Blame it on me. Chances for Davis?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Davis
1

<p>So. This is a really long story. - </p>

<p>I want to attend UC Davis.
I know I should’ve been studying for the SAT I’s since freshman year, but until the end of the 10th grade, I thought that I was going to attend a university in a foreign country.
It wasn’t until spring break of sophomore year that I realized that I should attend a university in the States, since I was born and raised here & it would be very hard for me to adjust to the foreign country’s culture.
I never really thought about taking the SATs because the university that I would attend there wouldn’t really require them;
I attend a private, Christian school in Mobile, AL; it’s a requirement here that we take the ACTs, instead of the SATs. So, I thought that I could just use my ACT scores to get in.
Anyways after spring break, I got a few prep books for the SATs, and went to visit relatives abroad over the summer. When I got back, I had the entire month of July to study for the SATs without school work and pressure.
Due to my stupidity, I failed to take studying seriously and blew most of my time on television and facebook.
I did not have a study plan and was not aware of how the SAT exam was formatted.
I did not take the exam seriously; I thought that I was going to do fine.
I decided to take the exam in December to see how well I’d do.
Ended up with a 1760. [CR: 600 M: 540 G: 620 w. 8 on essay] With my mind blown, I decided to study harder.
Cruising through CC forums, I felt the motivation to do better on the exams and try my hardest.
But, as hard as I wanted to try, some habits failed to die.
Anyways, I did work hard ~ Just not as hard on the essay and vocab portion of the exam. I didn’t memorize and practice a few grammar rules that i should’ve (past perfect crap :/). I need to work on word problems and permutation stuff for the math portion of the exam.
But, on the recent June exam, I ended up with a 1920 [CR: 610 M: 640 G: 670 w. 9 on essay].</p>

<p>My academic stats are: </p>

<p>9th Grade Subjects - i) 4.5 ii) 4.5 (Weighted)/ i) 4.0 ii) 4.0 (Unweighted)</p>

<ul>
<li>Speech (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>English 9 (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>World History/Geo (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Algebra II (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Biology (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Health (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>P.E (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>Bible (Reg) - A/A</li>
</ul>

<p>10th Grade Subjects - i) 4.7 ii) 4.7 (Weighted)/ i) 4.0 ii) 4.0 (Unweighted)</p>

<ul>
<li>English 10 (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>US History I (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Geometry/Trig. (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Anatomy&Physiology (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Psychology (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>Bible (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>French I (Hon) - A/A</li>
</ul>

<p>11th Grade Subjects - i) 4.7 ii) 4.57 (Weighted)/ i) 4.0 ii) 3.8 (Unweighted) —> Lost my title of becoming potential valedictorian. =[</p>

<ul>
<li>Bible (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>French II (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Art (Reg) - A/A</li>
<li>Pre-Cal (Hon) - A/B</li>
<li>US History II (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>English 11 (Hon) - A/A</li>
<li>Chemistry (Hon) - A/A</li>
</ul>

<p>UC GPA: 3.96</p>

<p>Anyways, I know my UC GPA is low - My school offers only 2 AP classes (both offered during senior year - AP Cal & AP Stats). I wish I had more AP options. </p>

<p>Im taking AP Cal this year & dual enrollment classes at the University of Alabama for English 101 & English 102. </p>

<p>But the main problem is, I want to take the SAT II exams - Math II, Bio M, and U.S H. </p>

<p>And I want to retake my ACT (Got a 26 the first time…I took this exam a week after I took my first SAT exam). </p>

<p>I studied for Bio M this summer from a Barron’s AP book. Im just going to review from here on out. </p>

<p>I just have to study for Math II (Need to review and memorize formulas since I took PreCal last year). </p>

<p>But I took U.S History last year, but it wasn’t a very comprehensive course. </p>

<p>I plan on retaking my ACT on September the 10th. My ideal score is a 32+. </p>

<p>I plan on retaking my SAT I in November (the 5th). (Just a few weeks before the UC app. deadline); my ideal score is a 2100+. </p>

