Hey guys! I’d love if you could chance me. While I’ll be applying to 8/10 of the UC’s, I am especially interested in UCSC and Cal.
3.57 UW, 3.88 W GPA (weakness lies in math)
1620 SAT (will try to get up to 1700)
- Co-founder and editor of school's literary magazine
- Published poet online and in print all through high school, National Amateur Poetry Contest (and a few others) finalist
- Taught meditation for one year
- Summer job at UCLA
- Teen volunteer at library
- Member of local Buddhist meditation group for three years
I will be writing my first personal statement on how my physical disability and premature birth has affected my outlook on life, and given me a greater understanding and empathy for others. I also hope to express that while I’ve managed to have an upward grade trend, I was hospitalized in freshmen year and continue to struggle with health problems, which has impacted my academic performance and my ability to participate in EC’s.
Calculate your UC GPA: http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Here is a link to the average UC GPA/SAT/ACT scores for each UC campus:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jj0d3ttxoxw6pwo/uc%20stats.xlsx?dl=0
Your essay about your health problems and disability could have a large impact on your chances but probably will not overcome your GPA and low test scores. With current stats, UCSC/UCR and UCM would be good target schools. UCB will be a Reach and any other UC’s could be High Match to Reaches. Much will depend upon how your essay is received by admissions. I wish you good luck and hope you get some great acceptances.
@Gumpymom, my sense is that I have a decent chance at SC, but that’s about it, since I’m not interested in Riverside or Merced. A bit of a shame, because I’m hoping to study philosophy and maybe law and I know Cal would really be the best place for that. Perhaps I’ll transfer. Thank you for the advice!
It sounds like you have a pretty solid handle on your chances at these schools, though, honestly, even Santa Cruz and UCR could go either way.
Spend lots of time on your essay, do what you can to boost your SAT.
Apply lots of places and make your decision after you’ve got your responses. Include some CSUs (SDSU and CSULB would be good) and some privates to keep your options open. You will be shocked how different things look/feel six months from now.
Your local CC will also provide a viable fallback and (probably) a smooth transfer path to a UC. Be cautioned though, transfer admission into the top UCs is just as competitive as it is for freshman.
Good luck.
UCR and UCSC are kind of throw-ups, it can go either way. Try to boost your SAT to 1900+ and you will have a much better chance for your schools. But Berkeley, to be competitive, would need a higher SAT (2150+) and higher GPA. But, your essay on your disability can be beneficial to your chances.
Chance me- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1798848-chance-for-ucs-and-others.html?new=1
So, I accidentally miscalculated, and my first comp. SAT score came out to be 1690. Not a great improvement, but it’s something. Really hoping I can get up to 1800.
Santa Cruz is kind of a reach, 1900+ SAT would be solid