Hey everyone, I was wondering what my chances are for the mentioned UC colleges. I’m planning on going in a general biology major, or whichever one is closest to a general biology major for each school. I’m in-state and an Asian male from a pretty competitive high school - top 50 in California.
UW GPA: 3.70 W
W GPA: 4.16
UC GPA: 4.00
ACT: 34
SAT II’s - Math 2: 800 - Biology : 740
AP’s / Honors: Sophomore - Junior year
AP’s: AP Calculus BC (5), AP Biology (4), AP US History (5) , AP Spanish (5),
Honors: Pre-Calculus Honors, English Honors, Chemistry Honors
EC’s: Eagle Scout, Volunteering at a soup kitchen for 120-130 hours, Treasurer of Speech and Debate club, Private tutor for two years, Student Tutor at school - help students in math classes, student tutors are picked personally by your teacher for doing good in class and your overall behavior. I’ve done that since sophomore year. Secretary of key club. Part time job at local boba place during summer for around 100 hours.
I’m going to work hard on my common app essays and the UC ones. Is there anything else I can do to improve my chances at the UC’s? Also how are my chances at the ones I listed? Ideally, I’d love to go to Irvine but i’m worried my GPA is too low.
Based on your 4.00 UC weighted-capped GPA compared to the above, your list is made of high match to reach schools. Add UCSC, UCR, and UCM to improve chance of UC admission.
Your test scores are very competitive, but UC’s tend to be very GPA focused. You do have a chance at several of the UC’s and your UC GPA will be considered in the context of your competitive HS but I do agree with @ucbalumnus that you need to some Match and Safety UC’s on your list especially since Biology is an impacted/capped major at many of the UC campuses.
Thank you for your response! You mentioned that the UC’s tend to be very GPA focused. Does that mean my EC’s and essay’s won’t matter as much? I was hoping stuff like Eagle Scout would have helped mitigate my GPA a little. I was hoping that the combination of the two would help increase my chances at the “middle” UC’s like Davis, Irvine, SB, and SD. If not, is there anything else I could do to further my chances?
This post will be long so I am splitting into two separate posts, but this is comprehensive list of what each campus considers in their application review:
BERKELEY
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Important: Extracurricular activities, Volunteer work, Work experience
Considered: Character/personal qualities, First generation college student, State residency, AP/IBLH exam scores
Note: Thorough review of academic performance; likely contribution to intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus; diversity in personal background and experience; demonstrated qualities in leadership, motivation, concern for others and community; non-academic achievement in the performing arts, athletics or employment; demonstrated interest in major.
LOR's by invitation only as of 2017
Division (L&S, CNR, CoC, CED, CoE) matters for admission selectivity.
Within CoE (but not the other divisions), major matters for admission selectivity. Changing majors within the CoE after enrolling is not guaranteed, unless one is CoE undeclared.
Note that L&S admits students as undeclared; admission to capped majors (e.g. CS, economics, psychology, ORMS, statistics, art practice, and a few others) is by college GPA in prerequisite courses (and portfolio for art practice) after attending for a few semesters.
The business major is in a separate division and admits students in a competitive holistic process. Frosh intending business majors begin in another division (usually L&S), take the business major prerequisites, and apply (usually in their second years). They also need to take prerequisites for a backup major in case they are not admitted to the business major.
DAVIS
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, Talent/ability, Volunteer work
Considered: First generation college student, Geographical residence, State residency, Work experience
Note: Scholastic achievement most important, followed by school and community activities, academic interests, special circumstances, special achievements and awards
Admission decisions are made based upon the qualifications of the applicant pool and the number of available spaces within each academic area:
• College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences admits by college
• College of Biological Sciences admits by college
• College of Letters and Science admits by division within the college
• (Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies; Mathematics and Physical Sciences; Social Sciences)
• College of Engineering admits by academic department
Students applying as “undeclared” or “undeclared/exploratory” are considered within the college/division to which they applied.
IRVINE
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Extracurricular activities, Level of applicant's interest, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Important: Character/personal qualities, Class rank
Considered: First generation college student, Geographical residence, State residency
Note: Demonstrated record of academic preparation, educational engagement, talent and skills important.
Freshman Selection:
UCI admits into the University first and then into the major. In the case that UCI is unable to accommodate all qualified applicants in their first-choice major, those students who indicate a valid alternate major may be offered admission in that major or Undeclared.
