Chance me!!-Top UC's

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'd like for you guys to offer your thoughts on chancing me for Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, and (although not a top UC) UCSB. Also, if you would offer your thoughts on which private schools (across US) might be good reaches or matches for me; however I'm looking for UC chances above anything.</p>

<p>Grades: 3.45 cumulative weighted. UCGPA is somewhere between 3.75-3.85. Grades show a very strong upward trend as my HS career went along; with the exception of IB spanish I have nothing but A's in every AP class I've taken (one in sophomore year, nearly fully AP/IB Junior year). Top 25% of class.</p>

<p>AP scores:
US-4
Bio.-3
Eng.-5
AP Euro.-5</p>

<p>SATs:
Reading-690
Writing-680
Math-640
Total: 2010
Although I am supremely confident that my retake from the 10th of this month was much better-especially Math. Guessing around a 2100, maybe even 2200.
I take ACTs on the 24th, and I expect to do just as well on them.</p>

<p>Subject Tests:
Math 2- 660
Physics- 620
US History- 750
Retaking Math 2 for a much higher score, also going to take Lit and probably do very well on it.</p>

<p>Honors:
AP scholar with Honor
Honor Court</p>

<p>Leadership Positions:
-VP of Octagon Club
-Member of my city's Youth Council (25 teens across a city of 320,000 ish people)
-Principal's Advisory Committee for 2 years
-Nonvoting Student Representative to a Scholarship board/foundation in my school district that gives around $75k a year</p>

<p>Community Service:
A little over 200 hours
-Mentor/Tutor for Housing Corporation of America
-Youth Court
-Church Summer Camp
-Random acitivities through Octagon Club (Rose Parade, Graffiti Cleanup, etc)</p>

<p>-I'm a strong writer, so my personal statements should stand out.
-My school has a horrible API score, would def. qualify as underprivileged
-1st generation college student
-Full IB senior schedule. Full Diploma Candidate.
-Taken well over the minimums for A-G's. 4 years of Lab science, 4 years of math (IB Math Junior Year, AP calc this year), 3 years of history, etc etc
-Hispanic</p>

<p>I think I covered lots. Anything I left out, just ask, and other than that, thank you so much for reading and helping!</p>

2

<p>Forgot:
3.11 unweighted GPA.
Upward trend I mentioned: Freshman=2.5, Sophomore=3.25, Junior=4.33</p>

<p>Also replying as a bump :slight_smile: I will chance you back!</p>

3

<p>Okay shot at UCSB, but the GPA really hurts you.</p>

4

<p>Would you say the other 3 are even worth reaching for?</p>

<p>EDIT: I shouldn’t say “worth”, of course I’m applying anyways. Just curious if you think it’s a low reach or a high one.</p>

5

<p>You have a fair shot at UCSD, and if the SAT score comes back the way you think it will, Berkeley and L.A. won’t be too far out of reach.</p>

6

<p>Also, I’m a CA res. Not sure if that gives any difference of a help for admissions.</p>

<p>Bump, someone else chance plz? :)</p>

7

<p>Bump, please anyone? :)</p>

8

<p>CA residency doesn’t have much affect anymore. Unfortunately, after increases in tuition, the UC’s are more likely to accept an OOS with the same stats because of the greater tuition. Although an upward trend is great and shows promise, your sophomore GPA is really just bringing you down. Otherwise, if you raised your SAT (maybe reach the 2100?) you have a shot.
Also, sit down with one of the teachers from your Sophomore year and see if they would be willing to do a change-of-grade. I wouldn’t recommend this to most, but your upward grade trend can be convincing. Even if you changed one C to a B it would make your GPA reach the 3.83 mark.
That being said, UCLA is a low match/reach, and UCSD is a pretty solid match. I also suggest UC Davis.</p>

9

<p>Zooey, to be honest I’ve never thought of that before, and the idea seems pretty damn practical. Although it’s entirely possible that no one will change anything, I can already see a Chem B and English B both changing to A’s. Thanks for the idea!</p>

