Chance for UCLA?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Yeah I'm aware that my GPA is terrible especially for a GPA-heavy school like UCLA. However, do I stand any chance at all for both UCLA and UCB? </p>

<p>Asian male (fml)
East Coast
Income bracket: 250k+
School: Very competitive, grade deflation, sends at least at least a dozen kids to Ivies every year
Rank: School doesn't report
GPA: 3.33 UW
3.8 W
3.7 UC GPA
Upward trend
SAT: 1510/2250
SAT II: 800 MATH II 800 CHEM
AP: All 5s (chem, bio, calc ab, music theory, english lang&comp)
Senior sched: AP Econ, AP stat, AP calc bc, AP english lit, rest are electives
Course rigor: Most rigorous
ECs:
-Piano 9 years: Played in Carnegie Hall and other well-known halls multiple times, played frequently for local senior centers, did a bunch of recitals per year, tutored some local kids, got some awards (dunno how prestigious)
-Violin 7 years: School orchestra since 4th grade, played in outside ensemble which performed several times a year since 8th grade, also tutored local kids
-Academic league co-captain
-Breakdance: Leader of school's "crew," performed for several school events, performed several times out of school
-100 volunteer hours in Chinese school
-50 volunteer hours in environmental center
-Internship in Credit Suisse hedge fund
-Internship in Rutgers University 2 summers
Essays: Well, all my teachers (including a professor at a top Ivy) said they were awesome. Overall, my essays should be the strongest part of the app. </p>

<p>Prompt #1 - Talked about how the competitive environment in my HS motivated me to work harder in school during my junior year. Really out-of-the-box and creative (if I may say so)
Prompt #2 - Creative piece about breakdancing and how it makes me who I am.</p>

<p>So... yeah. Am I pretty much screwed because of my GPA? Also, how likely is it that I'll get a supplement/augmented review? I heard that "borderline" applicants might get a supplement to provide 1st semester grades, a teacher rec, and some essays. Is it likely that I'll be offered a supplement and be asked to show my 1st sem grades (which should be all As or maybe a B or 2 if I'm unlucky) since I showed improvement and I emphasized the improvement in my essay? Sorry if these were stupid questions =/</p>

2

<p>I think you have a very good shot anyway. The rest of your app is flawless, I forgot the GPA by the time I was done reading it :)</p>

3

<p>Unfortunately, the UCs are very GPA based. I think you have a shot. It helps that you’re out of state and I’ve heard that the UCs like you paying a private-school amount tuition.</p>

<p>I’m obviously not an admissions expert. But I am from California, went to a crapload of UC-targeted info meetings, my school is academically rigorous and ranked nationally, and I would say at least 65% of the grads go to a UC, and like 95% of my friends go to a UC (I don’t). </p>

<p>I know that you didn’t specify whether or not you really want to go to these schools, but it you don’t get in, don’t stress it. CA has made serious budget cuts to the UCs. Even thouh UCB and UCLA are by far the best endowed of the universities, but I know recent grads that graduated 1-2 semesters later regardless. A private school would be much more likely to give you financial awards as well as look at you holistically.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies. dashqu, would you happen to know if UCLA sometimes overlooks bad GPA if other parts of the app are very good? Like, do you know any people who got in with a less-than-average GPA?</p>

5

<p>ec’s are great and upward trend is good. sat may be a bit detrimental :confused: but otherwise you have a good shot</p>

6

<p>bump^^^^^^^</p>

7

<p>Again, I would say the fact that you’re out of state might help. But I do think GPA would be the last thing to be overlooked. I don’t know anyone who got in without a 3.83+ unweighted regardless of test scores. I know a few people who barely made the 2000s SAT and got in. Low SATs seem to hurt you (but you don’t have to worry about that).</p>

8

<p>^ur GPA eliminates you. Sorry.</p>

9

<p>It is obviously a very competitive school. I would say, you have a decent chance of getting in (match). What is the average SAT score at your school? What is the class size and how many National Merit recognized (semifinalist+commended) each year?</p>