My stats (2nd semester junior):
1510 PSAT
1510 SAT (770 math and 740 English)
weighted GPA: 4.74 (I hope I did the math on that correctly!!)
unweighted GPA: 3.93
Full IB candidate
extracurriculars: mock trial, significant amount of human trafficking related work w/ various organizations from awareness to direct relief and rescue attempts (that I plan to talk about in essays), web magazine staff writer, other published writing etc
Math is my main weakness; I’d gotten all A’s up until IB Math SL this year. Got a B last semester, likely a C this semester (these stats are assuming my grades stay where they are until the end of this semester). My dream major is public health, chem, or bio.
My college list is as follows:
UVA
UW-Seattle (honors)
UCSD
UC Davis
UCSB
Cal Poly SLO
My parents also suggested looking at U Maryland College Park and at one point I was interested in U Utah also.
Basically, should I even bother applying to UVA out of state? How are my chances, especially for honors or merit aid, at the others? Any other places you’d recommend? College admissions for seniors at my school this year have been rough, and I’m a bit worried. Thanks so much!!!
You have a good chance at all of the schools you listed. Also, if you truly would want to go to UVA, then yes you should apply (and I think you would be a very competitive applicant). I’d even recommend adding a few reaches to your list, as you seem to be slightly over-qualified for many of your schools. [Sorry – looking back I realized you will be looking for aid. You won’t get any aid for just about all of your schools out of state (I believe), so I don’t know how this factors into your decision.]
In addition, do everything you can to earn a B for your math grade. While a C won’t hurt you TOO much, I’d recommend putting a lot of effort into trying to raise it. That said, your SAT score and your EC’s definitely make up for it as they are excellent, especially if you want to go into public health.
Good luck! You should be confident. I’d also appreciate it if you could chance me back.
Are your parents moving to California with you? If not, your chances of gaining residency are slim unless you are over 24 and financially independent. If you are coming to California for the purpose of education, you will be paying OOS tuition all four years.
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Undergraduates: If you’re a nonresident undergraduate student with nonresident parents, obtaining California residency for the purposes of tuition is extremely difficult (this includes transfer students from community colleges and other postsecondary institutions within California). Virtually all nonresident undergraduates with nonresident parents remain nonresidents for the duration of their undergraduate career at UC.
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