I am a junior and am interested in studying computer science.
My projected GPA pending this year’s final grade is 3.76/5.28 (Unweighted/Weighted), ACT Composite 34 (Math 36), SAT Math IIC 780, SAT II Chem 750.
My major concern is my GPA which I am afraid is a kind of low. I had 3Bs in 9th grade, 1B in 10th grade, and am looking to have straight As this junior year. I think my GPA has an upward trend, but, overall, I am ranked in the top 15% but not 10% in the class. My course work is the most challenging one offered by my school. Except PE and Band, all my classes since 9th grade have been honors or AP (1, 4 and 5 AP for 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, respectively).
I have won 1st places in in state Chemistry Olympics (on chemical engineering projects not tests). I am not sure whether the awards help for computer science which, I assume, is more about physics than chemistry.
To explore and demonstrate my interest in computer science, I will be going to UPenn this summer for a computer science camp as well as Purdue for an engineering camp.
I’d really appreciate your advises as I am trying to narrow down my college list. Thank
@BerniceNJ - How does one get 1.52 points added to their UW gpa? What kind of system does that?
Just a side note, you are not admitted into the CS major until you finish the college prerequisites, all of which are difficult. Anyone in College of Letters and Science can take CS classes, which is the reason why many CS majors didn’t get admitted as CS majors but instead, something else.
In our school, for weighted GPA, an A is 4.0 for a Level 1 class, but 6.0 for a Honor or AP class. A big difference.
Calculate your UC GPA (10-11th grade) since this is what UCB will consider not your HS’s GPA. Post UW UC GPA, capped weighted and fully weighted.
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
CS is offered in both the College of Letters and Sciences where you have to take Pre-req courses and get a minimum 3.3 GPA to declare the major or a direct admit into EECS.
Thank you so much for letting me know that 9th grades doe not count. I confirmed that in UC official website too. With that, I should have 13As, 1B, 5AP, a GPA of 3.93 unweighted, 4.29 weighted. Is this a good GPA for Computer Science or Computer Engineering?
Also note for ACT: My math is 36/36, and English is 35/36.
Thank you.
You look competitive for CS but no guarantees. Based on your CC name, are you from New Jersey? If so, be aware that UCB gives no little to no financial aid to OOS students. Expect to pay close to $60K/ year to attend. I would run the Net Price calculator. They do offer some merit scholarships but these rarely cover the majority of expenses.
https://saservices.berkeley.edu/calculator/
Your test scores are fine but being oos and an extremely low gpa (for cal) it’s gonna be a reach. I was opposite. In state lower test scores than you but 4.0 UW 4.68 Uncapped gpa and got denied in '16
You are saying that a 3.93 unweighted UC GPA is STILL extremely low? THANK YOU
Yea, I am from NJ. It is expensive but still considerably cheaper than Ivy’s. thank you again.