<p>UCLA is a reach school for me but it's one of my top choices! Feedback would be great. :)</p>
<p>ACT: 28 (taking again and aiming for 30+)
SAT II U.S. History: 700
(taking more subject tests but sending ACT rather than SAT I scores)
GPA: 3.98 unweighted
I'm not sure at the moment what my class rank is, but I'm in the top 4% and ELC qualified (I'm a CA resident).
AP scores: 4 on APUSH, 3 bio :(</p>
<p>Freshman classes:
-Intensive English 9
-World Civ. (these 1st two classes are part of a progam called the Humanities Academy that my school offers to freshmen and sophomores...it's a more rigorous option for English and Social Studies classes)
-Biology
-Intensive Algebra 2
-Women's Chorus
-PE</p>
<p>Sophomore:
-Intensive English 10
-World Cultures and Geography
-Chemistry
-Intensive Geometry
-Spanish 1
-Concert Choir</p>
<p>Junior:
-Honors American Literature
-AP U.S. History
-AP Biology
-Jazz Choir
-Concert Choir
-Spanish 2
-Pre-Calculus at community college (would've taken Honors at my school but it didn't work out with my schedule)
-Intro to Computer Science at community college (for applied arts credit)
-Health online (during summer)</p>
<p>Senior (this is most likely what my schedule will be):
-AP gov./econ
-AP English
-Jazz Choir
-Concert Choir
-Spanish 3
-Statistics at community college (would be doing AP but isn't working out with my schedule)
-doing independent PE thing</p>
<p>ECs, volunteer work, leadership, awards, etc.:
-singing for 4 years in chorus/concert choir/jazz (school classes but involves very much time and dedication outside of school)
-2 years of voice lessons and 2 scholarships for them
-won "Outstanding Vocalist" award one year
-made and participated in CCS Honor Choir freshman year
-section leader in choir
-in Key Club and NHS and will be an officer of both senior year
-went on service trip to Guatemala summer before junior year
-played JV basketball for one year and every Sunday during that time volunteered coaching kids in a mid-county basketball league
-I have accumulated many volunteer hours since sophomore year doing various community service projects through Key Club and NHS (I actually have kept a chart of all my volunteer work which I will send as part of my resume)
-I recently began independently volunteering for Aegis Assisted Living </p>
<p>Work Experience:
-I've been a long-term babysitter for two families since 2006
-I occasionally work for my dad who times races as a side job (mostly 5k/10k runs, swims, triathalons, etc.). My main task is usually computer work/data entry.</p>
<p>Buuuuuuut…Based on your numbers, you are not a reach, IMO. That’s silly. Looks like a slight reach at worst. Hard to judge things like ECs, awards, and other less number-y stuff. It depends on how you present them in your application and personal statement.</p>
<p>For sure, you have a chance. I’m not sure anyone can really chance you more accurately than “no chance, chance, super-duper chance.” You have a chance. :)</p>
<p>No, you don’t stand a chance. Once word gets out that your username is SCgirl33, emphasis on SC, it’s like a -36 ACT score. Sorry.</p>
<p>EDIT: But for reals, your ACT score does need work and I would have to agree on Jinobi’s advice, if you can write a good essay focusing choir, seeing as you took it all through high school. (Struggles and overcoming them perhaps? Something that differentiates you from every other honor student who also did like a gagillion service hours.)</p>
<p>To be honest your stats aren’t terribly impressive. Work on your ACT score like others are saying. This doesn’t mean you have to take some intensive six week study course you could much more easily just find a study guide. Spend some down time taking practice tests, going over question techniques etc. Beyond that make sure that your course load during senior year is as intense as you think you can handle, given other responsibilities, and take AP tests. (atleast say you are going to take them on the app) The university will also take into consideration the highschool you come from. Do the top performing kids in your school tend to go to top tier universities? What about the above average students that don’t perform quite as well as they do? Also consider how many kids in your last year are currently at the top performing UCs (Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego). Whatever you do don’t write off the essay or wait till late November to start it. If you spend a lot of time and effort writing an original, interesting and informative essay that will do a whole hell of a lot to help you get in.</p>
<p>From what you have posted I believe that you have an okay chance of getting in, as is, but there are things you could do before submitting an App in November to improve your chances.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input everyone. Jinobi is right…Santa Cruz! Not USC! And I do realize that my stats aren’t outstanding; I will be studying a lot for the ACT and I know I need to spend a lot of time on my essays. I’ve written one of the UC essays already (we were assigned it in English last year) but I probably won’t be using it anymore…well maybe, but I’m probably going to write my main one about singing/choir, as you guys suggested. Anyway, hearing that I do have a chance is nice, so thank you. :)</p>