Chance my son!! He is so worried :(

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

My daughter is off at Michigan (and we had to take out loans), so my son can only apply to UCs, as we live in California…

his dream school is UC Berkeley - my husband went there
but he is also applying to UCSB, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz and UCLA

ACT: 30
SAT II: 780 - US History

Unweighted GPA for UC: 4.0
Weighted GPA for UC: 4.13 (most honors are not UC approved from his HS)
AP’s I have taken: AP USH (5), AP Bio (5)
Senior Course Load: AP Chem, AP Government, AP Psychology, AP Spanish, H Calculus, French III, H English, Sports Medicine, H Philosophy

*** please note my son’s school limits the amount of AP’s a student can take - only 6 in all (can distribute as pleases)

Rank: N/A

ECs:

President of Teen Board for local charity (Active all 4 years)
Camp Counselor (active all four years)
Captain of football team
Chair for Church Young Group
Yearbook Editor

-National Honor Society
-Principal’s High Honor List

Personal Insight Questions (10/10)
Recommendations for Berkeley (10/10)

Other Info:
California Resident / Private Jesuit School
White Male
Applying as a History Major, second choice is Biology

2

The weighted GPA is fairly low and ACT is below average for UC Berkeley. Admission is unlikely but possible with the right essays. UC Berkeley is very holistic, so essays and ECs will be looked at heavily, which may or may not work in his favor.

3

GPA and test scores are within range but below the averages. Good EC’s and essays could help his chances but GPA is king.

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19:

UCB: 12%
UCLA: 14%
UCSD: 39%
UCSB: 49%
UCD: 52%
UCI: 57%
UCSC: 83%
UCR: 90%
UCM: 92%

UCLA/UCB will be a Reach
UCSD: High Match-Low Reach
UCD: Match-High Match
UCSC: Solid Match

4

Average weighted and uncapped GPA for Cal is 4.41.

5

He doesn’t look bad stat wise! Good GPA. Make sure he really shows his passion and personality in his apps. Could he take the ACT one more time? I got a 30 twice before I got a 32 (33 superscore) the last time I took it. Other than that he should have a decent shot, not great.

6

@chaley122 December was the last standardized test sitting the UCs are willing to take.

7

It also depends on his gpa compared to his peers. Highest uncapped UC GPA at our local HS is 4.2 and several get accept to UCB each year.