UC’s are very GPA focused and as @youcee stated a high GPA 4.0+ is the average for the majority of the UC’s along with competitive test scores.
After Junior year, calculate your CSU/UC GPA using this calculator: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
All the UC’s and CSU’s (except Cal Poly SLO) use the capped weighted UC GPA (8 semesters of UC approved Honors/AP/IB courses) UCLA/UCB will also use the Fully weighted UC GPA (unlimited UC approved Honors/AP/IB courses for the extra points).
Cal Poly uses 9-11th grades in their GPA calculation and is capped at 8 semesters of UC approved Honors/AP/IB courses for the extra points.
An upward grade trend is always helpful and since the UC’s and CSU’s use only 10-11th grades, your GPA may be higher with the calculation.
Just to give you an idea of admit rates based on the UC GPA here is some statistical information. Remember that for competitive majors like Engineering your stats need to be above the averages:
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.00-3.39
UCB/UCLA/UCSD: 1%
UCI/UCSB: 2%
UCD: 4%
UCSC: 18%
UCR: 38%
UCM: 67%
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
UCB: 2%
UCLA: 3%
UCSD: 6%
UCD: 15%
UCSB: 14%
UCI: 13%
UCSC: 59%
UCR: 78%
UCM: 92%
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19:
UCB: 14%
UCLA: 14%
UCSD: 44%
UCSB: 54%
UCD: 58%
UCI: 65%
UCSC: 85%
UCR: 94%
UCM: 96%
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 4.20 or above:
UCB: 42%
UCLA: 54%
UCSD: 87%
UCSB: 85%
UCD: 91%
UCI: 94%
UCR/UCM: 98%
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On to the Cal States, below is how all the Cal states admit with exception of Cal Poly SLO. SLO uses an MCA score calculation which would take up another 1/2 page. If interested, send me a PM and will give the information or you can look it up on this link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo/1694769-confused-about-mca-score-p10.html
How Cal States admit:
The Cal states admit by major and eligibility index. They really only consider GPA/Test scores/Geographic location and HS course rigor. Other than Cal Poly SLO, your EC’s are not considered.
You need to calculate your CSU/UC GPA using grades from a-g courses taken 10-11th.
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Not sure which courses are a-g and will give you extra honors points, then use this link by typing in your HS name?
https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution
Cal states and the majority of the UC’s use the capped weighted GPA.
Then calculate your Eligibility index:
If you took the Redesigned SAT:
(CSU capped weighted GPA X 800) + (SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) + Math Score) = Eligibility Index
Eligibility index for ACT:
(CSU capped weighted GPA X 200) + (ACT Composite x10)= Eligibility Index
**CSULB and SJSU use a modified EI for STEM/Engineering majors:
http://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/impaction/impactionresultsfreshmen/index.html
You will then be ranked based on EI and major and they accept from the top down until all spots are filled.
You will get priority at your local CSU which you can look up on this link. Local applicants usually require a lower EI to get an acceptance unless the program is highly impacted.
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/onestopkiosk/documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf
Impacted campuses/majors: https://www.calstate.edu/sas/documents/ImpactedProgramsMatrix.pdf