Chance an average HS student for UCD, UCSB, UCSD, and UCSC

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm one of those UC applicants who has an average GPA and SAT scores, but has an upward trend in grades and has done a lot of extracurriculars and community services. My grades dipped during 10th grade but started going back up in 11th grade (I encountered obstacles involving my anxiety, which I mentioned in my personal statement).</p>

<p>I have a passion for writing, literature, and the arts, and I love exploring new cultures, so my primary major is English and my alternative major is Sociology.</p>

<p>Here are my stats ~</p>

<p>9th Grade:
1st sem - 3.83 (5 As, I B)
2nd sem - 3.67 (4 As, 2 Bs)
Courses - PE, Geometry, Earth Science, English 1, Spanish 1, Journalism</p>

<p>10th grade:
1st sem - 3.67 (4 As, 2 Bs)
2nd sem - 2.83 (1 A, 4 Bs, 1 D)
Courses - PE, Spanish 2, English 2, Algebra 2, Biology, World History</p>

<p>11th grade:
1st sem - 2.83 (5 Bs, 1 C)
2nd sem - 3.33 (4 Bs, 2 As)
Courses - Spanish 3, Junior Lit/Advanced Comp, US History, Chemistry, Algebra 2 (had to retake b/c of the D I got 2nd semester of sophomore year), Econ/Health</p>

<p>12th grade:
Current courses - AP Lit/Comp, Government, Physics, Trig/Pre-calc, Piano, Information Technology
Expecting my GPA to be a 3.83 weighted</p>

<p>SAT:
1st try - 1740
2nd try - 1830</p>

<p>SAT II:
Taking it in January</p>

<p>ECs/community services: Piano class, campus/coastal cleanups in Key Club, volunteered as peer tutor for National Honor Society (although I'm not an NHS member), high school recycling team, fundraiser for Future Business Leaders of America Club, and volunteered at a local food bank since freshman year.</p>

<p>Awards: Certificate of Accomplishment for Journalism, and 1 of my articles was published in a local magazine.</p>

<p>Personal statement: I would say it's very strong. It expresses my level of perseverance and dedication, and how the obstacles I faced helped me develop an optimistic and resilient mindset. I also mentioned how I've always had a love for writing and the arts, etc.. My AP Lit teacher is quite difficult to please, but he was very impressed with my use of language.</p>

<p>Etc.:
- In-state applicant
- My brother got accepted to a UC last year
- Asian</p>

<p>Can someone please give me some honest feedback and chance me for UC Davis, UCSB, or UCSC?</p>

2

<p>What’s your cumulative UC GPA?</p>

3

<p>Around a 3.45, 3.5 I think.</p>

4

<p>I also attend a very competitive high school and I’m a first generation applicant.</p>

5

<p>UC Davis: Low Reach
UCSB: Match
UCSC: Low Match</p>

<p>Try to raise your SAT score to increase your chance of acceptance.</p>

6

<p>UCD: reach
UCSB: reach
UCSD: reach
UCSC: low reach/high match</p>

<p>That GPA is what’s preventing you from making these reaches matches. The SATs for the schools you’re applying for are pretty much in the range of the averages, but a higher score would help. I think the only UC that would be a match for you at this point is UCM, but if you do better than you predicted for 2nd semester junior year that would help immensely. Also, since you said your essay would be great, that should also help.</p>

7

<p>UCD- Reach
UCSB- low reach
UCSD- Reach
UCSC- High Match</p>

<p>It’s the gpa also legacy doesn’t matter in the public university system, only privates</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the feedback, @Norway514 @basketweaver @Wassupman99. At least I know I have a shot.</p>

<p>Do you think my ECs/community services will help? I know UCD and UCSB puts some emphasis on activities outside of school, so maybe that as well as special talents might increase my chance of acceptance?</p>

9

<p>My talents fall under the category of the arts, which I expressed in my personal statement. And the college my majors are in is liberal arts/humanities.</p>

10

<p>It’ll help, but they’re not going to admit you just because you’ve done community service.</p>

<p>If you like art and writing, enter some contests. Or help with a lit magazine or the school newspaper. Just telling them that you have a talent for the arts isn’t going to do that much, IMO.</p>

11

<p>Yeah I know, I gave plenty of examples of what my genuine interests & passions are, and I wrote for the school newspaper. One of my articles actually got published in the local magazine :)</p>

12

<p>I’d really appreciate it if more people gave me some feedback!! I’ll chance back :D</p>

13

<p>There is no point to giving advice about what should be done at this point; UC applications are done.</p>

14

<p>Yeah I know UC application season is over, but I don’t want to spend the next 3 months or so as a nervous wreck. I just want to know what other people think of my chances, from the outside looking in yknow?</p>

15

<p>I’d like to say that SC is a solid match. If your statement is as good as you say it is, I’d bet that you’re getting in. As for Davis and SB, it’s a low reach. You can get in, but it’s going to involve one thing: luck. Just hope that your application reviewer is sympathetic to your struggles, and you may just get into them. SD, in short, is possible but is going to be very difficult. It’s not impossible, but your chances are admittedly low. Once again, you need the right app reviewer, and that’s what will determine whether or not you get in</p>

16

<p>UCSD: reach
UCD: reach
UCSB: reach
UCSC: low reach</p>

17

<p>I was referring to the people giving advice about bringing up test scores or otherwise adding to your profile; I certainly understand that you might feel anxious!</p>

18

<p>I know that UCSD is sort of a long shot, but I really hope I’ll get accepted to at least 1 of my reach schools, particularly UCD. And I hope that my upward trend in grades will be acknowledged by admissions officers, and that my SAT will maybe counterbalance my GPA.</p>

<p>Ugh. All this uncertainty is killing me!!</p>