GPA: 3.9 (UW), 4.24 (W)
ACT 32 (33 superscore)
SAT II Subject tests: Math Level II: 800, Chemistry: 740, Biology M: 730
AP scores 5: (Calculus) 4: (Biology, Chemistry, APUSH, Eng Lang)
ECs:
Basketball (Captain)
Badminton (Varsity)
Speedcubing (basically I go to Rubik’s cube competitions and compete and get ranked, I rank 3rd in California for Women’s, I think this pretty unique because not many people speedcube and most people that do this are guys, this is also my common app essay topic)
Public health trip in rural China for two summers in a row (shadowed village doctor and spread disease awareness to the villagers)
Treasurer for a club where we organized health fairs
Volunteered at a hospital in the summer time
Foreign Exchange program where I lived with host families in China and taught them English in the summer
Bookkeeping job
Took classes (AP Biology and Advanced Biotechnology) on UC Berkeley campus through ATDP during the summer (not that prestigious but I heard it helps for the UC apps)
Awards:
Scholar Athlete all 3 years
AP Scholar with Distinction
Commended student for the PSAT
I live in California and am an Asian girl
Thanks!
ACT is a little low for all those schools, but it may not be worth retaking – your call.
I think that since you’re in state, the UCs you listed would both be low reaches/high matches assuming you could get the ACT up 2+ points. Cornell will be an uphill battle because you’ll be trying to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other Asian applicants from California. I think the speedcubing is a cool and unique hobby, so definitely play that up. I’d ditch the service trip or at least skim over it; most colleges know that service trips abroad are usually only for wealthy kids, and it tends to scream privilege (even if you did a lot of good things over there).
yeah i won’t elaborate much on the service trip rather i think I am going to talk about what i did after the trip like what i did with the club to do health fairs but i don’t think i will highlight it in any of my supplements thanks
UCB and UCLA - low reach
Cornell - reach
(Raise up ACT by 2 pts then you will have good chance for both UCs)
doubt i can raise my ACT anymore because I am doing ed to cornell
I already wrote this on another’s thread, but I feel the need to share it with you as well in your situation:
Your stats are already qualified for Cornell, but I’m afraid that you present yourself as a “cookie-cutter”. One thing that I want to tell you is to revolve your EC’s around one specific passion/interest that you believe is the most interesting part about you. Being well-rounded is a false notion that many people believe. When you compete in the highest caliber (HYPSM, other ivies, etc.), you want to present yourself as a person who would be able to offer something to a school’s student body. In other words, if you have a specialty or passionate hobby/interest, emphasize and express the hell out of it.
Chance back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18865452#Comment_18865452
I didnt really go out of my way to be “well-rounded.” It just so kinda happens that I have a lot of interests? i am not sure lol I mean i play sports because I genuinely like to play sports. I go to cubing competitions because I like to. As for my passion/interest it is something in the health career. My service trips, my volunteering at an hospital, and my club activities do relate to that. but thanks and i did chance back
ACT score is right on track for UC’s and Cornell but weighted GPA is a little low. You should calculate your UC GPA and leave it in the comments so that people will be able to chance you more accurately.
The weighted grade includes my freshman grades but my school doesn’t have honors/ap classes for freshman. My soph/junior weighted gpa is 4.46. As for my UC gpa, my capped is 4.15 and my uncapped is 4.38.
i think you are good for the 2 UC but I don’t know about Cornell
Are you applying for financial aid?
thank you for your kind offers @bandaidbean
I honestly think that for UCs it is a low reach (not too bad for the UCs) and that Cornell is a reach. However, Cornell is a reach for everyone so don’t fret 