10

<p>In my sophomore year, I took AP Euro and the first semester I got a B while the second an A. When I was applying to UCB it totally stifled my GPA. I went to the teacher and told him that besides receiving a 5 on the AP Euro exam, my grade improved from the first semester. He raised it. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>Right now you’d have no shot at Cal and LA and a shot at only unimpacted majors at SD. But a high SAT score can balance the low GPA (average UC GPA has been 4.2), so a 2200 may well put you in the game.</p>

<p>This year will be really tough with anything below average because they will be taking fewer freshmen, more from OOS and the economy is forcing many who would have looked at private colleges to stay in state. I would definitely add more mid tier UCs to your list.</p>

12

<p>Like other posters have said, I would also consider other UC’s such as UCI and UC Davis.
I’d say UCSD is not much “higher” than the other UC’s I posted. Although you have somewhat of an upward trend from Soph-Jr year, (freshman year doesn’t count, or at least I think), the sophomore GPA definitely hurts.</p>

<p>That said, if you can get the SAT score above 2100, I think you have a very good shot at UCSD. </p>

<p>Even with the 2100, I wouldn’t count on UCLA or Cal too much.</p>

<p>In for UCSB, and probably UCI & Davis</p>

<p>What is your intended major?</p>

13

<p>I appreciate the reply hmom. However, UCSD does not admit based on major. They admit to the school as a whole first, then consider your major and where you will be placed. I’m happy about this considering my intended major (bioengineering) is hugely impacted at UCSD</p>

14

<p>I don’t think you’re correctly understanding how they admit. BME engineers are tip top candidates. It’s one of the top programs in the Country and they take the cream of the crop.</p>

15

<p>With all due respect (and I mean that, I know your opinion is valued here) do you understand how they admit?</p>

<p>In my conversations with UCSD admissions officers, they have specifically stated that major does not matter when it comes to whether or not you are accepted into the school. I could be a history, philosophy, or BME major and I would have the same chance.</p>

16

<p>As I say often here, adcom say the darnedest things! Go check out BME at UCSD and talk to students and profs–the top of the top get accepted to the program.</p>

17

<p>Being first in your family to attend college and coming from a lower-performing high school will increase your chances, as will your community service. This link breaks down the rubric UCSD uses to assess candidates, so you can add your points & see how you do. In 2008, the minimum score for acceptance was 7,576. It may well be higher this year, due to factors pointed out in a previous post. UCLA & UCB take a more holistic approach & will consider factors beyond the stats, so if you make your essay compelling (and it sounds like you can), I think you stand a good chance at your choices. Nevertheless, I agree that you should apply to UCI or UCR, both of which have great honors programs that include priority registration (more important than ever at the UC’s now). Best wishes!</p>

<p>[UCSD</a> Freshman Comprehensive Review Process (Dec 2004)](<a href=“Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos)</p>

18

<p>Yes, you will be accepted as a different major if you are not qualified for the impacted majors. (For UCSD at least)</p>

19

<p>Thanks so much for that link!</p>

<p>Using a “worst case” UC GPA and being conservative on the other points, I scored a 7956. Using a “best case” UC GPA ( Counting the gov/econ I took over summer, counting the teachers 2 grade changes, and counting 2 independent studies I took to correct freshman mistakes) I get bumped up to an 8056. Being even slightly liberal on the rest of the matrix would boost it even higher. Although for SAT’s what I did was added SAT I and then my two best subject tests, then multiplied by .8. This is correct, right?</p>

<p>Anyways, feels pretty good =D. Unless they manage to raise the cutoff by like 400 points, looks like I should be ok =]</p>

20

<p>Yes, you calculated the tests correctly (SAT I + two subject tests x .8). Regarding which subjects the UC’s include to calculate GPA: all of your UC academic grades (include things like visual or performing art, but exclude things like health & PE) are factored in. AP’s get bumped up one point. This will include classes earned in 10th & 11th grade, including summer school courses earned between 10th & 11th and the summer between 11th and 12th. Keep in mind that the UC’s do not include freshman grades when they calculate your GPA: it’s 10th & 11th grade only (not 12th) and the summers in between. Since you’re coming out so strong with UCSD, I’d say UCSB will work out for you too. They use a similar rubric. As I said before, UCLA & UCSB take a holistic approach, which is where your essays will come in.</p>