LOS ANGELES
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Considered: First generation college student, Geographical residence, AP/IBHL exam scores
Note: GPA, test scores, course work, number of and performance in honors and AP courses most important. Essay considered. Strong senior program important. Extracurricular activities, honors and awards also reviewed.
For the College of Letters and Science, the applicant’s major is not considered during the review process. The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science admits students by declared major, with more emphasis on science and math programs. The School of Nursing also places more emphasis on science and math programs and requires the submission of an additional supplemental application. The School of the Arts and Architecture; Herb Alpert School of Music; and the School of Theater, Film and Television admit students by declared major (within the school), and put more emphasis on special talents through a review of portfolios and/or auditions, which are the most significant admission factors for these schools.
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Important: Class rank, Extracurricular activities, Talent/ability
Considered: Character/personal qualities, First generation college student, Geographical residence, Level of applicant's interest, Recommendations, State residency, Volunteer work, Work experience
Note: Academic record and test scores determine eligibility.
RIVERSIDE
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Considered: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, State residency, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Note: A fixed weight point system comprehensive review model that culminates in an Academic Index Score to determine admission for incoming freshmen.
SAN DIEGO
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, State residency, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Note: High school course pattern, GPA, essay and test scores most important. Admission for out-of-state applicants more selective than for residents.
The campus does not admit students on the basis of academic major or choice of UC San Diego undergraduate college. Alternate majors are considered.
SANTA BARBARA
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores
Considered: Character/personal qualities, Class rank, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, Level of applicant's interest, State residency, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Note: Eligibility established by high school GPA, course requirement, and SAT scores. Special consideration for disadvantaged students.
Freshman Selection:
College of Letters and Sciences: Choice of major is not considered in selection to the College of Letters and Science. The exceptions to this rule are dance and music performance majors. Both majors require applicants to complete an audition in late January or early February.
College of Engineering: Students are selected by major for all engineering and computer science majors. Only applicants with a solid background in advanced high school mathematics will be considered for admission to engineering. This includes high grades in all math courses through grade 11 and enrollment in pre-calculus or higher in grade 12. A student not selected for their first choice major will be reviewed for admission to an alternate major outside of the College of Engineering if one was selected.
College of Creative Studies:
Applicants to the College of Creative Studies submit a supplementary application in addition to the general UC Application, which is reviewed by Creative Studies faculty. Students are selected within Creative Studies majors only. Applicants not selected for Creative Studies will automatically be considered for admission to the College of Letters and Science.
SANTA CRUZ
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores, State residency
Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, Geographical residence, Talent/ability
Considered: Volunteer work, Work experience
Note: Test scores, GPA in required subjects most important. Personal statement very important.
Admission Selection:
Important Note for Prospective Engineering Students: Choice of major does not influence the selection of first-year students, except for those applicants interested in a major offered by the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE). Freshmen who are interested in a BSOE program should be sure to indicate a BSOE proposed major. Students who do not indicate a BSOE program or who apply as undeclared might not be able to pursue a BSOE program.
Wow thank you so much for all of this information! I really appreciate you taking your time to help me with all of this stuff, it’s a great resource. Thank you once again!
hey buddy, your ECs look amazing. as you’ve already heard, your GPA is a little low, but it’s nothing to be tooo concerned about, as your ECs kind of balance it out a little. your ACT score and SAT II scores are also looking pretty good. maybe this upcoming semester, try focusing more on your grades and pull back a little on the ECs? just a suggestion. good luck, and I hope you get into your dream school!
Appreciate it, thanks for the motivation! Yeah I learned a lot about studying from my mistakes, looking forward to killing first semester of senior year.
You asked if your essays will matter much - I’d say since your grades don’t stand out that your essays will be very important. If there is a teacher at your school that is a UC application reader, ask if you can have them reviewed by the teacher. Good luck!
Great essays may help you get into reachesn. Poor essays may help get you rejected from likelies.
But it is unlikely that you will be able to know how good your essays are compared to the entire applicant pool, unless you know someone who has worked as a UC application reader before and has therefore seen and graded/scored a large number of applications using the essays as part of the grade/score.
That’s true. I’m just going to work as hard as I can on it and try to get it proof read by a private essay counselor or my lit teacher. How would you say my chances are at Davis or Irvine? You think the lower gpa could be made up for by the context of my high school, class rigor, and ec’s? Or are my chances not looking good?
