Chances at UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, & Cal Poly SLO?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m currently a senior debating on whether I want to apply as a civil engineering major or a mathematics/applied mathematics major. Throughout most of high school I have been wishing to pursue civil engineering, but recently I have found an interest in possibly pursuing a mathematics degree since I have a huge love for math, especially calculus. I may apply differently at different schools, but I’ll figure it out when the time comes to submit.
Also, I am a White/Chinese female living in Southern California.

9-11 academic GPA: 4.2 Weighted, 3.95 Unweighted
10-11 academic GPA: 4.3 Weighted, 3.92 Unweighted
UC GPA: 4.23 Weighted, 3.92 Unweighted

ACT: (2nd time) 32 composite (35 English, 32 Math, 31 Reading, 28 Science, writing score not out yet)
1st time I had a 29 composite and an 8 for writing

SAT: (2nd time) 1330 (640 R&W, 690 Math, 6, 5, 6 Essay)
1st time I had a 1220 (600 R&W, 620 Math, 6, 5, 6, Essay)

SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 - 740; Physics - 580 (might retake these)

I’ve completed five AP courses so far (10th grade - Human Geo, 11th grade - English Lang, Calculus AB, Physics 1, Enviro Sci) and I’m taking six this year (English Lit, Calculus BC, Stats, Macroecon, Comp Sci Principles, Chinese)
I passed Human Geo (5), Calc AB (4), and English Lang (3) and sadly failed the Physics 1 (2) and Enviro Sci (2) tests.

Extracurriculars:

  • Key Club (4 years): President for two years, Vice President for one year, position on the Division Leadership Team for three years, and received “Officer of the Year” award in our division.
  • Chinese Club (4 years): Treasurer for two years
  • California Scholarship Federation (3 years): Vice President for two years
  • National Honor Society (2 years)
  • Tennis (2 years): JV junior year and Varsity this year.
  • Piano: Been playing for 7 years and have performed in multiple recitals and talent shows.
  • Have over 400 hours of community service.

I have had all A’s every semester except my first semester of junior year, as I had a B+ in AP English and a B in AP Physics that semester. The main thing worrying me about getting in to some of these schools are the two B’s I have, my bad AP scores, and my bad SAT Subject Test scores (I’m most likely retaking them).

What are my chances at these schools for civil engineering (structural engineering for UCSD) and mathematics/applied mathematics? Also, are there any good private schools (can be out-of-state) that I might have a chance at?

Thank you!

2

SLO uses 9-11th grades in their GPA calculation so add in your Freshman grades to the UC GPA calculation and you will get your CP GPA. Average for Engineering last year was a 4.16 CP GPA and an ACT of 32 so you are right on target for SLO.

USC/UCLA/UCB should always be considered Reach schools but you are definitely a competitive applicant and have a very good shot.

For UCSD, no civil engineering is available but you might want to consider their Structural Engineering program. Unfortunately both Engineering and Mathematics are capped majors (impacted) and UCSD recommends that if you are selecting a capped major, that you should select an uncapped major as an alternate or you could end up being accepted as Undeclared.

UCI looks like a Match for Civil Engineering or Math.

Hopefully these are not the only schools you are applying. Make sure you have at least one safety school you would be willing to attend just in case and best of luck.