Chance me for Cornell, NYU, BU, UPitt, UCLA, UCSD, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey everyone! If I could get chanced for any of these schools that would be greatly appreciated.

My list:
Cornell University
New York University
Boston University
University of California - Los Angeles
University of Southern California
University of Pittsburgh
University of California - San Diego
University of California - Irvine
University of California - Santa Barbara
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
University of Denver
Harvard University

Applying Arts & Sciences / Undecided pretty much everywhere (International / Asian Studies, Science and Technology Studies if required)

Here are my stats:
ACT: 33 (Breakdown: English: 36, Math:33, Reading:32, Science:31)
Weighted GPA: 4.46
Unweighted GPA: N/A
Class rank: N/A (School doesn’t report)
Maximized AP classes each year, only tested APUSH (5), AP World (4)

Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, Band, AP Calculus AB, Honors Senior Thesis*, AP Statistics, AP Human Geography, AP Literature, AP Comparative Politics

*year long research project, similar to very college senior thesis

Essays:
Really solid according to my Social Science and English teachers, talking mainly about creativity and leadership through ECs

ECs:
Amnesty International - 9, PR 10, Co-Pres 11 / 12
Student Council - 10, PR 11, 12
Band - 9, Council Rep 10, Section Leader & PR 11, 12
Eagle Scout
Model UN - 9, 10, 11, 12, often mentoring younger students
Cross Country - 11, 12
Quiz Bowl - 11, Co-Pres 12
Film making - YouTube and Short Films
Chinese Club - 9, 10, PR 11, 12

Rec Letters:
Amazing from social science teacher who I’ve been involved with since Freshmen year, taken / taking all 3 of his classes and President of Amnesty which he sponsors, active mentor in MUN
Good from math teacher who I’ve known since Freshmen year, taking his Stats class right now and knows of my accomplishments

Awards / Honors:
Science Fair: Behavioral Science 10 - School (1st) • Computer Science 11 - School *1st), District Board (3rd), District Paper (1st), State Paper (2nd)
National History Day: Participated 9, 10, District 11 (2nd), went to State
Veritas Literary Journal: School literary journal, photography featured 9, 10, 11
Academic Achievement Medal (top grade in class): AP Computer Science A → 11
Arkansas Governor’s School: Six-week summer program, only ~400 kids accepted from all over the state

Other:
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Sexual Identity: Bisexual
School type: Private

Strengths: EC committment & passion, test scores (for most, in the ballpark in general), creativity and well-rounded, rec letters, essays

Weaknesses: GPA since Valedictorian typically gets around 4.7 every year (yes we have a lot of grade inflation but ofc colleges look in context of school either way)

Hope that helps!

2

UC GPA capped weighted and fully weighted?

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Unlimited college budget?

3

And since you mention Arkansas you’re OOS for UCs. Are you willing to pay 60,000 without financial aid?

Also UC weighted GPA for OOS takes into account AP/DE classes taken in 10-11th grades only.

4

Would be helpful to have your unweighted GPA for the non UC schools on your list. Calculate it yourself, on a 4 point scale (A+, A, A- = 4 and so on) in your core classes only.

5

My UC GPA capped is 4.13, I meant to update it after I posted.

Not too worried about financial aid, will still apply for it though.

@Mwfan1921
@Hamurtle
@Gumbymom

6

UC’s are $65K per year. The UC’s do not provide a penny of financial aid to non-residents. You can apply, but since the UC’s are public universities funded by the state’s taxpayers, they don’t have money either.
So, tell your parents that if you get in, they will have to pony up the money for a public school.

7

Your ACT is within range for all the UC’s on your list along with your UC capped weighted GPA. You have a competitive overall application but consider UCLA a Reach school and UCSD a High Match/Low Reach school. UCSB and UCI look like solid Match schools. If you and your family can pay the $65K/year UC costs, then definitely apply and best of luck.

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 (capped weighted and major specific):
UCLA: 11.7%
UCSD: 38.7%
UCSB: 53.6%
UCI: 52.1%

2018 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCLA: 4.23
UCSD: 4.16
UCSB: 4.13
UCI: 4.13

25th - 75th percentiles for ACT:
UCLA: 31-35
UCSD: 28-34
UCSB: 28-34
UCD: 26-33
UCI: 26-33

8

@“aunt bea” I definitely understand that, I’ve done my fair share of research. Thanks for the advice!

@Gumbymom I figured as much, I found similar stuff online…definitely helps! :slight_smile:

9

If you’re not applying ED anywhere, then the chances are going to pretty much follow the acceptance rates of the schools, gumbymom laid out the UCs, I’d put USC, NYU as low reach/high match, being a non-stem Asian from Arkansas could help as well. Denver will be a safety, UMass would be a low match/safety. Some of these universities are different, UCSB (beach, good weather 51 weeks of the year) and Cornell (no beach, good weather one week of the year according to my Cornell friends). So maybe narrowing it down and bring some focus could help. Good luck!

10

I am from CA so I will chance for UC’s.
For UC’s:
UCLA reach - you have a good shot though, but it is the most applied to school in the world
UCSD high match
UCSB high match/ match
UCI high match/ match
You have a good shot at the UC’s but they are getting more and more competitive each year. I didn’t get into Davis but got into Berkeley.
Anyways, good luck!

11

@theloniusmonk @SREE33 That’s what I’ve been thinking, thanks!