Chance Me! UCLA/USC Edition

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I’m an upcoming senior in one of California’s highest rated school districts.I’m an Indonesian-American imigrant (I moved here when I was 8) and first generation college student. I do have compelling stories such as not being able to see/live with my parents for 8 years & having to work to support my family.

Unweighted GPA: 3.3
Weighted GPA: 3.6
ACT composite score: 34

Extracurriculars:
-Paid job as a photogarpher for a publishing company
-Does freelance photography & graphic design, has portfolio to back it up
-4 years of Key Club (1 year as club historian, 2 years on the California-Nevada-Hawaii District Board of Key Club International, in which I serve 45,000 members over 3 states)
-2 years of Yearbook, as designer/photographer & Jr. Editor-in-Chief
-2 years of Journalism, both as Design Editor
-2 years as Editor of my school’s Literary & Art Magazine
-Have taken numerous classes in Art Center College of Design for graphic design
-Serengetee Brand Representative
-4 years of Robotics, did graphic design work
-4 years of FBLA, 2 years on cabinet as publicity director & secretary
-1 year of Link Crew
-2 years of AKG Research Foundation as Publicity Director
-Was a Nordstrom Fashion Ambassador junior year
-Worked at Kumon sophomore year
-Track & Field sophomore year

Senior Year Classes:
AP Environmental Science, AP Literature, AP Government/Econ, Honors Humanities, AP Statistics OR Honors Calculus, Journalism

My top schools are:
-UCLA School of Arts & Architecture: Design Media Arts
-USC Roski School of Art & Design: Photography or Design

What are my chances of being admitted at UCLA or USC if I major in art?
Would it help to take community college in the summer to boost up my UC GPA?
Are first semester senior year grades a big factor in the decision process?

Thank you for your time!

2

your GPA is a bit low but your ACT is great, I think UCLA is more probable if you factor in your EC’s and background
Chance me http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1997112-chance-me-umiami-w-scholarship.html#latest

3

Your GPA does seem a tad low which may hurt your chances a bit for schools like UCLA and USC, but I think your test scores and ECs will allow these colleges to realize your passion for photography and your will to pursue it. They will also see that you have great potential and have the ability to make use of all your resources, and even create new opportunities. I would say you definitely have a slightly better shot at USC than UCLA simply because USC is a bit more holistic in reviewing applications. Good Luck!! I would love it if you could chance me back here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1995754-chance-me-low-gpa-rank-cornell-rice-wash-u-ucla-etc-p1.html

4

Your ECs are lovely and really convey your passion. Add that ACT score and your personal story and wow! You’re quite the applicant. I’m sure that you’ll have above better than average odds in front of any admissions committee, even with a lower GPA than average for those schools.

Apply to both, but I think you’ll have a better chance at USC. They have lower admit stats than UCLA.

Good luck!

5

I’m not sure that the previous comments take into consideration your desire to major in art, because your portfolio is the overarching factor. You will need a very very strong portfolio to compete with the thousand applicants that are vying for 50 or 60 spots in the UCLA Arts program. USC competition might be lower, but I’m sure that your portfolio will be the deciding factor for USC too.