<p>And taking the SAT IIs in October (the 1st). My ideal scores are 800s. I mean, I heard that there is no point in taking the subject exams if I don’t end up getting a 700+. </p>

<p>My EC’s are</p>

<ul>
<li>Art Club. (1 yr. & continuing <em>hopefully if they don’t get rid of the club</em>)</li>
<li>Piano (1 yr. & continuing <em>if nothing bad happens to the teacher</em>)</li>
<li>Religion school every saturday (during 8th & 9th grade)</li>
</ul>

<p>I may be a part of a new club this year. </p>

<p>I wish that I could’ve been a part of many other clubs, but unfortunately, I have an over-protective father; once when I was in the 8th grade, my step-brother’s high school counselor told him that “EC’s aren’t important; only grades and scores are”. Or else he would’ve considered letting me a part of many different clubs. </p>

<p>Another thing is that, majority of the clubs in my school are Christian clubs - and im not a Christian…so I can’t be a part of them; So, i’ve ran out of options. </p>

<p>My community service hours are</p>

<p>20 hrs. - Daycare
80 hrs. - Hospital in a 3rd world country over the summer</p>

<p>I might do more, if my dad permits. </p>

<p>My achievements are</p>

<p>~ 9th Grade - Subject Area Awards - English
~ 9th Grade - Art Competition - First place: Collage
~ 11th Grade - Art Competition - First place: Mixed media
~ 11th Grade - Art Competition - Honorable mention: Painting
~ 11th Grade - Art Competition - Honorable mention: Color photography
~ 11th Grade - District Art Competition - Third place
~ 11th Grade - Subject Area Awards - English</p>

<p>Im considering on applying to:</p>

<p>UC Davis
NYU
University of South Alabama</p>

<p>and maybe Irvine…not sure. </p>

<p>So my main questions are: Should I take the SAT II U.S history exam? Do you think I have enough time to study for it, considering the other exams and stuff I need to review on?</p>

<p>Do you think I can make it to UC Davis, based on the scores and stats I have now?</p>

2

<p>Your odds look okay</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/campuses/files/davis.pdf[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/campuses/files/davis.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>3.92 and 1920? you should be fair with Davis. (Match/ low reach). Really consider applying to more colleges. For UC’s it is really only 1 click away (+ application fee) but you only apply to colleges once in your life. It’s an investment you want to make and never regret it. Many of my classmates applied to 7-10 colleges easily… from privates to majority of the UC system and couple of CSU’s. </p>

<p>You want to attend Davis but you’re also applying to NYU. Haha it’s funny cause NYU and Davis are completely opposites! :] but make sure to beef up your essays!</p>

4

<p>Honestly, to think that you wouldn’t get into Davis would be crazy. I think you actually have a very strong profile to get into any college. However, your personal statement REALLY matters. You have the grades, the community service, the test scores and the awards, but if you lack an awesome personal statement everything else might not even matter.</p>

<p>Aside from that scary comment you’re chances for Davis are incredibly strong.</p>

5

<p>@Shrinkrap: Thanks :)</p>

<p>@Helpmeplease: Thank you for the advice :slight_smile: Im considering on applying to more colleges, but the ones I’ve listed above were just like my main choices. :smiley: And I know, UC Davis is VERY different from NYU; but i’ve experienced the NY city vibe and such, and loved it. But even though I’ve never been to UCD, I’ve heard that it was a laid back and friendly town ~ Something that I would like to settle in rite after coming from high school. </p>

<p>@littecollegegirl: Thank you! Your post was very encouraging. :smiley: :D</p>

6

<p>Davis is very laid back. Everyone is very friendly. Heard some kids in other UC’s are stuck up and stubborn & also cut throat… but Davis… man Davis is just great. haha I love the city life but I can’t imagine myself studying in NYC because everyone seems so busy in the city. Everything is so rushed and everyone seems to be stressed… it’s beautiful in it’s own way but I rather enjoy my college life in a college town with ease rather than feeling rushed :confused: haha don’t forget NYU is common app!</p>

