<p>-I'm a junior at a public high school with an API of 8 in California.
-I’m a white male, high family income
-I'm a student that takes specialclasses that focus on polytechnic classes.
-My UC GPA is estimated 3.45 by the end of this year. I'm in the top 37% of my class. Upward trend between first semester sophomore and second semester junior.
-I haven't taken any Honors or AP classes, but I have tested out of AP US Gov with a 4 and APUSH with a 4.
-My SAT scores are 650 M/670 CR/720 W for a total of 2040. I may retest this summer.
-ACT composite is 31.
-SAT Math 1: 650; US History: 670
-I plan to spend all four high school years in Jazz band, first chair saxophone. I play clarinet in a small dixieland combo that does a few paid gigs around town.
-I have won two high school science contests hosted by UC Davis.
-I consider myself to be an excellent writer, so I expect to write a killer personal statement.
-I am a director of my school's radio station.
-Technology Officer of Photo Club for two years.
-Last year, only 38% of students in my school's graduating class applied to a four-year university.
-Of those students, 30 applied to at least one UC. (Does this make a difference?)
-I'm in my city's youth orchestra.
-I have accumulated over 300 hours of community service
-I have exhibited 24 photographs in galleries displayed at the California State Fair
-I would like to major in Computer Science or Bioengineering.</p>
<p>Here's a list of colleges to which I plan to apply:</p>
<p>-All UCs (yeah, even Merced!), I really like UC Irvine and Davis
-University of Washington
-More competitive CSUs, especially Cal Poly SLO
-University of Arizona
-Any other college you think would be a good pick for me.</p>
<p>So, CC, what are my chances? Any tips about college apps? I know my GPA is low, but there's really nothing I can do about it except work hard for the rest of the year.</p>
<p>I am a student that is around your level academically, here’s what I think you can get into:
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC Santa Cruz
University of Arizona
CSU Long Beach</p>
<p>Reaches
UC Santa Barbara
UC Davis</p>
<p>High Reach
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
UC Irvine
University of Washington
Cal Poly</p>
<p>you have really nice scores. itd REALLY help if you could get your GPA to at least a 3.6 then youd have a decentshot at the mid-tier UC’s</p>
<p>right now i think your a shoe-in for UCSC, UCR, UCM, and all cal states [slo might depend on your major].
slight reach for UCI, UCSB, UCD
big reach for cal, UCLA, UCSD</p>
<p>–edit–
you can also take community college classes over the summer in a final attempt to raise your UC gpa</p>
<p>Definitely Re-test for SAT I or take ACT. 2100+ is a comfortable score</p>
<p>I’m going to be very frank with you: Not taking ANY APs kinda screwed you over.</p>
<p>I go to a public high school in NorCall. We have an API score of 840-ish and we have around 200-250 students who have taken at least 1 AP course. We aren’t even the best school in our district.</p>
<p>U need to take 3 APs next year. U also need to take 2 classes at community college this summer.</p>
<p>Re-take SAT IIs and GET above a 700. Then u have a chance at berkeley, ucla ,irvine, sd, and davis</p>
<p>High Reach:
U of WA (it would be mid-reach if you lived in state but they tend to be more selective for OOS)
Berkeley
Cal Poly</p>
<p>I definitely agree that not taking any APs combined with a lower SAT score were major negatives. If you had taken APs, UC Davis, UCSD and Irvine would have been high matches.</p>
<p>As the poster above me said, re-take your SATs I and and IIs and take several AP couses next year. Also, since you are planning on majoring in engineering, it might be a good idea to take a SAT II in math or a science.</p>
<p>Remember that getting admitted for engineering is especially hard. Overall, it seems like you’re a passionate kid with lots of potential. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Match
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC Santa Cruz (high match)
University of Arizona
CSU Long Beach</p>
<p>Reaches
UC Santa Barbara
UC Davis</p>
<p>High Reach
UCSD
UC Irvine
University of Washington
Cal Poly</p>
<p>For this semester, my goal is to earn a 4.0 GPA, which I think is doable if I work hard enough. This would raise my UC GPA to 3.5. If I had to choose between earning a 3.5 GPA and raising my SAT score by 100, which would most improve my chances?</p>
<p>BTW, is it at all worth considering UCB, UCLA, UCSD, and UC Irvine? You guys seem very pessimistic about my chances there.</p>
<p>Your academics are a little bit lacking. I’d say your biggest reaches would be UCB, UCLA, and maybe UCSD. UC Davis has a 50% acceptance rate currently, so I’d say you have a good chance. However, you show some good EC’s and i wouldn’t doubt your chances at UC Davis and UC Irvine. Good luck!</p>
<p>UC Merced - in
UC Riverside - match
UC Santa Cruz - match
University of Arizona - in
CSU Long Beach - in
UC Santa Barbara - reach
UC Davis - reach
UC Berkeley - reach
UCLA - reach
UCSD - reach
UC Irvine - reach
University of Washington - match
Cal Poly - reach</p>
<p>I recommend not applying for UCB or UCLA unless you can deal with rejection. Also I wouldn’t recommend picking a major at this moment until you’ve been accepted because If you choose an impacted major it will lower your chances. Hopefully those grades will raise you up some more but still won’t help for the top UCs. Luckily you have real good ECs that will actually give you a chance.</p>
<p>A 3.65 should be fine with UCI and Davis. Like sexynerd said, you should apply undeclared instead of an impacted major off the bat, UC’s are very number orientated and if they see your GPA and the impacted major you selected they may just reject you outright. (Though UCI has an “alternate” major thing… not sure what that is, I got in for Biology first try…)</p>
<p>So, I’ve registered to take three UC-transferrable courses at community colleges this summer, so the best-case scenario for my UC GPA is a 3.57. Also, I’m taking the SAT reasoning test again tomorrow. I’ve been intensively studying for it; my latest practice test put me at around 2100. How much does this improve my chances?</p>
<p>with 2100+ and a 3.5ish GPA your chances improve drastically; however, UCLA, Berkeley, UCSD, and UCI will still remain reaches simply because your GPA is still relatively low compared to the averages there. But hey, if you get a 2100, you have a chance.</p>