Child: 4.1 Capped UC Weighted GPA, 4.05 Uncapped UC GPA, 3.8 unweighted GPA.
6 AP Classes with AP Scores in paranthese including: Bio (3), Lang (3), Econ, Psyc, Gov, US History
Very good extra curriculars: volunteering, shadowing etc but nothing memorable
Leadership: Fair: Chaired a few school committees, captained a few sports teams.
PIQs: very good (as per collegeessayguy) touches on hot points for UC
They are NOT first generation
Chances of getting into
Merced - BSc Bio
Riverside - BA Bio
Santa Cruz - BA Bio
Davis - BSc Bio
We will find out the week after next if they get into UCs but we have next week off and will spend it visiting OOS if our chances are low.
@MrCheapo
Here are the 2022 UC admit rates using the Capped weighted UC GPA but not major specific. Biology is an impacted/selective/capped major at most of the UC’s so admit rates can be lower than the overall listed.
Usually the Uncapped is higher or equal to the Capped weighted UC GPA depending upon how many honors points are eligible in the GPA calculation. The GPA’s posted seem reversed?
2022 Admit rates based on the Capped weighted UC GPA.
Campus
4.00+
3.70-3.99
3.30-3.69
3.00-3.29
Berkeley
17%
3%
1%
0%
Davis
58%
20%
5%
2%
Irvine
35%
10%
3%
0%
Los Angeles
13%
2%
1%
0%
Merced
97%
97%
95%
85%
Riverside
95%
83%
42%
17%
San Diego
37%
8%
1%
0%
Santa Barbara
41%
8%
3%
0%
Santa Cruz
69%
45%
16%
4%
For Comparison with more GPA delineation than 2022 data, here is the 2021 data.
Campus
4.20+
3.80-4.19
3.40-3.79
3.00-3.39
Berkeley
30%
11%
2%
1%
Davis
85%
55%
23%
10%
Irvine
60%
31%
14%
1%
Los Angeles
29%
6%
1%
0%
Merced
97%
98%
96%
89%
Riverside
97%
92%
62%
23%
San Diego
72%
25%
2%
0%
Santa Barbara
73%
28%
4%
1%
Santa Cruz
91%
81%
46%
9%
That said is the student ELC eligible? If so then UC Merced is a Safety/Very Likely school.
2022 Major specific admit rates if available. Note that the admit rates to do not identify how competitive the applicant pool was for Biology since no GPA data is given.
UCM admit rate for Biology was 93%- Very Likely
UCR admit rate for Biology was 66%-Target
UCSC admit rate for Biology BA was 47.1%- High Target. Although UCSC does not admit by major, they have data for students that selected Biology BA as their proposed major of study.
UCD admit rate not available but UCD admits into the College of Biological sciences (not major specific) but the majority of enrolled Freshman are Biology majors. Also Biological sciences is top 4 of the most popular majors at UC Davis. UCD’s College of Biological Sciences had an overall admit rate of 45.9% so I would put it as a High Target.
Best of luck but since all the UC’s do a Comprehensive review it is difficult to determine their chances and they can be unpredictable. UCD is one campus that really looks for “fit” by their definition.
Biology is not more selective than the campus or division overall at every UC. For example, UCB biology majors (some in L&S and some in CNR) are not considered high demand majors that require frosh admission to major or grades/GPA higher than C/2.0 to declare after entering undeclared in the division that they are in (changing into the division from another division may require a higher GPA).
So do you think applying for a bachelor of arts in biology was a smart move? It’s too late for the first kid but maybe it’ll help the second kid in one year
Sure, but realistically, most students change their major. I kind of regret not applying for an easier to get into major for them or at least varying it. Anyway, we’ll find out in the next few weeks.
For UCR and UCM, they admit into the major but will consider an alternate major if listed.
UCSC does not admit by major other than in the College of Engineering. You are admitted into a “proposed major” and then need to complete the pre-req classes to declare. This allows students to change their mind.
UCD admits into the College of Biological Sciences and students are then free to change majors which is a fairly easy process within the College. Outside the College, change of major may have pre-req courses and GPA requirements to change.
Some campuses will have restrictions or may not offer a change of major for specific impacted/capped majors.
My advice is always select a major that you think you want to pursue and try not to “back door” your way into for an “easier” admit since it can backfire.