CA Asian Male applying CS from mid-low income area to UCs and SLO. [3.97 UW, 1550]

[7milk]

Demographics: Asian Male

• State/Location of residency: CA
• Type of high school (current college for transfers): Mid-Low Income large public HS, 500 seniors
• Gender/Race/Ethnicity (optional): Asian Male
• Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.): None

Intended Major(s)
CS/Undeclared Engineering

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

• Unweighted HS GPA: 3.97
• Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.55
• College GPA (for transfers): N/A
• Class Rank: ~20/500 (Impacted because attended different high school freshman year with little to none honors/weighted classes for freshman)
• ACT/SAT Scores: 1550, 770 E/ 780 M

Coursework
-7 APs taken 10-11 (max possible without summer classes), rest honors or regular if no option; AP Scores: Five 5s (5 in CSP), Two 4s in humanities classes
-All As except 1 B first semester Sophomore yr in AP World,
-Language up to Spanish 3H
-5 APs in progress senior yr

Awards

• School reward from AP Lang teacher for being a top student
  -Math Competiton in 9th grade, 1st out of 30 HS in region
  -State seal of civic engagement, helped build a website for the school
  Extracurriculars
  -Chess Club, Treasurer 2 Years, Coordinated with librarian at local library to teach chess to little kids, host tournaments
  -Esports: Top 200/~1000000 players in US, $5000 in prizing won from multiple tournaments
  -Family Responsibilities: Tutoring/Watching 4 other siblings after school until parent comes home from work, Chores
  -CSf Club, volunteering and tutoring, gold seal bearer
  -Academic Decathlon, Made it to state twice
  (not many opportunities/time for more ECs/internships)

Essays/LORs/Other
PIQs: 7/10

Schools
All UCs, only safeties are Merced and Riverside most likely
Cal Poly Pomono and SLO

Thoughts: To be honest haven’t seen many real admitted student profiles, aside from the crazy ones on social media and reddit, would like to know if my lack of CS ECs will kill chances at UCs, and realistically the UC that matches my stats

[thumper1]

I’m not an adcom, but your ECs seem fine…and especially since you help with your family.

@gumbymom can let you know how ECs are considered, and also give the acceptance rates at each of the colleges.

[lkg4answers]

CS is very competitive. Where did you apply undeclared engineering?

The UCs and SLO don’t consider your SAT score.

Please calculate your UC GPAs.

You say you are from a mid to low income area. What is your financial situation like? The CSUs are cheaper than the UCs.

[Gumbymom]

Your EC’s are fine. Showing quality vs quantity is important along with Leadership and community engagement.

The following are CS admit rates from 2022-23.

Campus	CS
UC Berkeley	2.3%-L&S High Demand Major EECS-4%
UC Davis	No data but estimated <20% Selective Major
UC Irvine	5.8% Impacted Major
UCLA	3.8% Impacted Major
UC Merced	85%
UC Riverside	36%
UC San Diego	No data but estimated <10% Capped Major
UC Santa Barbara	No data Historically 5-6% Impacted Major
UC Santa Cruz	56% Impacted Major
Cal Poly SLO	9%
Cal State Long Beach	54%
San Diego State	40%
San Jose State	31% Impaction Threshold 3440 (CSU GPA 4.3+)

Cal Poly Pomona uses a CPP Index and has the following threshold for CS 2023:
Threshold: 4676. Index calculated is (CSU GPA x1000) +450. They have additional points for Math GPA, Veteran, Local applicant etc… which are not spelled out. Using the CPP base index calculation, you would need a CSU GPA of around 4.2.

Good luck and if you are happy with UC Merced as a Safety, then you are all set. UC Riverside is a Likely but not a guarantee.

Good luck.

[ucbalumnus]

@lkg4answers

Please calculate your UC GPAs.

Note: CSU GPA is normally the UC weighted-capped GPA, but:

1. CPSLO calculates including grades from 9th grade (instead of only 10th-11th grade).
2. If you took any college courses, they count as two courses and two grades each for CSU, but one course and one grade each for UC.