Chances for UC and recommendations for summer

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>White
Male
California
Top 200 high school according to Newsweek ( aka average but not crap )
SAT:2100+
ACT: TBD
SAT II: 700+ US history, english and math II.
GPA: 3.9 UW
School does not rank.
Class difficulty: I have taken every academic non-honors course available but I am somewhat lacking with APs and HP classes. To make a long story short in 9th grade I took my first honors class with an english teacher from hell ( 6 hours homework, 4 page essays every night etc. ) and I assumed this was normal. Needless to say I was surprised at how easy AP classes were when I worked up the courage to take them junior year. </p>

<p>As a result my junior year's GPA is a 4.19 ( 2 APs, 6 unweighted with a B for one quarter in an unweighted ). I learned the hard way that at my school you need to sign up for 3 more AP classes than you want to take. To make matters worse the AP physics B teacher recommended the class not take the AP test and due to circumstances out of my hands I was not able to take the AP english test either. </p>

<p>Senior year:
AP Biology
AP Economics micro
AP Government
AP European History
AP Environmental Science
Pre-Calc HP ( school wouldn't let me test out of geometry freshmen year )
Drawing and design ( required to graduate =( )
English 12 ( First non-AP/honors english but I can't stand the english teacher that teaches 9th and 12th grade ) </p>

<p>My extracurriculars/miscellaneous :
I play chess ( 1600 elo rating, not the greatest but it's rising )
President of chess club
President of Game club ( not really helpful but it shows that I at least am involved with other things outside of school I suppose )
I lift weights ( 200 pounds seated triceps press )
I have had my letters to newspapers published multiple times.
I read at 700 words per minute?
Photographic memory? </p>

<p>These all seem pretty crappy ( I think extracurriculars short of curing cancer should be irrelevant but that's another issue ), but I hope my crappy EC does not prevent me from getting into a UC.</p>

<p>I have had 100% on every final I've taken and my teachers like me so letters of recommendation should not be a problem. </p>

<p>I have severe ADHD ( diagnosed by a psychiatrist ) and have intense periods of hyper focus. I have very little awareness of anything around me when I am focused ( I don't respond to my name or even tapping on the shoulder ) and this can cause me to work on a project for 36 hours straight. </p>

<p>This brings me to a question I have for the elite on this board. How should I spend my summer? What is the area I need to focus on most? I'm currently planning on preparing for AP biology but that shouldn't take long. I have literally taken every non-honors academic class at my high school and need no extra credits to graduate ( only English 12 and a "visual performing art" ). </p>

<p>I am not delusional. I do not expect, nor do I want to go to an elite school. My mother went to Dartmouth and my father went to Cambridge, they seem to only be interested in science and cannot think about retiring. My impression is that many ivy league students have done a lot for their communities only to boost their college applications. I know this is not true for all ivy league students but I do not want to immerse myself into this competitive culture. </p>

<p>The first universities that come to mind are UCSD, UCSC and UCD. I would appreciate some additional recommendations. Anywhere you think would be worth a shot is appreciated. I do not care about size or location. Universities in the EU are even an option (although likely more of a hassle ). I have not decided on a major. Money is not a problem, we will pay for any university in full.</p>

2

<p>What’s wrong with UCB and UCLA if you’re looking at UC’s? EC’s don’t matter much with UC’s. Since your instate you have a very good chance. The GPA and SAT make you well qualified.</p>

3

<p>UCB I figured as a bit of a long shot, I felt UCLA was out of my league. They’re definitely good schools. I heard the GPA for UCLA was 4.2+ with tons of APs…</p>

4

<p>If you can afford it, I would apply to all the UCs you are willing to go to, b/c it is only one app, and it’s really easy. Someone will probably jump on me and talk about how the UCs are all different, but I foresee another especially tough admission cycle for the UCs next year. This year, my high school which normally can expect virtually everyone to get accepted to at least mid-level UCs (UCD, UCI, UCSB) experienced a lot of rejections. I think we only had a handful of ppl that got into Cal or LA that was not also accepted to Stanford, Ivies, etc.</p>

<p>As for your chances…</p>

<p>what do you mean by 2100+ for your SAT score. Have you taken it yet?</p>

<p>You probably should have taken the AP Physics test by yourself (I’m assuming you didn’t, right?)</p>

<p>Assuming that you get pretty decent AP scores (you have decent test scores so far so this shouldn’t be a prob), you have a pretty good shot at UCD and UCSC and at least a fighting chance at UCSD. I would still apply to UCLA and Cal if you can afford it because you’re definitely not “out of their league”. Don’t worry about their stats like “avg GPA” b/c that is prob based on their calculated “UC HS GPA”.</p>

<p>For summer, I would take a college course or otherwise do something to show that you do not shy away from academic challenges.</p>

5

<p>My dad actually works at UCSD so I do know what you mean about increasing rejection rates.</p>

<p>The physics teacher said no one should take the AP physics exam, I am not sure why. AP exams are spread out a bit so I suppose I could take it next year.</p>

<p>My SAT score has yet to come in, I took it on the 6th I believe. I say 2100+ because while each category fluctuated a bit during my 3-4 practice tests I always scored above 2100. I believe the highest I got was 2200 but I bet I got low 2100s on this SAT. I’m taking it again in the fall along with the ACT. I’m not sure what college course I could take that would help. The college that is practical is a community college which probably is a bit over a normal class but definitely below an AP. Perhaps I am mistaken. The deadline is likely closed. </p>

<p>I noticed a huge improvement in writing ( 550 > a bit over 700 ) after studying the SAT books. Is it worth it to pursue this further if I get a 2100 on the SAT? Would I be able to raise it another 100? Would UC colleges even care past 2100? The reading portion has always been a breeze, I got a 750 on the PSAT and similar results on the practice SAT. I heard that writing and math are easier to improve. Thanks.</p>

6

<p>Apply to UCLA. You won’t regret it.</p>

7

<p>Well it’s nice to know that UCB/UCLA are possibilities. Anyone know if they care about 2100+ over say a good score on the ACT/subject tests?</p>

8

<p>I have family and friends who went to UCD, UCB, UCLA, and UCSD, and from their high school experience, I think you’ll have a good chance of getting into a UC. Each of them was exceptional in one thing (athletics and choir, English and History, Science, SAT score). A college counselor who used to read admissions for UCLA said UC’s really look at what classes you took (try taking some community college classes, and its good that you’re taking advanced classes at school - they really look at that) and your grades esp. senior and junior year. </p>

<p>SAT score? Hm… can you boost it 100 more? Ah well, if you keep the 2100 and that’ll still qualify for getting into UCB.</p>

9

<p>Right now I’m studying AP Bio, SAT subject tests ( physics, math, English and maybe later history ), and the ACT. Should I continue to work at academics or should I focus on boosting my EC? I have the opportunity to attend lectures at UCSD although I doubt that counts as EC. I may try to work for my dad’s colleagues over the summer although I think I missed the opportunity for a lengthy internship. I could focus more on chess but do colleges even care that much? I’m just trying to figure out if it’s even worth it to reinforce my EC knowing that it can’t be stellar, “cured aids while working 40 hours a week” etc. </p>

<p>If I get a 2100 on my SAT you would suggest putting some serious effort into getting a 2200? I’m taking it already in the fall but I was going to focus more on the ACT/subject tests. Perhaps I am thinking 2100 is more than it is…</p>