@Gumbymom , What are the chances of my son getting Mechanical at UCI?
He was waitlisted at SLO, which is causing him stress and awaiting UCB, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD decisions this week is not helping the stress level.
Unweighted overall GPA : 3.69
UC/CSU Capped Weighted GPA : 3.88
UC/CSU uncapped Weighted GPA : 4.27
SAT : Math 780, Lang 740, Math II Subject Test 800
APs completed (10 & 11): Biology, Chemistry, English Language, Calculus AB
APs in progress (12) : Statistics, Computer Science, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics I, Mechatronics, US Government, and Macroeconomics
Others: 3 years (9,10,11) of Honor Band, 2 years (9,10) of Marching Band, multiple clubs, School leadership and regional leadership roles, Hospital volunteering, Science Olympiad
Thanks for your thoughts.
Got rejected at UCSB. Assuming that it will be same with other UCs - depressing
Did he apply to UCSC/UCR/UCM and any Cal states?
ME is pretty competitive and having a UC capped weighted GPA below a 4.0 makes it a tough admit. He has very competitive SAT scores, but UC’s tend to be very GPA focused.
UCLA/UCB should always be considered Reach schools. UCSD and UCI admits into the University first and then into the major so I think he could get into UCSD but probably not into his first choice major ME. UCI could go either way 50/50 for ME. Did he select an alternate major?
All I can do list some UC statistical data regarding GPA and test scores which is a big part of the application but not the only part so hopefully some of the more subjective areas will bump up his chances at UCI.
2018 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 10%
UCLA: 9%
UCSD: 34%
UCSB: 38%
UCI: 38%
2018 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCB: 4.23
UCLA: 4.23
UCSD: 4.16
UCSB: 4.13
UCI: 4.13
2018 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:
UCB: 1360-1540
UCLA: 1340-1540
UCSD: 1300-1520
UCSB: 1270-1500
UCI: 1230-1490
UCI specific data for ME admits 2018:
Average UC capped weighted GPA: 4.08
Average SAT: 1396
I do not have any ME specific data for the other campuses but hopefully he applied widely and all it takes is one acceptance. Best of luck to him.
@Gumbymom , Thanks much for the details. Appreciate all you do for the community.
It is unfortunate that UCs give more weight to GPA. His school runs a tight ship and getting straight As is difficult. He is very particular about Aerospace or Mechanical and hence has not given other choices.
He has been accepted into Cal Poly Pomona (Aerospace), UCR (Mechanical), Univ of Illinois Urbana Champaign (Aerospace), UC Boulder (Pre-Eng). The last 2 are pretty expensive - much beyond what we can afford. Any recommendation or thoughts between Pomona and UCR?
I think both CPP (former Alumni) and UCR are very good options. I was really impressed with UCR’s Engineering labs when I did a tour with my son’s but CPP is known for their learn by doing philosophy. I also think that ME is a slightly more flexible Engineering major since he would be able to work in the Aerospace industry along with having other options outside that area.
Both schools are ABET accredited for AE/ME (CPP) and ME (UCR) so their course curriculum will be on par.
He should look at the academics, finances and social scene for all schools under consideration and find the best fit in these 3 areas.
@Gumbymom , Thanks for the input. Will work with him on finding the best fit as you suggest
@oaksdad My daughter is a Sr at UCR… She is a microbioloy major rather than engineering but I can speak to the quality of the school in general. She has thrived there (ok other than when it’s 108 outside! but her dorms had AC). She has enjoyed the majority of her professors. She was offered a position in a DNA lab freshman year and the Lab Director found funding to make it a paid position sophomore on. Professors know her and wrote great letters of rec for grad school. She has made some great friendships with some VERY smart young women. (You can find yahoos anywhere but she has been impressed with the caliber of students around her in general). She was offered the Chancellor’s scholarship and it has helped greatly with registration (gives you priority reg). UCR also accepted all of her APs (didn’t have to be 5s). I do know that the ME program (my son was accepted as well for fall 2019) has a BS+MS program. So coming out in 5 with the MS would be great. My son will decline UCR, but he was accepted at SLO, Purdue, Virginia Tech, and WPI so one of those will likely rank higher for him than UCR. But bottom line my daughter has been very pleased with her experience at UCR.
@RoboticsWidow Thanks much for the details on UCR. Glad to hear about the quality of the school. I have been to UCR 3 times in the past few years as UCR hosts the Odyssey of the Mind (OoTM) State tournaments, but have not had any chance to go around the campus. OoTM is very intensive and we are normally busy the whole time. I will be going there this Saturday for this year’s OoTM tournament and will use the opportunity to get to know the campus a little better. Thanks again for your input and Good Luck to your son and daughter as they move onto their next chapter in education.