Chances for CSUs

Colleges and Universities A-Z California State University - GENERAL
1

My son is a Senior and will be applying soon. We have decided to focus on applying to these CSUs. This forum has been very helpful, I’ve been getting a lot of info here for the last 1-2 years. I would like to request your help to gauge on what are his chances for this list of CSUs, and which schools are his Reach (High and Low Reach) and Match (High and Low Match) and Safety. Thanks a lot in advance, appreciate all the help.

Applying to: SLO, SDSU, CPP, CSUF, CSULB, CSULA, CSUN, CSUCI, CSUSB, SJSU
MAJOR: Computer Science

CSU capped GPA (10-12): 3.97
CSU capped GPA (9-12): 3.95 (for SLO)

SAT: 1270 (just putting it here, but I’m aware that CSU will not consider SAT this year).

Below are his APs and CC classes. We’re hoping with this list, he may have enough credits to be in ‘sophomore standing’.

AP classes (and test scores):
DONE: World Hist (3), US Hist (3), Calc AB (5), Comp Sci (3), EngComp (3)
In progress: Calc BC, EngLit, MacroEcon, USGovt (Spring 2021)

Community College classes
Done(all As): Music Fundamentals, Intro to Sociology, Intro to Biology, Career and Life Planning (for CSU Area E)
In Progress: General Chemistry, Prog Concepts C++
Spring2021: Intro to Java, Public Speaking

Thank you again!

2

Based on GPA and intended major here is my chancing.

SLO/SJSU: Reach-High Reach
SDSU: Low Reach
CSULB/CPP/CSUF: Match
CSUN:CSULA: Low Match
CSUSB/CSUCI: Safety

Best of luck to him and he should have several options for next Fall.

What is your local CSU since he will get priority and could be an easier admit?

3

Thanks a lot for your quick response. His school is in between CSUN and CSUCI. I think his local CSU is CSUCI cause we’re in Ventura County. I’ll check more on this. CSUCI is the last in our preference.

I would be very happy if he can get in CPP.

By the way, I had a small typo on GPA. Should be up to 11 only, not up to 12 ?
CSU capped GPA (10-11): 3.97
CSU capped GPA (9-11): 3.95 (for SLO)

4

Here is the local service area link for the Cal states: https://www2.calstate.edu/Apply/freshman/Documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf

A Match school still does not guarantee an acceptance since he will be evaluated against all the CS applicants. Since the SAT/ACT scores are not being used this admission cycle, GPA, HS course rigor especially in Science and Math courses will be have a greater impact. Since CS is impacted at many of the campuses: SLO, SJSU, SDSU, CSULB, CSUF and CPP, this major will be highly competitive.

CPP and SJSU do consider alternate majors, so it would be beneficial he selected a less competitive major as a backup.

5

Thank you, very helpful. So yes CSUCI is our local CSU.

Agree that Comp Sci will continue to be super competitive. I work in IT (25 years now) so I can understand why it’s so popular ? I’m so happy that my son wants to apply for CompSci major.

I was born/raised in another country and came here in the US after college. I didn’t know that college here is super competitive (and super expensive!), not until 3 years ago. And thanks to this forum, I learned a lot about college application here.

Yes the top CSUs will be super competitive, so we’ll hope for the best but won’t be surprised for the worst. I meant to say that we’ll be very happy “if” he can get accepted to CPP, but we won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t. Thanks a lot for the info on alternate major. For alternate major, we will still choose an IT-related major like maybe Software Engineering (we’ll check further). Are CPP and SJSU the only ones allowing alternate major?

We’re also going to think on ‘what if’ he gets accepted only to his Matches & Safeties: CSULA, CSUN, CSUSB, CSUCI. Actually I believe CSUSB has an excellent Cybersecurity program just based on their website only.

So much to think about!

6

Occasionally some other CSU’s may consider an alternate major but it is more on a case by case basis.

CPP has IT but not Software Engineering. SJSU does offer Software Engineering which is a slightly easier admit than CS.

