Chances for Business Admin + Other Options

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
1

SLO was originally my top choice for Business Admin until I toured the campus today and realized that I wouldn’t be happy with the college or campus at all. Very UCs offer business admin, however, and I’m really worried about my chances, because the ones that do are pretty selective. I’d rather go to a higher ranked state than pay $30k for the lower tier UC’s that offer business admin (UCR and UCM), but I would also be happy at my backups (SDSU, CSULB, CPSLO).

I’m also aware of UCB’s business admin major, but I’m not a fan of how it’s set up (go for 2 years then apply to the business school) and I’m also unsure that I’d succeed there with the competition. I’m still applying on the off chance that I do get accepted, though.

Objective:

SAT I: 2010 (770CR, 540M, 700 W)
ACT: N/A
SAT II: N/A
UW GPA: 3.69
UC GPA: 4
Rank/percentile: Top 5%, 23/mid 500s
AP: AP Bio (4), AP English Lang (5), AP Psych (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Stats, AP Calc AB, AP Art History, AP Gov
Also took “accelerated” options of lower level classes because my school doesn’t offer honors: Eng 1 Acc, Eng 2 Acc, Geometry Acc, Alg 2 Acc
Major Awards: None

Subjective:

Extracurriculars/Volunteer work:

  • 300 hours working lobby desk at local hospital by the end of the year (239 currently) -> 11-12
  • Volunteered at community garden to help disabled students get involved during the summer (~30 hours each summer) -> 10-12
  • Tutored kids K-8 at local library (8 hours a week) -> 12
  • President and founder of Vietnamese Student Union; every year, we fundraise for Vietnamese charities -> 11-12
  • Active member of Interact -> 10-12
  • Fundraising Coordinator of DECA -> 12
    Job/Work Experience: N/A
    Applied for Financial Aid?: Will apply, unlikely that I’ll get anything
    State: CA (Bay Area)
    School Type: Public (on the lower end regarding API)
    Ethnicity: Vietnamese
    Gender: F
    Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc): N/A

I’ve read that the Business Admin program is very impacted. What are my chances of getting in, and is it realistic to get my hopes up? Will stellar personal statements tip the scale? My backup plan for UCI would be to get in through my second choice of major, business econ, and later switch into business admin. How likely is it that I’ll be accepted to either of those majors, and how difficult is it to switch? Would it be safer to just list my second choice of major as undeclared (if you can do that)/go in undeclared?

Thanks so much!