I will be applying to UC Santa Cruz (top choice), Irvine, Riverside, Merced, Davis, and Santa Barbara. Will be applying as undeclared for all of them. I have also applied to 4 CSU’s for back ups (Chico, SJSU, SDSU, CSULB).
UC GPA: 3.32
SAT: 1400 (Have yet to receive my new score from the November test)
ACT: 18 (From 10th grade, will be retaking in December)
AP Spanish: 4 on the AP exam
Extracurricular’s:
3 years Debate Team
1 year in Service Ambassadors (Community service club)
1 year in Yearbook Club
4 years in Business/College Prep program
12th grade Class President
Community Service: Over 200 hours
A bit about me if it helps: Male, in-state, 1st generation student, low income, and Latino.
Let me know if I forgot something.
Well, I don’t think you have a chance at any of those UCs except MAYBE Merced or Riverside. Even then, your GPA is extremely low, and your SAT is below the average of any of these schools.
Have you considered going to a community college for 2 years and transferring? You can get into the top tier UCs and privates if you do well at a CC.
I have considered community college. However, I don’t have the best situation at home so I would like to leave and live on my own.
Unless you get your SAT score into the 1700+ range and the ACT into the 25+ range, you chances at the UC’s are low along with all the Cal states except maybe Chico and SJSU. SJSU and Chico state are probably Match/High match but definitely not safeties (backups).
For the Cal States, they use an Eligibility index to rank applicants based on CSU GPA and SAT (Math+ CR) or ACT composite score. Your GPA is on the low side and your SAT/ACT scores are also very low.
Calculate your EI (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math+CR) or (CSU GPA x200) + (ACT comp x10)
Much will depend upon your major:
To be competitive for SDSU, need an EI of 4100/1000
For CSULB an EI of 3900/900
For Chico State an EI of 3700/850
SJSU publishes their EI thresholds for all majors. Compare your EI to the posted thresholds for this years Freshman class to gauge your chances.
http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/static/admission/frosh-f2015impact.html
I would definitely add some non-impacted Cal States: Channel Islands, Fresno, Bakersfield, Monterey, San Marcos, Stanislaus to your list in case your test scores do not increase significantly.
For further information, Here is a the average UC GPA/ACT and SAT scores for each UC.
CAMPUS/UC GPA/ACT/SAT TOTAL
UCB 4.19 31 2094
UCD 4.07 29 1924
UCI 4.04 28 1878
UCLA 4.18 31 2064
UCM 3.67 24 1616
UCR 3.78 26 1746
UCSD 4.13 30 2035
UCSB 4.05 29 1937
UCSC 3.88 27 1828
We’ll just see where I end up. Thanks.
Will not make any UCs.
SDSU & CSULB are out of reach as well.
Chico you actually have a decent shot of making (although higher test scores will help)
SJSU is a very high reach but not impossible.
I know a student who went to CC, had around the same gpa as yours and got into UC Irvine, Davis, Riverside, Santa Cruz, & San Diego.
Best of luck to you!
@andie127: You are saying that the student ^^^ had the same GPA, went to CC and transferred???
GPA is not OP’s biggest issue as much as the test scores. By going to a CC, you wipe the slate clean and start all over. HS grades/Test scores/EC’s do not count anymore so a CC is an excellent option to transfer into a CSU/UC of choice if you get good grades.
@Gumbymom yeah sorry I meant if the student plans to go to a CC, he/she would have a higher chance at getting into a UC with that GPA versus going straight from high school.
As stated before, going to community college would mean that I have to stay at home for 2 years. I don’t have the best situation at home so I would rather go to a CSU if I don’t get into a UC. Thanks for your input though.
Aim for a cal state. I think that the UCs are out of reach with that GPA and SAT/ACT score. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice. However, I have 8 fee waivers for colleges so I’m going to apply to some UC’s.