7

For CSUN, it looks like for fall 2020 admissions (for frosh starting now), they admitted frosh at CSU baseline EI of 2950 except for impacted majors (of which CS was not at CSUN). However, non-local applicants needed a minimum of 3700 EI. Your student’s EI would have been 3.97 * 800 + 1270 = 4446. However, CSUs will not use SAT/ACT this admissions cycle (probably will just use GPA), so it is less certain how past results can estimate this year’s admissions.
https://www.csun.edu/admissions-records/freshman-impaction

CSUCI is a non-impacted campus, and CS is not an impacted major there, so it should admit an applicant meeting baseline CSU eligibility (2.5 GPA with a-g course pattern, see https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/Pages/first-time-freshman-guidance.aspx ). Other CSU campuses where this is the case are CSUB, CSUDH, HSU, and SFSU; see https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/degrees-certificates-credentials/Pages/impacted-degrees.aspx and https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/impaction-at-the-csu/Documents/ImpactedProgramsMatrix.pdf .

Software engineering at SJSU and CPSLO is similar to CS, though with more emphasis on software engineering methods versus additional CS topics. However, IT majors, including at CPP, are often mostly business, with some content aimed at managing computers, software, and networks (as opposed to designing and developing them that CS and SE are more aimed at).

With a 3.97 GPA, UCM, UCR, and UCSC could also be reasonable targets.

8

Thank you @ucbalumnus. I think we will pass on UC applications for various reasons, mainly due to cost, cause we won’t qualify for financial aid, and it’s unlikely that he’ll get any merit aid. We will be happy if he gets in CompSci of the CSUs on our list.
We might add Dominguez, East Bay and San Marcos on our list but not sure if spending $210 more is worth it, if CSUN/CSUCI/CSUSB are already safeties on his list. I know CS is not impacted in CSUN/CSUCI/CSUSB and their CS program is ‘good enough’.

Does CSU do any yield protection?

9

As far as I am aware, the CSU’s do not use “yield protection” but they use local service priority so applicants that are within the local service area for each campus will get priority over out of area applicants. This means that local applicants with lower admit stats can be accepted over out of area higher stat applicants.

10

Ok thanks I see. So example for CSUN (which is not our local csu), those who are local will get priority as long as they have gpa > 2.5. So if there’s a lot of local applicants for CS major and a lot of other high stats > 4.0, then it could still be possible that my son (gpa 3.97) may still not be accepted in CS major. Did I understand the situation?

11

Yes, anything is possible especially since admissions will be heavily leaning towards GPA this admission cycle. However, a local applicant still needs to be competitive and meeting the minimum GPA is still not a guarantee either. I do not see anything specific on the CSUN website but in general the CSU’s are stating they will use supplemental criteria beyond the GPA requirements:

** number of courses exceeding minimum “a-g” requirements, household income, extracurricular involvement, and other available information. **

SDSU for example states the following:
** All majors are competitive, and every major has more applicants than available spots (the CSU calls this impaction). While we look at all of the college-prep coursework you have taken during high school, we also consider your performance and the number of units taken in courses most relevant to predicted success in your intended academic discipline.
Computer Science and Engineering Majors: Preference is given to applicants who have taken and earned strong grades in science and mathematics courses.**

CSULB is using an index: ** Your CSULB Index for Fall 2021 is calculated using your cumulative grade point average (GPA), your Math GPA and English GPA. The score will help tell you if you’re eligible for admission to the CSU.

The CSULB Index is a result of a formula that combines your achievement in your high school college preparatory subjects, along with your cumulative GPA in grades 10th through 12th. The formula is a combination of using your cumulative GPA, along with your Math and English subject GPA’s.

The CSULB Index for CSULB ranking is calculated as follows:

(College Preparatory Grade Point Average* X 200) + (500 x HS Math Subject GPA) + (500 x HS English GPA).
Refer to the College Preparatory Grade Point Average section below for details on how this GPA is calculated.**

So CSUN may use similar criteria in their application review.

12

Additional information about Freshman admission criteria below:

CPP: ** To be considered for admissions to Cal Poly Pomona, all applicants must meet the minimum CSU eligibility requirements. Once an applicant’s CSU eligibility has been determined, they will then be assessed based on a combination of their high school GPA and additional Cal Poly Pomona selection criteria.

