I was wondering if I have a reasonable chance of getting into SLO for ME or Physics. My CSU gpa is 3.54. I got 1400 on the SAT (700 CR and 700 Math). Have been a football captain for 4 years and taken 9 AP courses (AP Euro in 10th, AP Bio, AP Physics, APUSH in 11th, and AP Stats, APES, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, and AP Gov in 12th)
Your CSU GPA is very low for SLO Engineering and Physics although SAT is within range but still below the average for Engineering. CP GPA takes into account 9-11th grades.
ME has around a 17% acceptance rate with an average CP GPA of 4.17 for Engineering admits.
For Physics the acceptance rate is around 33% with an average CP GPA of 4.09 for the School of Science & Mathematics admits.
I would calculate your MCA score since SLO is all about the numbers and see where you stand. Aim for a 4700+ score for the best chances.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo/1694769-confused-about-mca-score.html
ME is a High Reach based on GPA.
Physics is a Low Reach based on GPA.
My MCA is 4075.128. Does that give me almost no chance?
If SLO is your top choice, definitely apply but realize it is probably a Reach school. You need to find some solid Match and Safety schools for your list.
Do you know if UCSC and Poly Pomona would be reach schools also?
UCSC doesn’t have Mechanical Engineering if that is what you want to do.
Well if i got into SC i would probably do astrophysics
For the UC’s the following is the Freshman admits by GPA. This does not take into consideration test scores (yours are good), EC’s, HS rigor and essays but the rule of thumb is you want to be at or above the statistical averages (GPA/Test scores) for the competitive majors like STEM. UC’s are very GPA focused.
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
UCB: 2%
UCLA: 3%
UCSD: 6%
UCD: 11%
UCSB: 13%
UCI: 16%
UCSC: 47%
UCR: 64%
UCM: 80%
UCSC would probably be a Match-High Match.
Cal Poly Pomona would be a solid Match since they use an eligibility index calculation for ranking applicants by major (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math+ CR). All CSU’s use the EI except SLO.
I would also add UCR, SDSU, CSULB, CSU Fullerton and/or SJSU to your list for Match and Safety schools.
Ya i already have SDSU and CSULB on my list as safety schools I was just wondering about SLO because it seems like a really amazing school.
Yes, SLO is an amazing school for STEM and that it is why it is such a difficult admit.
How hard is slo for a mathematics major as opposed to engineering or physics
Projected acceptance rate for Mathematics is 22% so better than ME but more competitive than Physics. SLO does not breakout their average GPA/test scores by major, but Mathematics is still in the College of Science and Mathematics with an average CP GPA of 4.09. You can select an alternate major when applying, so you might want consider applying for Physics and Mathematics as your 1st and 2nd choice major.
So does that mean it is possible to be denied for first choice major but accepted for alternative
Yes, it is possible but not that common. I have seen posters state they were accepted into their alternate major in the last few years.
ok, well thanks for all the great information, I appreciate your help
Would a mca of 4325 be more competative for ME or physics
For ME, you would probably need an MCA score around 4700. I would apply to Physics.
Which engineering major is the easiest to get into
Bioresourse and Agricultural Engineering is the easiest engineering major to get an acceptance but it is in the School of Agriculture and Env. Science.
In the school of Engineering, the highest acceptance rate is for Manufacturing Engineering followed by Industrial Engineering. You still need to meet a minimum threshold (not published) GPA to have a decent chance regardless of acceptance rate especially when the average CP GPA for the School of Engineering is 4.17.
Bioresourse and Agricultural Engineering is the easiest engineering major to get an acceptance but it is in the Schoolf of Agriculture and Env. Science.
In the school of Engineering, the highest acceptance rate is for Manufacturing Engineering followed by Industrial Engineering. You still have to meet some minimum GPA threshold for the School of Engineering which has an average CP GPA of 4.17, regardless of acceptance rate.