Chances at UC Berkeley/UCLA/UCSD

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am looking at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD as my top three choices. I will apply to UCI as well and I may apply to others but those are my main choices.
Is it a good possibility that I will make it into one of these colleges? I was a qualifier for the National Merit Scholar, so I was allowed by the National Merit program to get my name sent to two colleges of my choice, and I chose Berkeley and UCLA.</p>

<ul>
<li>4.55 GPA</li>
<li>SAT: 2090</li>
<li>SAT II Math IIC: 760</li>
<li>SAT II Chemistry: 710</li>
<li>President of Health & Medical Services Club</li>
<li>Co-President of Peer Mediation Club</li>
<li>Secretary of Junior Class </li>
<li>Secretary of Key Club</li>
<li>CSF</li>
<li>Tennis Team 3 Years</li>
<li>Cross Country 1 Year</li>
<li>Quiz Bowl
AP Courses (Including those I'm taking next year): AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus, AP US History, AP Gov't, AP Econ, AP English, AP Spanish, AP Statistics</li>
</ul>

<p>I really don't want to take anymore (SAT/SATII) tests, but I will if anyone really thinks I need to. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>SD should be a safe match and you have a fair shot at Cal and LA, but they've become lottery schools. Write a great essay.</p>

3

<p>unnecessarily hot:</p>

<p>UCB: Match
UCLA: Match
UCSD: Safe Match</p>

4

<p>Thanks, I really appreciate the help that I've received on this board on questions and such in the past. I'm really sorry for asking more questions, but as we get nearer to the application process I'm getting nervous...and my application is nearing the final version that the admissions people will see. </p>

<p>Now that it's near its finalization, my final question isn't so much "Will I get into the aforementioned colleges?" but it's more "Will I need to take anymore SAT tests?" I can't take the ACT any more, and I'm pretty satisfied with where I am on the SATs. I could make excuses for some of my lower scores; however, the colleges won't hear these excuses, so it's pointless. I also hope that I can write a good essay, so just assume that my essay while considering my application isn't a terrible one. Here's what I have so far...I really appreciate anyone who could take the time to read all this and calm me down :).</p>

<p>Also another question, below in my extracurriculars I include that I play piano and guitar...those instruments I play for my personal enjoyment...I have no awards or anything for proof...can I still include that in my application? </p>

<p>Freshman Year
Geometry A/A</p>

<p>Spanish 1 A/A</p>

<p>World Geography Honors A/A</p>

<p>English Honors 1 A/A</p>

<p>Biology A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
World History Honors A/A</p>

<p>Algebra 2/Trigonometry A/A</p>

<p>AP Chemistry A/A (AP Score: 4)</p>

<p>Spanish 2 A/A</p>

<p>English Honors 2 A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year
Spanish 3 A/A</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC A/A (What I think I got...: 3)</p>

<p>AP US History A/A (What I think I got...: 4 or 5?)</p>

<p>English Honors 3 B/A</p>

<p>AP Physics B/B (What I think I got...: 1...I know..terrible)</p>

<p>Senior Year
AP English </p>

<p>AP Environmental Science</p>

<p>AP Biology</p>

<p>AP Government/AP Econ</p>

<p>AP Spanish 4</p>

<p>AP Statistics</p>

<p>Me: Asian male</p>

<p>GPA: Just a shade over 4.55</p>

<p>Rank: I won't find out 'till August, but I'd imagine that I'm in the top 10-15.</p>

<p>SAT : Math: 710 + Reading: 700 + Writing: 680 = Total: 2090</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests: Biology 600, US History 630, Chemistry 710, Math IIC 760, 740</p>

<p>PSAT: 206 (Qualified for National Merit…though I think that’s about it)</p>

<p>Other courses:
-Calculus 1 (At College): A
-Art 101 (Art History): Currently Taking Class</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
-Co-President Health & Medical Services Club (2 years, member for a third year)
-Co-President PAL (Peer Assistance Leadership)
-Technical Editor School Newspaper [1 Year (Senior Year)]
-Junior Class Secretary
-Key Club Secretary (2 ½ years, member for another 1 ½ years)
-CSF (2 Years)
-Model United Nations (4 Years, Won various outstanding awards...no gavel though :(...perhaps next year)
-Academic Decathlon (1 Year)
-Quiz Bowl [2 Years (First year our team went to Nationals, but I was on second team…next year I will be on first team)]
-Science Bowl [2 Years (Inaugural Science Bowl Team at our school)]
-Cross Country 1 Year (Most Improved Player award!)
-Tennis Team 3 Years
-Piano 7 Years (I have no proof of this other than what I can play...so I don't know if that will matter to college admissions)
-Guitar 4 years (Again, guitar is just for my own personal enjoyment...can I include this on my application?)
-Hospital Volunteer (150+ hours? Working this summer and into next year.)
-50+ Volunteer Hours (This doesn't take into account my hospital hours)</p>

5

<p>You look great for UCSD. Irvine is a safety. UCLA and Berkeley are looking good for you. If possible take another or retake one of the SATIIs. Other than that you look good. But what is your intended major? That has a big impact on admission decisions.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the response, Adamboy. </p>

<p>I think I'm going to major in perhaps either Biochemistry or Anthropology. </p>

<p>I could retake the SAT II US History. I think if I just read through my AP review book over summer, I could bring my score up easily over 100 points. I don't think I could take chemistry again, it's been too long since I've done the material, and I don't think I could learn it all again over the next few months. </p>

<p>Biology, I took it freshman year after a regular biology course (not AP bio) and I wasn't really prepared for it (hence my lower score.) And I still haven't taken AP biology, and I don't think I could learn all the material on my own for the next test. My best bet I think would be US History...would that be alright?</p>

7

<p>just increase your SAT scores to 2100~2200+ and you'll have good chance at all those schools.</p>

8

<p>Alright, thanks Cardinal. </p>

<p>Another question...
If I choose to major in biochemistry, would that hurt my chances of getting in? I'm pretty set on majoring in that field. </p>

<p>I got a 600 in SAT biology...but I took it freshman year, following a regular bio course. I know the colleges don't know this, but they could infer this looking at my transcript and such, no? Anyway, I didn't even KNOW what SAT II tests were, my bio teacher just said "you really should take this test." so Itook it, and I didn't know a lot of the material.</p>

<p>I did well in Chemistry (A's in that class...710 on the SAT chemistry...4 on the AP test...) and I think I'll enjoy biology. If I took the SAT II Biology following the AP course, I think I could do well on it; however, that'd be way past the time I even receive my admissions status, let alone during the time when I apply to colleges!</p>

<p>If I up my SAT reasoning scores, and perhaps another SAT II (US History would probably be my best bet,) would that be enough to help me get in? Keep in mind that I'm pretty sure I'll major in a science, biochemistry my first choice, anthropology being my second.</p>

9

<p>yes.....like i said, get above 2100 or 2200. As for U.S history, get above 750 or so and you'll have a solid shot. Study like crazy this summer and nail those SATs this upcoming fall :)</p>

10

<p>unnecesarily hot, you live in Cali right?</p>

11

<p>Yes, I live in Southern California. Why?</p>

12

<p>well if you were out of state, it would be a different story (much harder admissions from out of state.) But personally, as an in-stater I think your pretty much golden everywhere except Berkely and even there you'll be very competitive.</p>