Chances at UC's? Poor extracurricular record but good GPA/Test Scores

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So, I have a 4.31 cumulative GPA so far in my junior year (from first 5 semesters of high school), and I scored a 2020 SAT (will retake Senior Year). I anticipate getting a 4.17 GPA for 2nd semester, leaving me off at a 4.28 cumulative GPA after my junior year is completed. My UC GPA will probably end up being a 4.25. For advanced courses, I have:
Freshman Year: Geometry Honors (doesn't qualify for UC/CSU honors credit)
Sophomore Year: Algebra 2 Honors (doesn't qualify for UC/CSU honors credit), Chemistry Honors
Junior Year: Physics B AP, Precalculus Honors, Latin 3 Honors
Senior Year (Planned): Psychology AP, Chemistry AP, Calculus AB AP
However, my extracurriculars are quite weak, in fact, almost nonexistent. I have considered and tried various things at my school, but I never quite found my niche. I haven't done any school sports either. My resume will basically consist of: </p>

<ul>
<li>Playing basketball; I just play with friends and play pickup games after school and at the park once or twice a month, but I'm not sure if this actually counts as an extracurricular.</li>
<li>Tutoring (I'm planning to become a math tutor at my school senior year, but I haven't done any tutoring as of now.)</li>
<li>Doing mandatory service for my school, since I go to a private school and I am on heavy financial aid, and this is what I do in order to earn money off my tuition. I have worked for 60-70 hours each school year working at school functions, such as track meets, wrestling meets, plays, dances, etc. (this is separate from school-mandated community service hours that are required from all students).</li>
<li>I also did the school newspaper for 2.5 months and wrote two articles during Junior Year, but I didn't like it so I quit. I didn't receive a grade for it, so idk if this counts either.</li>
</ul>

<p>Also, for this summer, I am doing:</p>

<ul>
<li>A week-long immersion trip to the Appalachian region to help out the impoverished there with my school. (Counts for 50 community service hours).</li>
<li>A week-long prestigious engineering program/seminar at Santa Clara University.</li>
</ul>

<p>I feel like I am a good, insightful writer and my school has some good essay workshops and a good college counseling program, so I think I can make at least a decent personal statement despite my lack of extracurriculars.</p>

<p>The UC's I am considering are Berkeley, Santa Barbara, Davis, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, and Irvine, in order of greatest to least consideration (Berkeley is my top choice, and Irvine is my last choice of all these). How do my chances of admission look for each of those UC's?</p>

2

<p>Why not San Diego? It’s on par with Cal and LA.</p>

3

<p>Cal and LA are reaches, others are solid matches.</p>

4

<p>

I know UCSD is a good school, but it really isn’t strong in any of the majors I am interested in or doesn’t offer them. Plus, I am also turned off by the school’s reputation of having a student population of people who care too much about school and lack social skills, and the lack of parties there.</p>

5

<p>

So by solid matches, do you mean I have a good chance of getting admitted into all the other campuses?</p>

6

<p>Can anyone else add some more input? I know Berkeley is a reach, but I also really want to go to UC Santa Barbara. Would I probably get into UCSB?</p>

7

<p>I’d say you have a very good chance for UCSB.</p>

8

<p>Anyone else?</p>

9

<p>UCB - low reach/high match
UCLA - match
UCSB UCD UCI - high safeties</p>

<p>I know someone with your stats (a little higher) and similar EC’s that didn’t get into LA. Not to scare you, I think you should get in, but sometimes admissions are unpredictable. You can study all summer for the SAT and take it again I guess. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>High safety? Please! There is no such thing, a school is safe or it isn’t.</p>

<p>Both your SAT, as long as it’s above UC 4.1, and SAT are above average for SB, so good shot.</p>

11

<p>Bump
10char</p>