Colleges applying to next year:
CSULB
CSUF
SJSU
SFSU
CSULA
UC Merced
UCR
SAT scores:
Reasoning test: 1450
Math - 520
CR - 450
Writing- 430
Essay- 8
SAT Subject Test soon to be taken:
MATH II
U.S. HIST
BIO
ACT soon to be taken
GPAs:
9-12: 2.83
10-12: 3.06
Current classes:
Chemistry: 1st semester C-
Spanish 2: 1st semester A
English 3P: 1semester A-
U.S. History: 1st semester A-
Algebra 2: 1st semester C
AP Tests:
I did not take classes for these exams:
AP biology
AP US history
Next year planned classes:
British Lit H
Physics P
AP Environmental Sci
Pre-Calculus
Spanish3
Choir
AP Civics/Micro-Eco
Summary:
I have not taken any AP classes and my senior year will be the first time I take any AP classes. I’m not much involved but planning to join swim next year. I like to do volunteer work though. What are my chances?
You need to calculate your UC/CSU GPA using 10-11th grades: http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
For the UC’s, you need a minimum UC/CSU GPA of 3.0 to apply. Even if you are at the minimum, your chances at UCM/UCR are low since you are below the 25th percentile for the GPA but if you can afford the application fees, there is always a chance. Course rigor is important in the UC application review, so if your school offers AP classes and you have not taken advantage, this will hurt your chances along with the several C’s on your transcript.
AP exams will not be used for admission purposes, only for college credit. Colleges want to see that you have taken these AP classes with good grades.
For the Cal States, they use an eligibility index. They rank all applicants based on EI for each major and then accept from the Highest until all the spots are filled. Here is the calculation:
To calculate: (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math+CR)
For CSULB. you want an EI of 3900+
For CSUF, you want an EI of 3800+
You should be fine for CSULA and SFSU (unless applying for an impacted major)
Impacted majors may have higher required EI’s.
SJSU publishes their EI cutoff for each major, so see where you stand using this link: http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-10079.12651.html
I would also consider 1 or 2 of the non-impacted Cal state campuses as another safety such as Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, East Bay, Stanislaus, Bakersfield or San Marcos. You should also consider retaking the SAT if your ACT is not higher.
Good Luck.
What if my intended major in biology .
Biology is one of the most applied and competitive majors so it will depend upon your EI for the Cal States and your UC/CSU GPA. Did you use the calculator?
Yes, so far it is 3.13. I really don’t know what I should major in. Do you think I should retake the SAT for the third time and take ACT also?
Also what should be my EI using ACT scores?
Your GPA is low for the UC’s, so I would consider them a Reach along with your SAT score. For the UC’s, to be competitive, you would need an ACT of 26+ for UCM/UCR at least. For ACT EI, CSULB you would need 850+, CSUF 800+ and SFSU/CSULA anything over a 700 should be OK. Did you look at the link for the SJSU EI’s? Use these as a guideline since it lists both EI for SAT and ACT. I would get a study guide this summer and work on the ACT. Both my son’s did much better on the ACT vs SAT.
Recapping your chances: UCR/UCM/CSULB/CSUF will probably be reaches. SFSU/CSULA matches. Like I suggested above, include one or two of the non-impacted campuses into your list and I would drop UCR unless you get better test scores.
Regarding major, if you are not sure, you can always select Undeclared.
Are senior year grades important ? My senior year will be the hardest of my high school career .
How do colleges view those grades?
They do not calculate it towards GPA but they do look at it. Please take every year seriously.
UC’s and Cal states do not consider Senior grades in their GPA calculation, but they are important for maintaining your provisional admission. Upon acceptance, they will give you a provisional contract stating you need to maintain the following which could be different for each school:
Unweighted (UCLA/UCB) or Weighted GPA of 3.0
Pass all a-g courses with C or better meaning no D’s or F’s. For UCLA/UCB, no more than 2 C’s in Senior classes.