Chances at UC's (Junior, In-State)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi,
I'm currently a junior in California, and I was wondering about my chances at these schools:
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC San Diego
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Unlikely:
Cal Tech
MIT</p>

<p>Asian American (Chinese) Male, lives with a single parent, low income</p>

<p>UC GPA:3.875 (10th-11th grades, weighted)
10th-11th unweighted: 3.625
9th-11th unweighted:3.54
Class rank: Around 120?/600 (our district doesn't weigh GPA's for class rank)</p>

<p>Grades:
9th Grade:
Algebra 1: A+/A+
Spanish 1: A/A-
Integrated Science(Forced to take this class due to the stupid school)A/B+
P.E(Just for reference): A/A
English 1 Honors: C+/B
Intro to Computer Science: B/C+</p>

<p>10th Grade:
Geometry: A/A-
Biology: A-/A-
AP World History: B/A
English 2 Honors: B+/A-
Spanish 2: A-/B+
P.E: A/A-</p>

<p>11th Grade (First semester only):
Chemistry: A+
Algebra 2: A+
U.S History: A
A.P Computer Science A: B+
A.P English Lang / Comp: B-
Spanish 3: B+</p>

<p>Projected courses next year:
AP Physics B
AP Calculus AB (taking Pre-Calc over the summer)
AP Government/Regular Econ (One semester of each)
English 4
Art/Performing Arts</p>

<p>AP Scores:
AP World History: 5</p>

<p>SATs:
SAT Reasoning: 580 R/660 M/550 W 1790 Total (First time, will retake, hopefully will get at least a 2000+)
SAT Subject Test:
Chinese: 800
World History: 700
Biology M: 620</p>

<p>PSAT: 63 R/ 73 M/ 64 W 200 Total(96 percentile, might be commended?)</p>

<p>Spent 5 years in Taiwan at a regular public school (not an American school)</p>

<p>Extracirricular:
Chinese Club (one of the founders): 9th/10th grades
CSF: 11th grade
Key Club: 11th grade
Christian Club: 10th/11th grades
Church tutoring helper: 10th grade
Church worship team: 11th grade
NYLF Tech Forum: Summer after 10th grade</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>UC Berkeley: Very large reach
UCLA: Very large reach
UC Davis: Match
UC Irvine: Match
UC San Diego: Reach
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: Depends on which major you apply to
Unlikely:
Cal Tech: Practically impossible
MIT: Practically impossible</p>

3

<p>Definitely try your best next semester, bring that GPA up a little, I know it can be frustrating sometimes but if you really want it you have to show it. </p>

<p>SAT I scores are a bit low for the top UCs and your other two reaches, concentrate on those and then take (with studying, get that precalc down) math 2 subject test.</p>

4

<p>Do as best as you can in your senior year, and do as best as you can in your SATs (perhaps consider taking the ACT?) </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

5

<p>So how much should I raise my SATs for a better chance at SD, LA and Berkeley? Also, is there anything (other than raising my GPA) that would help me somewhat? Thanks!</p>

6

<p>At least 2100 for SD, LA, and Berkeley.</p>

7

<p>With that GPA, you need about a 2000 for UCSD and a 2150-2200 for LA and Cal.</p>

8

<p>I see... I think the main downfall of my GPA is due to the fact that our school has no honors classes that count towards your weighted GPA; it's either AP or regular classes... :( Is there a way I could explain this to schools, or would it make no big difference?</p>

9

<p>shortduderay:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Reach
UCSD: Slight Reach
UCI/UCD: Match</p>

10

<p>Hey,
I just took an ACT practice exam, and I got a 29 (which seems to be better than my 1790 on the SAT). Would this increase my chances (if I got this score on the real test)? If you can, please chance me again if I got a 29 on thew ACT. Thanks!</p>

11

<p>"I see... I think the main downfall of my GPA is due to the fact that our school has no honors classes that count towards your weighted GPA; it's either AP or regular classes... Is there a way I could explain this to schools, or would it make no big difference?"</p>

<p>I thought UCs took your unweighted GPA. My school doesn't have any honors classes either and we don't do weighting - it's either AP/IB or regular classes, but I don't think it's hurt our chances at all. I don't think it's worth your time to try and explain it to the UCs.</p>

<p>You're in-state, so that definitely helps. However, try to get above 2100 for the top UCs, or your chances might not be that great. You have loads of time left though. Good luck!</p>

12

<p>shortduderay:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Reach
UCSD: Slight Reach
UCI/UCD: Match</p>