7

<p>The SAT 2 Math II is harder than the SAT I Math portion, so make sure and beef up on your math skills. Make sure you get a SAT 2 practice test book or search online for some practice tests. That should help you decide if you can do well on the us history one and give you practice for the math.
The UC system loves out of state students because they pay a much higher tuition!</p>

8

<p>@Helpmeplease: That’s what I heard too; GAH! Davis just sounds like a lovely place to be in - never had a dream school, but Davis is kinda one of my dream schools now. :slight_smile: Wish me the best of luck - I need tons of it. </p>

<p>@Jbourne: Thankyouu for the advice; I have a Barron’s Math II book - so I bet that would help me. :slight_smile: Im planning on taking the US History, Bio M, and Math II exam on the same day - So much preparing to do. So little time. </p>

<p>Ya, I hope they do love out-of-state students. :slight_smile: I heard that they’re a bit tough on them tho, in the application process. :/</p>

9

<p>I believe that honors classes also count for your UC GPA so your GPA may be higher thank you think.</p>

10

<p>i’ve always been under the impression that the UCs generally take CA residents over OOS given equal stats. OOS students pay more tuition because their parents aren’t paying CA taxes.</p>

11

<p>With all the budget cuts UCs have been taking out of state students over in state b/c they want tuition money. With your stats and the fact you will be paying out of state tuition I think Davis is a match. If you were in state it would be a reach.</p>

12

<p>^ no ways the op is gonna be a reach if she/he’s in state.</p>

<p>Lets make it short : You’re In !!! (write a decent PS)</p>

13

<p>@Indianjatt: I sure hope so; I need the GPA boost. it’s just that, i’ve read that UC’s increase the GPA, only if it’s a UC approved honors course…and im not in-state…so my honors courses may not be upto their level. :/</p>

<p>@Hella: I see what you’re saying. And i agree.</p>

<p>@LilyEmery: Ah, I hope so. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>@88414055: Thannnkkyouuu. :slight_smile: Your post was encouraging. :slight_smile: Im kinda freaking out about the PS’s tho; should I start writing them now, to be ahead…or what?</p>

14

<p>i’m pretty sure you have good chances of getting in even if you are out of state.</p>

15

<p>@Redteabag: Thankkyouu! :slight_smile: I just need to work on some more things.</p>

16

<p>My daughter is a freshman at UCD this fall. She only submitted her ACT score. The UC’s, starting with the class of '16 will no longer require SAT II tests.</p>

<p>We went with the ACT because we saw it as an easier test to study for.</p>

<p>UC’s are increasing their OOS enrollment. Berkeley’s freshman class was 30% non-Cali this year, UCD’s is much less (sorry don’t remember the number). </p>

<p>If you want advice, here it is. Have your parents hire private tutors (plural) to help you
prepare for the next ACT test. With that help, my daughter’s ACT score went from 60% to 91%. </p>

<p>If you’re thinking of going to a school that will cost over $50K a year, the $1k cost of tutors over a couple months is an investment worth making to make sure it’s your first choice.</p>

17

<p>@Sandiego4866: Thankkyou for your suggestion! I would love to invest in a tutor, but ionno, I usually like studying by myself…like working at my own pace and having my own methods of learning…Sometimes, it just gets hard for me to keep up with a teacher. Well, wish me the best of luck. :)</p>

18

<p>Well, this list was unnecessarily long. I’m sure you know that you have a fairly high SAT score and GPA. Stop being so “modest.” You’re a shoe-in. This post would be more appropriate in a post for Berkeley!</p>

19

<p>This year, several of my daughter’s friends with 4.0+ GPA’s and ACT/SAT scores in the top 5% nationally didn’t get accepted to UC Davis. If this school is your dream school, do everything possible to increase your odds of admittance by improving your test scores.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

20

<p>@thecutiedisease: Thankkyouu soo much! Haha, your post made my day!</p>

<p>@sandiego4866: I totally understand that; a lot of people even overqualified for UCD didn’t get accepted…that’s why im freaking out. I mean, my SAT scores are nowhere near close to top 5% in the nationals…Im working on every aspect of my application, as much as I can…Ah, im gonna need all of the luck that i can get. :)</p>