Can I get into UCs/CSUs?

State Forums
1

As deadline season comes around, I’m finding myself worrying more and more about the application process. My scores and GPA are decent and my school is nationally ranked, but even with that, will it get me accepted into any UCs or CSUs?

Weighted GPA: 3.66 with 5 APs and 2 Honors.
SAT: 1380 with a 720 on math and 660 on English & Writing.
ECs: Soccer referee, a computer tutor for seniors, an intern for a startup focusing on student health. 100+ hours of volunteer-work.

I’ve played soccer for 8 years and am a black belt in Taekwondo, although I’ve stopped both to study more.

2

Forgot to mention I intend to apply to the Art/Economics colleges within the Universities.

3

Is your Weighted GPA of 3.66, your capped weighted UC/CSU GPA? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Capped weighted UC GPA= CSU GPA.

Your SAT is within range for all the UC’s, they tend to be GPA focused

25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:

UCB: 1280-1490

UCLA: 1280-1500
UCSD: 1250-1470
UCSB: 1210- 1450
UCD: 1190-1430
UCI: 1190-1420
UCSC: 1170-1380
UCR: 1090-1310
UCM: 1020-1230

So based on capped weighted UC GPA and major specific, here are the admit rates for 2017:
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:

UCB: 1.8%-High Reach
UCLA: 2.2%-High Reach
UCSD: 7.2%-High Reach
UCSB: 10.1%-Reach
UCI: 11.1%-Reach
UCD: 16.6%-Reach
UCSC: 43.8%-High Match
UCR: 63.3%-Target
UCM: 88.7%- Safety

Compelling reason for a lower than average GPA? You have good EC’s but do not make up for a lower GPA. Anything under a capped weighted UC GPA of 4.0 is going to be a tough admit.

You would have better chances at the CSU’s.

The Cal states admit by major and eligibility index. They really only consider GPA/Test scores/Geographic location and HS course rigor. Other than Cal Poly SLO, your EC’s are not considered.

Not sure which courses are a-g and will give you extra honors points, then use this link by typing in your HS name?

https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution

Cal states except SLO use the capped weighted GPA. SLO uses 9-11th grades instead of 10-11th grades with the same calculation.

Then calculate your Eligibility index:
If you took the Redesigned SAT:
(CSU capped weighted GPA X 800) + (SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) + Math Score) = Eligibility Index

So based on your posted stats, I get an EI of 4308 which should get you into all the Cal States except Cal Poly SLO.

You will then be ranked based on EI and major and they accept from the top down until all spots are filled.

You will get priority at your local CSU which you can look up on this link. Local applicants usually require a lower EI to get an acceptance unless the program is highly impacted. SDSU and SLO do not give local preference to Freshman applicants.

http://www.calstate.edu/sas/onestopkiosk/documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf

Impacted campuses/majors: https://www.calstate.edu/sas/documents/ImpactedProgramsMatrix.pdf

4

Thank you so much for the response. So the only UCs I would have a real chance at admissions are SC, Irvine (if that), Davis, and Riverside?

Would Cal-Poly also be a hard reach for me?

I suppose the only excuse I have for my low UC GPA is it took me a while to mature and realize the importance of academics. If you looked at my transcript, you’d see a major upward trend in GPA by semester.

5

What is your unweighted GPA or better yet your capped UC GPA? How many honors/AP classes have you raken?

6

As it says in my initial statement, I’ve taken 5 APs and 2 Honors. My UC GPA is a 3.66 using RoherHub; I meant to say that.

7

CP SLO and most of the UCs are going to be a reach because of your GPA. UCR and UCM are your most realistic UC targets. SDSU, CSULB Fullerton CP Pomona and Northridge are all good options for you.

8

Cal Poly Pomona would be a Match. Cal Poly SLO would be a Reach since the average CP GPA is 4.01 for the College of Business where Economics is based and 3.95 for the College of Liberal Arts.

9

Do they consider the high school I’m in? (Top 3, CA).

10

Yes, they do consider the HS you are attending but Cal States are pretty much just stats based. UC’s do consider more criteria.

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/how-applications-reviewed/