UC’s, USC, Cal Poly SLO, Pepperdine
Weighted GPA: 3.86
Non-weighted GPA: 3.58
UC GPA: 3.86
Ethnicity: South Korean
Gender: Female
Income: ~120K
Major: Biology/Undecided
ACT: 30 (35E, 28M, 28R, 29S)
EC: Volunteering at local animal shelter, Big Brother Big Sister, marching band 9th grade, debate club 10th and 11th, intermediate acting class 11th grade, piano for 10 years, JV tennis team 9th grade, art club 11th grade
Major Award(s): Won a $2,500 scholarship for a video contest about cyber security and met the attorney general of my state
Essays: Everyone who read them said they were amazing, 9/10.
Weaknesses: No AP classes (school offered minimal AP classes) and taking 3 classes senior year (dropped classes because ended up in hospital for a couple weeks)
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19:
UCB: 12%
UCLA: 14%
UCSD: 39%
UCSB: 49%
UCD: 52%
UCI: 57%
UCSC: 83%
UCR: 90%
UCM: 92%
Based on your posted information:
UCM/UCR: Safety
Pepperdine/UCSC: Match
SLO/UCD/UCI/UCSB: HIgh Match-Low Reach
UCSD/USC: Reach
UCB/UCLA: High Reach
Having no AP’s negatively impacts your GPA for the UC’s. Since your school offers minimal AP’s, you still should have taken some to show HS course rigor. Also if you applied for Biology at the UC’s and SLO, this is a capped/impacted major at many of the campuses so highly competitive. Your test scores are good but not competitive for the top schools.
If your essays are as outstanding as stated, then they may give you bump.
Good Luck and love your safeties.
I agree with Gumbymom. The top UCs, such as Berkeley and LA, along with USC will be more of a reach for you. Your chances are pretty good for the other schools otherwise.