@BucketsUCSC But don’t you think that it is unique that I have a 3rd degree black belt before the age of 16, and I manage the dojo, and compete at tournaments. The “Why USC” one might be cliche I agree with that.
Listen that’s impressive for an above average essay but if you want your essay to be exceptional which is what youll need to get into UCLA then you need to figure out how to turn what you accomplished into a story that can illustrate how much of a leader and how bright of a mind you have.
@BucketsUCSC Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate all the critiques! Thank you!
Also, I am still accepting chances/advice if people want to, I will also chance back!
Bump!
UCLA/UCB - Reach, just because it’s so competitive.
UCSD - Low reach.
UCI/UCR - Match, maybe even safety.
USC - Low Reach.
Other good engineering schools west-coast are WashU Seattle (very competitive) and Cal Poly (easy application, my cousin got in last year with horrid essays so I’d assume it’s not super competitive.)
@MathFan21 Your ECs and SAT Subject Test scores look great, but for competitive schools like UCB and UCLA you might have trouble with your GPA (although it really isn’t bad; it’s quite good, actually, especially with your courses). Just make sure you write an amazing essay, have great teacher recs, and you’ll be good.
I’m almost sure you’ll have no problem with getting accepted into all the UCs except UCB and UCLA (because those two are the most competitive of the bunch).
Regardless, best of luck!
@Lynkos Thanks for the advice!
@rutherford your cousin prob had good stats because Cal Poly Slo is VERY STATS oriented
@lynkos @Gumbymom @BucketsUCSC @rutherford I heard there was a special 1 year transfer program for USC, do any of you know what that is called?
I would say that you’ll definitely be accepted into UCI and USC, but SD and LA might be low-mid reaches!
I’ll be completely objective with you, based on available statistics on the Internet:
- USC-Computational Mathematics (In Dornsife Letters and Science) = Reach
- UCI- Electrical Engineering = Match
- UCSD- Electrical Engineering = Match
- UCLA- Materials Engineering (32% Acceptance Rate) = Reach
If you applied to Berkeley, it would be very hard however.
@MathFan21 im not sure but i do know there is a TAG program for UCSB and UCI
I am not aware of a specific 1 year transfer program, but USC does accept Sophomore level transfers.
https://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/docs/TransferringToUSC.2015.pdf
As an East Coaster I don’t know too much about the UCs, but I think UCLA is probably your biggest reach, followed by USC. However I think you’ll get into the other two, and USC and UCLA are still very attainable. Good luck!
- USC-Computational Mathematics (In Dornsife Letters and Science): low reach
- UCI- Electrical Engineering: high match
- UCSD- Electrical Engineering: low reach
- UCLA- Materials Engineering (32% Acceptance Rate): reach
Good Luck 
@BucketsUCSC AP exams are not always equal to grades…sometimes the schools are harder than the AP exam and vice versa, so it truly depends on the classes. For example, I only got a 3 on the APUSH exam, but I got an A+ both semesters and got the highest grades out of everyone in my class. The testing is all truly subjective, especially the AP system in its entirety.
IMO its more accurate then grades because two students take the same AP test but one class may have loads of extra credit opportunities and overshadow tests making the class so much easier
Hey…i think you have a really good chance of being admitted. It looks like you have a leadership position on your ECs and thats very good.they like such of things. Can u chance me back pls ?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1836180-i-am-going-to-apply-to-a-boarding-school-in-switzerland-k-12-system.html#latest
I don’t get why OP would have such a hard time getting into UCLA. His SAT score is near the 75th percentile of UCLA students (2150), and his GPA is only a little below the average UCLA GPA (4.3). Good luck @MathFan21 I hope you make it in.
but you fail to realize engineering is a very impacted field