GPA Requirements
-You must receive a 2.5 GPA (3.0 for non-California residents) or higher in the 15 required “a-g” subject courses, with no grade lower than a C-. Additional factors will be considered for applicants with a GPA between 2.0 to 2.49 (2.47 to 2.99 for non-California residents).

Additional Criteria
The following Cal Poly Pomona selection criteria is taken into admission consideration:
-Academic grade point average in all completed math courses, including math and quantitative reasoning (approved Area C and Area G) courses taken.
-Priority to students from our local area.
-Your experiences and special circumstances such as military status, first generation to attend college, work experience, foster youth, extra-curricular activities, leadership positions, work related to major, approved campus partnerships and high school educational programs.**

CSUF: ** First-time Freshmen must meet the following eligibility requirements:

-be a high school graduate or equivalent;
-complete the 15-unit comprehensive “a-g” pattern of college preparatory course; and
-Earn a qualifying “a-g” grade point average (GPA) as described below.
Fullerton is an impacted campus and receives more applications than we have the capacity to serve. To determine first-time freshman admission, Fullerton will rank order applicants by their “A-G” GPA for the entire freshman applicant pool. This includes applicants that meet the following criteria:

California residents and graduates of California high schools with a 2.50 or greater “A-G” GPA.
All freshmen applicants that are in CSUF’s Local Admission Area will receive first priority admission preference through an approximate .3 “A-G” GPA bump.**

13

due to the SAT shift, this year is makes it impossible to get a good feel for reach/match/safety schools. With his stats, normally, he’d be competitive for CS everywhere but CPSLO and SJSU. But, these aren’t normal times. It is really unfortunate the CA publics are forcing students to over-apply - but that’s where we are. I’d swap Chico, Sac for SB and CI - they are both offer a more traditional college experience than the other. I’d probably add a couple of privates and a WUE school or two, (LMU, USD, Boise State, UNR for example) to the mix and see what shakes out.

One other thought - most students change their major more than once - so think more about the overall student experience than the nuts and bolts of a specific program.

good luck.

14

That is interesting about CSULB’s index, as described at https://www.csulb.edu/admissions/freshmen-eligibility-index , which is (College Preparatory Grade Point Average* X 200) + (500 x HS Math Subject GPA) + (500 x HS English GPA).

This greatly overweights English and math grades over all others.

For a student who took the minimum a-g course work (where English and math combined are nearly half of it), the weighting would be something like 5.2 : 5.1 : 1 for English : math : everything_else. For a student who took a larger amount of a-g course work so that each of English and math are one third of the a-g course work, the weighting would be something like 4 : 4 : 1.

15

As a high school teacher, I truly appreciate all of the effort that so many of you posters are making in deciphering the new application criteria. My Advocacy class students ( a four year long class, similar to an old school “homeroom”) are Seniors this year and they have QUESTIONS. Thank you so much for helping me to provide a little bit of insight into the process.

16

Yes thanks everyone, appreciate all of the responses, all very helpful. Looks like this year, each CSU has their unique criteria. We’re just going to apply to all the SoCal CSUs plus SJSU, and will anxiously wait where our chips will land. Anyway, can’t do anything on his CSU GPA anymore, and neither can we control the admission criteria/decisions.

His safeties are CSUCI and CSUSB (and hopefully CSUN) and we’ll be prepared if he’ll be admitted only to his safeties. Having worked in IT industry for 20 years, I can understand a bit on CS program and can tell if the curriculum is good and updated with current technologies. The only thing I wouldn’t know is the quality of the professors and overall class quality.
He wants to stay here in SoCal. And cost is a major factor for us since we won’t qualify for financial aid (and we don’t want a major debt). Our budget is 25-30K which I think is still not possible with the Privates in SoCal, even with “some” merit aid.

Keep the comments coming!

17

SJSU announces criteria for fall 2021 admission:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/san-jose-state-university/2198050-sjsu-announces-criteria-for-fall-2021-admission-p1.html