Weighted GPA 3.91
UnWeighted GPA 3.62
UC Gpa: 3.78
Top 30% of my class
SAT 1270 out of 1600 (I have one more chance to take it)
Math: 560
Reading and writing: 710
Ap US History 3
Ap Psychology 3
Taking: Ap Computer science, Ap Environmental science, AP Literature next year
attending a private catholic high school
EC:
Modeling, camp counselor, track team captain, Students in Action Club, NYLF Business and Innovation camp at Stanford, volunteering at MANY MANY animal sanctuaries and shelter homes, cross country, soccer, publicity officer of Rho Kappa (national history honors society), member of Math Honors Society, baby sitting, scholar athlete award, attending inauguration 2017, member of the national society of high school scholars
with good essay and good recommendations (hopefully)
I don’t know much about the UC system, but in general you seem pretty competitive for the types of schools you have listed. Try to practice more for the math section of your next SAT and think about whether or not you want to apply undecided. Computer science, engineering and business fields are very competitive these days; you might want to take the chance to talk about a wide range of interests and experiences/achievements in both very popular and less popular subject areas.
I have also heard that UC schools might care about a “UC GPA” calculated based on your transcript. You might want to calculate your own to see how much of a chance you can get.
Another thing: this website you are on right now lets you look at the stats posted by those admitted and denied by a majority of universities in the U.S. You could look at the pages for the institutions you want and see if anyone posts their stats for you to base your chances off of.
SLO: Reach for CSE (Average GPA is 4.17 and SAT Math+CR is 1450) Acceptance rate around 22%
SLO: High Match-Low Reach for Business(Average GPA 4.02 and SAT Math+CR is 1342) Acceptance rate around 29%
UCSB/UCD for CSE: Reach (UC GPA below average for both UC’s and SAT Math low for especially for Engineering)
No marketing/Business Finance at UCSB/UCD only Business or Managerial Econ: Low Reach
SCU for CSE/Business: Low Reach
LMU for Business: Match
LMU for CS (no CSE/CE): High Match
SDSU: Match for both majors
Chico State: Low Match for both majors
I would include your local CSU as a Safety. If you are leaning towards Business, look at UCR which has an excellent and accredited Business school.
Hi Gumbymom, I’m new and not very familiar with terminology but my son is also interested in similar California list: you mention LMU for CS: High Match and Chico State for both: Low Match. I imagine imagine Chico State is less competitive to get in. So, does Low Match mean havign a high chance to get in pls?
For BU, as long as you’re pulling high grades in AP classes/show an upward trend/strong trend + write great essays, BU would be low match. You’re in range for them but academic rigor + your essay will matter a lot. Oh and demonstrated interest: go to any/all info sessions that come to your area and learn all you can so you can nail the Why BU essay.
I got the definition: “High match” typically means on the more difficult side of “match” (i.e. closer to “reach”), while “low match” typically means on the easier side of “match” (i.e. closer to “safety”)…
I think it depends on what interest you express. With a 560 in Math, you are not going to be well received
in competitive Comp Sci or Engineering programs. With your 710 in reading/writing, you will do better if you
are indicating in interest in some field that is more relevant to your strengths. Boston U has become super competitive, you would not have a chance for engineering with a 560 in Math, maybe in other programs you might have a chance, in programs where math matters less.
Can’t comment on west coast schools but the overall concept applies as far as choice of major/program within the college.
Heirarchy of chancing lingo from easier to harder:
Safety-Low Match-Match-High Match-Low Reach-Reach-High Reach
My reasoning on the chances given:
For the CSU’s except SLO, they use CSU GPA and test scores for their Eligiblity index and rank applicants by major.
Chico State would probably be a safety for OP since OP’s EI is 4304 which is definitely competitive for Chico state, but the SAT Math score of 560 keeps me from saying it is a sure thing. @blevine’s explanation is pretty much sums up my reasoning.
LMU is more of a Match-High Match since they take into account LOR’s and essays while the CSU’s do not but again the SAT Math score may be a hinderance.
SCU is in the heart of Silicon Valley so their CS and even Business program will be competitive just based on location.
For the UC’s, I gave my reasoning for those chances. The issue with the UC’s is that they are very GPA focused and having competitive test scores does not always make up for a lower than average GPA.