Chance me... 1550 SAT, Extracurriculars, but low GPA CS and CogSci

Hello,

I am a rising senior in high school from a upper middle class background. In my sophomore year, I was having issues at home and at school and ended up getting mostly Bs and Cs in the two of the AP classes I was taking (AP Chemistry, AP Stats) as well as getting a D in the first quarter of Honors Precalc/AP Calc AB. I dropped out of the class and have retaken it this year, getting an A. Fortunately, I became much more motivated after the family situation ended and have successfully completed my Junior year, netting all As and taking 4 AP classes: AP Computer Science A, AP Calc AB, AP Psych, and AP Environmental Science as well as getting a 1550 on the SAT. Over the summer after my sophomore year, I did psychology/computer science related internships and UCSD and UC Berkeley, writing code and helping run experiments. I also did a internship at a start-up where I created a tool to help visualize data. This summer, I am continuing the trend, but now I am leading a team of 16 undergraduate students in a machine learning project at the startup. In addition, I am doing data visualization for a research organization that is tracking the spread of COVID-19. I am highly interested in psychology and computer science and hope to apply to colleges as either a CS or CogSci major. My future goal is to use my CogSci or CS knowledge in a AI or Machine Learning-related career. If I do not get into the below schools for my major, I am considering community college because of the low cost and great chances of getting into a good UC

I am applying to the following schools for Computer Science:

UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
UC Riverside
UC Irvine
Purdue
U Dub
Cornell ED - still deciding whether to apply CS or CogSci

I am also applying to the following for Cognitive Science

UC San Diego
UCLA
UC Berkeley
USC
ED at Columbia
Cornell ED - still deciding whether to apply CS or CogSci

What is your GPA?

Be sure your guidance counselor addresses the issues you faced sophomore year in their LOR.

What are your 3 UC GPA’s? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

UCB is the only UC school currently that accepts LOR’s by invitation only so I would address the lower grades in one of your personal insight essays.

Since UC’s are test optional for the next 2 admission cycles, GPA will have a greater focus. I definitely recommend taking some SAT subject tests to help offset your lower grades. CS is super competitive at all the UC’s so make sure you have a couple of safety schools on your list. Your EC’s will help your chances but GPA will be a huge factor this year.

Best of luck.

Cannot chance without GPA and class rank.

Consider adding on UC Merced as an easier school for admission.

My unweighted GPA is a 3.5, my weighted is a 3.75, and my UC GPA is a 3.95

Here is the 2019 admit data for the UC’s. CS is one of the most competitive majors at the UC’s, so you will need above average academic stats for a good chance. Below are the 2019 admit rates which are not major specific, so expect CS to have a lower admit rate than posted.

2019 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 12%
UCLA: 7%
UCSD: 33%
UCSB: 32%
UCD: 47%
UCI: 35%
UCSC: 72%
UCR: 87%
UCM: 96%

2019 UC capped weighted GPA averages along with 25th-75th percentile range:
UCB: 4.23 (4.15-4.30)
UCLA: 4.25 (4.18-4.32)
UCSD: 4.16 (4.03-4.28)
UCSB: 4.16 (4.04-4.28)
UCI: 4.13 (4.00-4.25)
UCD: 4.13 (4.00-4.26)
UCSC: 3.96 (3.76-4.16)
UCR: 3.90 (3.69-4.11)
UCM: 3.73 (3.45-4.00)

2019 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT totals:
UCB: 1340-1540

UCLA: 1330-1550
UCSD: 1300-1520
UCSB: 1280-1520
UCD: 1230-1490
UCI: 1250-1510
UCSC: 1200-1450
UCR: 1130-1400
UCM: 1020-1290

Below is how the UC’s admit Freshman and Intended major:
UCB:
Division (L&S, CNR, CoC, CED, CoE) matters for admission selectivity.
Within CoE (but not the other divisions), major matters for admission selectivity. Changing majors within the CoE after enrolling is not guaranteed, unless one is CoE undeclared.

    Note that L&S admits students as undeclared; admission to capped            majors (e.g. CS, economics, psychology, ORMS, statistics, art practice,         and a few others) is by college GPA in prerequisite courses (and                portfolio for art practice) after attending for a few semesters.

Alternate majors not considered.

UCD:
Admission decisions are made based upon the qualifications of the applicant pool and the number of available spaces within each academic area:
• College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences admits by college
• College of Biological Sciences admits by college
• College of Letters and Science admits by division within the college
• (Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies; Mathematics and Physical Sciences; Social Sciences)
• College of Engineering admits by academic department
Students applying as “undeclared” or “undeclared/exploratory” are considered within the college/division to which they applied.

Applicants are encouraged to list an alternate major, but not in the same area as the primary major (e.g., Computer Science Engineering with alternate Computer Science in the College of L&S). Occasionally, we admit to the alternate major.

UCI:

  • Freshman Selection:
    UCI admits into the University first and then into the major. In the case that UCI is unable to accommodate all qualified applicants in their first-choice major, those students who indicate a valid alternate major may be offered admission in that major or Undeclared.

UCLA:
For the College of Letters and Science, the applicant’s major is not considered during the review process.
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science admits students by declared major, with more emphasis on science and math programs.

UCLA only guarantees review of an applicant’s first-choice major.
We typically do not admit to the alternate major

UCSD:
The campus does not admit students on the basis of academic major or choice of UC San Diego undergraduate college. Alternate majors are considered and capped majors are highly competitive. Also note: Capped majors require additional pre-req courses and specific GPA to be able to qualify if changing majors. Also if applying to a capped major, select an non-capped major as an alternate.

UCSB:

College of Engineering: Students are selected by major for all engineering and computer science majors. Only applicants with a solid background in advanced high school mathematics will be considered for admission to engineering. This includes high grades in all math courses through grade 11 and enrollment in pre-calculus or higher in grade 12. A student not selected for their first choice major will be reviewed for admission to an alternate major outside of the College of Engineering if one was selected.

College of Creative Studies:
Applicants to the College of Creative Studies submit a supplementary application in addition to the general UC Application, which is reviewed by Creative Studies faculty. Students are selected within Creative Studies majors only. Applicants not selected for Creative Studies will automatically be considered for admission to the College of Letters and Science.

UCSC:
Important Note for Prospective Engineering Students: Choice of major does not influence the selection of first-year students, except for those applicants interested in a major offered by the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE). Freshmen who are interested in a BSOE program should be sure to indicate a BSOE proposed major. Students who do not indicate a BSOE program or who apply as undeclared might not be able to pursue a BSOE program.

UCR:
Admission by major but alternate/2nd choice major will be considered if applicant does not need their first choice admission standards.

Does anyone know any good colleges that I should add to my list for CS or CogSci