High School GPA: 4.375
UC: 4.14
CSU:(shouldn’t it be the same as the UC GPA?)
SAT:(retook Oct 3rd)
Math-520
CR-500
Writing-450
Classes: 10th grade (Semester 1/semester 2)
ALG II C A/A
English 3/4H A/B
Chemistry H A/A
AP World History B/A
Weight Training (PE) A/A
Spanish 3/4C A/A
Classes: 11th Grade
AP US History A/A
IB English HL B/A
IB Biology SL A/A
Pre Calculus C B/B
Technical Theater A/A
Spanish 5/6 H A/A
Classes 12th Grade
IB English
Ap government
Ap calculus AB
Ap Spanish
Ap physics 1
Cal Poly Pomona and CSUSM for Biotechnology
I am also looking at UC Davis for the same major. Should I still apply or is it a lost cause because of my low SAT score?
I would say you have a pretty good chance at the CSUs you’re applying to, though your major is highly competitive, so no one can be 100% sure. Your GPA is great and your SAT isn’t bad at all for a CSU, since they don’t count the writing score.
UC Davis will probably be a little tougher. If you live in the Sacramento-Davis area, I think you’d have a pretty decent shot as I believe (not sure, but I know some UCs do this), give priority to local students. Your SAT is pretty low there, but I still think you should apply–it’s not like it’s a super selective school in the first place. You’ll never know if you don’t try, and I think you might have a shot.
UCD is a Reach with your SAT score but you have a good chance at CPP and CSUSM. Why the huge mismatch with SAT and GPA? CSU’s give priority to local applicants not UC’s. Any chance you can try the ACT? You may do better.
I have no idea why they are so far apart. I have the same question for myself. I even studied for the last month with the prep book for the SAT yesterday, but I do not think I did any better. I signed up for the ACT, and hope that will be better.
Will colleges see the huge discrepancy between my GPA and SAT and see it as a red flag that I somehow cheated to get my grades?
The colleges will not think you cheated on your grades, they may think your HS has grade inflation. My older son had GPA vs Test score mismatch for the SAT, but did better on the ACT. ACT was still on the low side (26), but he was able to get into some good schools, plus he was applying for a less competitive major.
Congratulations. You have proven that Stats are not everything. I am sure your EC’s and essays definitely helped, that is why chancing threads are really a waste of time and should not be taken seriously.