Chance Me USC, UCs, BC etc.

Intended Major: Political Science with a Minor in either Cinematic Arts or Journalism

GPA:

  • Freshman Year: 88.2 -
  • Sophomore Year: 90.7 - Did better Second semester than First
  • Junior Year: 95.5
    I️ would like to note that I️ suffered from Depression and Anxiety all of Freshman year and some of Sophomore year, which severely affected my grades. If anyone has any knowledge on whether I️ should mention it and if it helps or hurts my chances, that would be helpful
  • APs/Honors: AP Euro, APUSH, AP Gov, AP Lang, AP Psych, Spanish 3 Honors, Pre-Calc Honors. Will be challenging the AP Macroeconomics (part of the AP Gov curriculum) and AP Comp. Gov exams next year. (School only offers 12 total AP classes. I️ took all but two that were offered in the humanities and will only 1 science (Psych is a science ast my school) since science is only offered senior year unless you are 2 years ahead. 2/3 of the AP classes can only be taken senior year unless you are 2 years ahead in either a math or science).

ACT/SATs:

  • SAT: 1500
  • ACT: 32
    Will be taking both of these a second time to hopefully strengthen them a bit
  • SAT IIs (I know they aren’t needed for many on my list)US History, Literature, Not Sure (Most likely Math I or II)

ECs:

  • Co-founded my city’s chapter of the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence - Large time commitment. Help to organize rallies and marches as well as raise awareness for gun legislation. NOTE: Please don’t get political. Know this is a touchy subject. You can do research on the Brady Campaign if you wish.
  • Youth Leadership [Insert City Here] - Helped to teach us about our community, the leaders in our community and how to become better leaders. Did a service project throughout the year where we raised a thousand dollars and volunteered at a nonprofit in our community.
  • Varsity Golf (3 years), Squash (2 years, though since it started as a varsity sport)
  • Model UN: Pretty self explanatory, won a few delegate awards. Chance of leadership position next year.
  • Youth and Government: Went to state capital to do a “mock legislature” with other schools in our state.
  • Young Democrats Club: Will be president next year. Met to discuss current political events as well as debate the Young Republicans (A significantly larger club).
  • Hoping to start a club next year with my friend based on something in politics, but we haven’t finalized our idea yet.
  • Broadcasting Club: Broadcasted several sporting events for my high school.
  • American Civil War History Club: Met to discuss the Civivl War. Battle strategies, Kahoots etc. Chance of officer position next year.
  • Went on a service trip to the inner city for 6 days to work in a Soup Kitchen, School and “Missipn Mall”. May write essay on this.
  • Decent chance I will be going to Kenya this summer to work in a hospital for 1-2 weeks. May write essay on this if (and hopefully when) it happens

Other:
State: New York
High School: Private, Jesuit
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White

Schools:
UCLA and USC are my top choices as of now. I will be interviewing this summer at USC. The other schools are (in no order) BC (Legacy), Notre Dame, Georgetown, Loyola Marymount, NYU, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara, UCSD, American (Legacy), UCSB, Fordham, UCB and Emory. I also may apply to Dartmouth because I am a Legacy and it’s worth a shot.

I know my freshman and first half of sophomore year grades were low, but hoping my second half sophomore year, Junior and First half senior year grades, ECs and ACT/SATs can somewhat make up for them.

Do you have a college budget? UCLA will be full pay at $65K/year to attend they offer little to no financial aid as an out of state student.

Also calculate your UC GPA and post capped weighted and fully weighted (non-capped). Intended major?

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

@Gumbymom No budget. I️, very fortunately, am able to afford anywhere I️ go. 3.83 UW and 4.0 W. I️ know the GPA isn’t great, especially the weighted GPA, but I️ do have at least some explanation as to why my GPA is lower and I️ had a 4.0 UW Junior Year. I️ also could’ve only taken 3 AP classes my sophomore and junior year, so I️ wouldn’t be able to get my Weighted up that high. Would UCLA frown upon me talking about how I️ overcame my depression to do well in school and outside of the classroom?

Usually any mental health issues are a red flag when it comes to admissions, so I would not put much emphasis on the subject for your essays but accentuate the positives.

Also UC’s do no use 9th grades in their GPA calculation only 10-11th so that will help you. HS course rigor is important to UCLA and the majority of the UC’s but you will be evaluated in the context of your HS. You still self-report your 9th grades since the UC’s want to make sure you have completed and passed all a-g course requirements.

Having a upward grade trend will definitely help your chances and show that you are able to overcome any earlier issues. You have some good EC’s which show focus and leadership. All you can do is apply and just remember with a low acceptance rate, it will be a Reach school.

