Location/Region: asian female from bay area, mid-large sized decently competitive school, mid-high income household, no legacy
fortunately, no problems with cost constraint
Major: primarily cognitive science
GPA/Test Scores: 3.93UW / 4.44W (end of junior year), school doesnt do rank but I think I’m in the top 5%
AP Chem (5), AP Calc BC (5), AP Bio (4), AP Lang (5), AP CSP (4), AP Chinese (5)
Currently 1500 SAT with limited studying, looking to retake soon.
Coursework: All the APs listed above + a couple honors classes + normal classes for graduation requirements, and AP Microeconomics (just took this over this summer)
Senior year course load just finished AP micro so no more econ woohoo
AP Lit, AP Computer Science A, AP Stats, AP Physics 2, AP Government, Chamber Orchestra
My ecs:
2 pretty prestigious research projects (related to my intended major), one with a well known uni and the other with a well known company, can probably get letter of recs from these well known people
varsity xc/track, team captain for xc
volunteer at a large hospital
manager at a pretty big nonprofit 3,000+ volunteers
instrument volunteer group that plays at different retirement homes
lots of peer tutoring
teach violin to underprivileged kids for free in a small organization with my teacher
president of esports club and vice president of a girls in stem club as well, part of nhs and csf (basic stuff)
+some more misc extracurriculars that prob arent important enough to mention
awards:
abrsm level 8 with distinction (violin)
ap scholar lol
Schools You’re Currently Looking At: Caltech, UCLA, UCB, UCSD, UCs just in general tbh, Cornell, Stanford, Upenn (all reaches ik)
was planning to just use UCs as safety since I’m applying to all of them and I’m guaranteed to get into at least one due to the california thing where if you’re in the top 9% of your class you’re guaranteed to get into a uc (usually merced/riverside)
For everyone kind enough to take time out of your day to respond literally tysm i’ve been stressing out so much LOL
I agree but you are not limited to UCs for safety.
Lots of OOS schools are safeties too and lots would give you a lot of money - from the Arizonas of the world to Alabama to Miami Ohio and many more. Also great LACs if that were an interest may take 33-50% off cost.
So unless you’re ok with the UC safety, consider spreading your wings.
The 1500 is great but won’t count at the UCs as you know.
Can you leverage violin - reach out to orchestra teachers, etc?
Ps no reason to stress. But your safeties and targets are most important. They require the MOST consideration and it seems like you’ve given none.
I’m simply saying tho - if you don’t get into those you listed, where would you want to be ? If it’s UCR or UCM then great.
But my guess is that’s not your desire. So think long and hard beside ranking - what do you want in a school. Geographically (and if you say just CA I’ll challenge your ranking based most, size, weather, urban/suburban, sports etc.
I think your list is fine as long as you are happy to attend any UC to which you are accepted. It’s quite OK to want to stay in CA if that is your top choice. It’s also OK to have a couple of reach schools that are not in CA.
I think that was what I was thinking, since a counselor told me I had pretty good chances of getting into the middle UCs (never any guarantees though). I definitely appreciate your feedback with my list.
I mean, I guess in terms of education I’m definitely willing to compromise location. I think I’m just quite idealistic. But I’ll definitely do more research into schools in California. Thanks again.
This is my concern - the word middle. If you post your 3 UC GPAs usually @Gumbymom can provide acceptance rates by campus to give an idea.
Usually when people say what you did, they mean they’d be disappointed with UCSC, UCR and UCM - hence the basis of my comments. There’s lots of CA targets and safeties plus fine schools in nearby states as well if the goal is to stay close to home.
Being ELC (top 9% within your HS or Statewide) gives you the UC guarantee that if not admitted to your choice campus, then your application will be referred to the default campus which has been UC Merced, although UCR also accepted referrals this year but not always.
Below are the 2022 UC admit rates based on the capped weighted UC. UCLA and UCB will put more emphasis on the Unweighted and Fully weighted but all 3 UC GPA’s will be considered by all campuses for your application review. GPA is only one component of the UC application review but Very Important including HS Course rigor and the PIQ’s.
You are competitive for all the UCs but not a guaranteed in at any UC other than at Merced. The mid-UCs as you call them are all hard admits for instate students. You need some CSUs in the mix other than CalPoly.
Here are more specifics on the Cognitive Science major if the admit data was available.
2022 admit Rates
Campus
Cognitive Science
UC Berkeley
12% for College of L&S Does not admit by major
UC Davis
37.9% for College of L&S Does not admit by major
UC Irvine
24.3%
UCLA
10% for College of L&S Does not admit by major
UC Merced
94%
UC Riverside
84% for Neuroscience
UC San Diego
No data but <25% Top 5 most popular declared major
UC Santa Barbara
27% for College of L&S does not admit by major Psychological and Brain Science. Cognitive Science is a Graduate program.
UC Santa Cruz
55%
You are definitely competitive and you will be evaluated within the context of your HS. You can check how your HS fares overall with UC admissions and the average UC (Capped weighted) GPA using this link: Admissions by source school | University of California
From my understanding, a really good number of students at my school are committed to UCs, specifically USCS. I think I probably have a good shot at those middle UCs but I’ll definitely consider more state schools like you said. Thanks for all the feedback!
Wow! Thanks for all the specifics. I had no idea most of these statistics were even public. I can’t thank you enough! This looks to be a really invaluable resource.
UCSB does not have a Cognitive Science major. IIRC, UCR didn’t offer it either. Google shows a Cognition and Neuroscience major, but the UCR Psychology website is being updated so I can’t confirm.
What side of Cognitive Science are you interested in? Both UCSB and UCR focus on the neuroscience side. If you are interested in CS/AI, you might look for another major at those schools.
As a suggestion for the national portion of your search, research Vassar College, which, I believe, developed the world’s first undergraduate major in cognitive science. For further ideas in California, look into Pomona College, Occidental College and the University of Southern California.
