole record matters.
thanks again to all the responses!!
i have one internship at university of washington on cryobiology, and one internship abroad in china on biochemistry.