This is last year’s Freshman profile and the 2018 stats should be out in August for comparison purposes.
Admit rate — Overall 16.1%
Admits: 16,494
Applicants: 102,232
California Residents (% of admits): 56.3%

GPA and test scores of middle 25%-75% students

High School GPA (capped weighted UC): 4.13 - 4.31
ACT Composite Score: 30 - 34
ACT English Language Arts : 28 - 32
SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing: 640 - 730
SAT Mathematics: 640 - 770
SAT Essay: 16 - 20

Best of luck.

@Gumbymom I️ wasn’t planning on writing my essays on them, but I️ would like to mention that I️ had depression early on, but overcame it and have been fine for over 2.5 years. I️ wouldn’t mention it if it didn’t affect my grades.

Any other thoughts?
Also, it’s not expected that anyone else from my school will be applying to the schools in California, not sure if that helps my application or not. I️ don’t think it will at the UCs, but maybe at USC.

Honestly, I think overcoming mental health issues is a very positive sign that would actually benefit your application. If you focus an essay on where you are now and how you’ve grown, you really stand out as a perservering applicant. Don’t take my word for it, though.

@USCkid19, I like your chances for USC and UCLA although USC had 13% acceptance this year so it’s a reach for anyone. Coming from out of state, UCLA would not be my first choice. You will likely need to get your numbers up for Dartmouth and Georgetown (would also help USC). GU also had record low acceptance this year at 14%. I know because my S was waitlisted there. GU requires that you submit all testing and strongly recommends two or three subject tests.

The interview at USC is not required, only optional and they do not place a lot of importance on it. My S did interview and was admitted early at USC with merit award, but did not feel that the interview was the main factor in getting accepted. His extracurriculars were stellar and essays were top notch. USC is very good about allowing you to double major or minor. A minor in Journalism at Annenberg would be awesome if you can get into USC. It should help if you have lots of leadership in your extracurriculars.

As far as the D.C. schools you mentioned, American is not as easy to get into, since they are very sensitive to students using it as a back up or safety. You will definitely want to visit and show follow up interest, pointing out legacy. S definitely preferred Georgetown over GW and American (did not apply to the latter two).

As far as the other CA schools, UCSD does not have broad diversity (about 50% of the student body is Asian). USC is significantly more diverse. I believe UCLA and UCB undergrad population is about 40% Asian (not that there’s anything wrong with it!). I am not a fan of UCLA or UCB. They are large and hard to get classes you want, classes often taught by grad students, sometimes hard to graduate in four years… Santa Clara is one of those private universities that seems to be on the rise. I would think your chances are good for admission there. Of the CA schools you mentioned, I would eliminate UCSD, UCB and UCLA and focus on USC, UCSB and Santa Clara. UCSB and Santa Clara would probably strong matches for you, as well as American. UCSB is in a great area, although has a reputation as a bit of a party school. Family members attended USC and UCSB and loved them.

S also applied and got into Emory. It is a strong school but has limited school spirit. Have you thought about applying to Villanova? Notre Dame is of course fabulous and a reach just like GU and Dartmouth. USC may be a reach as well.

Good luck!

@Nomorelurker UCB really is a last resort. Hated the school and campus. Visited UCLA and I️ loved it, but I️ place USC ahead of it based on the size and location of the campus. Will be visiting UCSD, UCLA, LMU, USC, Santa Clara, and LMU this summer again. (Haven’t visited UCSD yet.) I️ know the interview isn’t that important, but I️ still want to do it even if it gives me only a small boost.

We didn’t care for UCB either. UCLA has its pluses but I agree that USC is preferable due to size and ease of double majoring or adding a minor. Why pay all those $$$ for out of state large public university? UCLA is more of a bargain for instate students, although it still has issues. Agree the interview is worth doing at USC but not required. It sounds like you want to move to CA although I see that you also plan to apply to NYU and Fordham. Do you have any family in CA?

@Nomorelurker No family in California, although my mom does go out there for work every month. Fordham and NYU are tentative applications. Fordham is more of a safety, and I️ have others I️ prefer. Don’t like NYU’s type of campus, but haven’t visited yet

Given the history with “mental issues” that you described, will you be confident to be across the country without family near by? I know you said that you have learned to cope with the issues a couple of years ago. It is also worth considering that a smaller private university might afford you more access to support staff or counselors if going through a rough patch. One university not on your list that does a great job with support is WashU. Also, since you come from a Jesuit background, another closer to home worth applying to might be Villanova. I think one can get lost in some of the larger public universities on your list. I am not a big fan of urban universities without a campus feel/quad. S did not care for GW and I believe NYU is similar. How about Boston College? Good luck.

Very likely, you can try better ranked schools as well.