Hi, I would like to know why are people getting some of their cal states decisions a lot earlier than mine(it is still being reviewed)? Some of my friends have gotten theirs in like February 15, while I am still waiting on mine and I check my portal everyday. Note: I turned my application in like 2 days before the deadline.
Also, what are my chances of getting into any cal states or UC’s if I have a grade of 3.0GPA and a 1170 SAT? (Pretty bad I know) Would colleges consider looking at my senior grades as well if it is higher than my 3.0 average? The major I applied to was Business.
Thanks and I look forward to your responses!
If your CSU-recalculated GPA is 3.0 or higher, then you will be admitted to a non-impacted major at a non-impacted CSU. (Basically, 10th-11th grade a-g courses, with up to 8 +1 points for honors courses – see the GPA calculator at https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/eligibility-index ).
Using that GPA, you can calculated your eligibility index as GPA * 800 + SATRW + SATM. A few CSUs like SJSU and CSUN publish previous year thresholds by major, so you can estimate your chances.
Which campuses did you apply to?
Each Cal State has their own decision timeline. Impacted majors take longer than non-impacted majors. Local applicants usually hear sooner than non-local applicants.
So which CSU’s and UC’s did you apply and which schools are you waiting for a decision?
CSU’s and UC’s do not consider Senior grades in their admission decisions unless you are specifically asked to submit a transcript.
For the UC’s, a 3.0 GPA will make any of the UC’s a difficult admit but many of the Cal States would love to have you.
Some UC admit data:
2019 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.00-3.39 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 1%
UCLA: 1%
UCSD: 1%
UCSB: 1%
UCI: 1%
UCD: 2%
UCSC: 13%
UCR: 18%
UCM: 53%
The Cal states with the exception of Cal Poly SLO uses an Eligibility index to rank applicants.
EI= (CSU GPA x 800) + (SAT Math + EBRW) so if your CSU GPA is 3.0 and SAT is 1170, then your EI is 3570. This should make you competitive for many of the Cal States. Exceptions would be San Diego State, Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, CSU Fresno, some Business majors at San Jose State.
What is your local in-service area Cal State? You get priority there.
I applied to Cal poly Pomona(Computer Science for main major, Business Alternate Major), CSULB(got denied), CSUF, and CSUN(got denied surprisingly) My friends in my school already have gotten accepted to CPP, CSULB, and CSUF, while mine is still being reviewed. And I applied to UCI, UCSD, and UCR.
And my Local in-service area for Cal State I believe is Cal stat LA.
If you are not local to Cal State Northridge, you need a minimum EI of 3800.
Cal Poly Pomona CS is heavily impacted so I would not count on an acceptance there either. CPP may consider your alternate major but they would first admit all applicants that applied as a Business major and if room is available, then admit alternate majors.
Did you have a safety school on your list which should have been Cal State LA?
CSU local service area: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/documents/csulocaladmission-serviceareas.pdf
Would I get a denied admission first because of my first choice of computer science then get accepted with my business major? And I did not want to apply to Cal State LA because I don’t feel like their programs are strong.
If not accepted into your first choice major, then your application would be reviewed for your alternate. Your decision will be based on their final determination meaning
- Yes to CS
- No to CS and Yes to Business
- No to both.
You will only get one decision.
So what is your backup plan if you are denied at all schools? You may have not liked CSULA’s program’s but there were several other schools that could have been safeties besides CSULA. It is always important to have a well balanced college list and your list was on the Reachy side based on stats.
My backup would to go to PCC and get my GE done, which I feel like now would be likely since I believe my odds of going to CPP or CSUF are pretty low, don’t you think? And I also heard that if your GPA is like a 2.9 or below, you will not be considered for any school admissions am I correct?
There are several non-impacted Cal State campuses that will take students with the minimum 2.0 CSU GPA as long as they meet the minimum 2950 eligibility index and are not applying to an impacted major.
Dominguez Hills, Channel Islands, Bakersfield. Stanislaus, Cal Maritime and East Bay are the 6 non-impacted campuses. Also San Francisco state but some majors are impacted.
https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/impaction-at-the-csu/Documents/ImpactedProgramsMatrix.pdf
Community college is a good option, you can only transfer as a Junior so at least 2 years with 60 semester units and you would not only have to take the GE’s but also major prep courses.
Do you think my grades are enough to get accepted by those schools I listed or am I getting my hopes up?
I will be honest. Based on your stats, your list has pretty much all Reaches and no Matches or Safeties.
The UC’s are not going to happen just based on your GPA which is the minimum UC eligibility and the competitive majors you have applied. If you have some compelling essays and unique EC’s, UCR might be an outside chance.
2019 UC capped weighted GPA averages along with 25th-75th percentile range:
UCSD: 4.16 (4.03-4.28)
UCI: 4.13 (4.00-4.25)
UCR: 3.90 (3.69-4.11)
As for the Cal Poly Pomona, I am keeping my fingers crossed that your alternate major comes through for you.
May I ask whom help you formulate your college list? Did you not seek out your HS counselor for advice? With 23 Cal states in which to apply, you selected some of the most impacted and competitive CSU’s for your major(s).
Just remember that are different paths to your ultimate goal. Community college with a guaranteed transfer using TAG for the UC’s or ADT for the Cal states are good backup options.
Keep the faith and everything will work out.
I just picked out the colleges myself and I didn’t want to apply to a lot because the application fees are A LOT of money. I didn’t think business would be an impacted major tbh, that is why I applied to CSUF and CPP with it, and it kinda sucks that CAL STATES don’t take essays because I believe my essays are quite good. So you thinkg CPP, CSUF, and UCR are the colleges I have the best chances with reaching?
I said there is a possibility for these schools. Your stats are well below all admit data available for these schools so all you can do is wait for a decision.
I agree the application fees are expensive and going to a CC is a good backup option unfortunately you did not do thorough research on target schools. Wanting to get in vs. actually getting in are 2 different things. I wish you could have posted prior to applying since the College Confidential community would have been more than willing to help with your list.
What is done is done. I would suggest you consider getting the paperwork started for PCC, just in case.
i agree - with a gpa about 3.0 and sub 1200 SAT, all of the schools you list are reaches.
it sounds like a CC is probably your next step. It can’t hurt to get proactive and start planning your courses and target schools with an advisor at your local CC. Look at TAG and other structured/preferred transfer programs - the courses and GPA requirements are well documented. I’d add that some of the CSUs are really tough transfer targets for non-local applicants so, plan accordingly.
good luck.