Chance at UC schools/ Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey Everybody. I hear of people getting into schools like UCLA (my dream school), UC Berkeley, and Stanford with awfully better stats than I currently have. I know its a bit early to think about college, but I feel that the sooner I prepare, the better my chances will be. Do you think my current standing in high school is adequate enough to get into any of the top UC’s, particularly UCLA, or Stanford? To give you a better idea here are the grades, tests, and extracurricular.

First off, I’m Filipino, living in a somewhat disadvantaged area in San Diego.

Rank: #1 from what I hear (counselors have no idea as of now)

GPA
4.27
Weighted GPA
4.44 (most likely 4.5 end of school year)
(straight A’s since Freshman Year)

Freshman Year: 4.0 both semesters
Sophomore Year: 4.0 (UW), 4.33(W) both semesters
Junior Year: 4.0 (UW), 4.67 (W) 1 semester so far (most likely both semesters)

Tests:
AP Art History: 5
AP European History: 4
SAT: 1710 (not even close to what I want to achieve, especially for Stanford)

  • Took APUSH, APLANG tests this year, planning for AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Lit, AP Psych next year (taking Poli Sci/ Pricinciples of Engineering next year)
  • Taking SAT (again) and ACT this June, planning to retake which ever I score higher on, Taking SAT II Math test next year too

Extra-Curricular:
I have been in JROTC for 3 years. I have been in its Drum Corps team for 2 years, its Academic team for 3 years, and I have a leadership position in its Battalion Staff. I am also the president for our school’s engineering club and I am part of club called “Club Interactive” which participates in community service. I also have volunteered at a local hospital and participated at a summer program at SDSU for a week to get the college experience and learn about the fields in STEM. i have also participated in a Project Lead The Way Chevron Design Competition where we won 1st place in regionals and 4th place in state. I also plan on helping at the STEM Camp this summer as a helper.

Desired colleges: (no particular order)

  1. UCLA
  2. UCI
  3. UCSD
  4. UCB
  5. USC
  6. Stanford

Intended major:
Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

  • I have always been fascinated by how things work. Over time I grew to become quite interested in future technology, especially flight. I observed through documentaries of how Von Braun, an ex-Nazi scientist and engineer transformed his V2 terror weapon into the vehicle that would take man ever so higher, and through further studies of the space program, from Mercury, to Gemini, to Apollo, to the Shuttle Missions, and now the ISS, I have been so amazed by what human engineering can achieve. Call me crazy, but the main purpose of me pursuing a career in Aerospace is because I believe that humanity has a greater purpose in this universe, and through space exploration and flight, humanity could propel itself further, advancing in technology and scientific studies for the greater good. It may be a dream now, but I intend to make it a reality by being on the forefront of ever advancing rocketry and advanced propulsions.(fueled by passion)

Thanks in Advance!

2

For Stanford: I don’t think you can make it in, especially with your SAT score. Your extracurriculars really suck too.

I’d say you have a 1% chance if you raise your SAT up to a 2300+.

Practically no chance at UCB either. I think you have a decent chance at the other UC universities though.

3

Only thing holding back your chances is your SAT. Get it around 2000+, you have a good chance at most of the schools on your list. Stanford is a Reach for everyone but no harm in applying.