Chances for UC's and other California schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>General Information:
-Intended Major: Mathematics
-Gender: Male
-Race: Caucasian
-Resident of California</p>

<p>Academics:
-High School: Fairly good, but probably not particularly prestigious.
-Class Ranking: I'm not sure if they provide this, but I'm certain that I am at least in the top 10%, possibly better.
-Rigor of Schedule: I have one of the more challenging schedules possible at my school, but not the absolute hardest by a decent margin.
-GPA (Sophomore/Junior):
-UW: 4.0
-W: 4.483
-AP/Honors Classes:
Sophomore- Honors Precalculus
Junior- Math 150 (community college class), AP Physics, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature, Honors U.S. History
Senior- AP Statistics, AP Chemistry, AP English, AP Psychology, Political Science (the other community college class offered)
-The AP/Honors level classes do not start becoming readily available until Junior year at my school. However, there have been ~4 or so opportunities for AP level classes that I have not taken.</p>

<p>Testing:</p>

<p>-SAT I:
-Math: 760
-Reading: 750
-Writing: 580 (I didn't do well on the essay section)
-Total: 2090
-I intend to retake the test in the fall to raise my Writing and total score.</p>

<p>-SAT II:
-Math II: 800
-Physics: 680
-Is it worth attempting to do an additional Subject test at this point, or should I focus on the other parts of my application?</p>

<p>-AP Tests:
-English Literature: 4
-U.S. History: 5 (this was a class I had taken the Honors course in)
-Environmental Science: 5
-Physics: 4</p>

<p>Volunteer/ECs:</p>

<p>Current:
-ACE Engineering Program: Junior year, worked with other students and a group of mentors who are various types of engineers to design a building, in this case a performing arts center for the school, which may in fact be built (should the money be available, of course). I was in charge of doing the budget.
-Mentor for a local LEGO Robotics Team (150+ hours, I think)
-Helped out at my church's week long Summer Blast program for ~5 years (will need to check up on that to be sure). Should come out to be around 100 hours.</p>

<p>Senior Year:
-Possibly a second year of ACE (depends on if they are available, and if I have time)
-School's Robotics Team, as a continuation of last years thing
-Tutor for math, hopefully through the school
-School's Math Club, and hopefully participate in their competitions</p>

<p>Awards:
-Communtiy Service award from the school
-CSF (is this the place to put this? I'm not really sure how to classify this)
-National Scholarship Federation Commended Student
-Various awards from the school for GPA/citizenship/etc, though I'm guessing they are not worth mentioning
-I might have something else, but I will have to look around to see about it</p>

<p>Schools of Interest:
-Harvey Mudd (Would an interview improve my chances of getting into here?)
-UCLA
-UCSB (particularly interested in their College of Creative Studies, though I'd be willing to first go to UCSB and latter transfer into it)
-UCSD
-USD
-SDSU (a safety, I hope)</p>

<hr>

<p>After having lurked around these forums for a couple weeks, I realize that due to my weak ECs, many (if not all) of the colleges on my list are low reaches at best, and I will not be able to count on any one of them. However, what I would like to know is, with a good essay, great recommendations, and improved SATs, will I have a chance of getting into at least one of my top choices besides my safeties (which I know I need more of)?</p>

<p>Also, I'd greatly appreciate it if any of you could recommend any other schools I could use as a safety, especially those in the UC system.</p>

<p>If there is any additional information you require, I'll try to add it as soon as I can.</p>

2

<p>Harvey Mudd- I’d say match. If you think you’re good with interviews, go for it! If not then dont…
-UCLA- Low reach
-UCSB match/safety
-UCSD- low reach
-USD- match/safety
-SDSU- safety for sure</p>

<p>You’re gpa and sats are pretty good. Just bring up writing. (dont worry. the essay brought me down too). For safeties, UCM and UCR are default safeties if you’re from California. You are actually a pretty strong applicant. Your ecs may not be great, but they definitely demonstrate your academic interests. Be confident!</p>

<p>Chance me back!</p>

3

<p>All the UCs are matches. In fact, UCLA is the only one of the public schools in which you aren’t a shoe-in.</p>

<p>USD – in</p>

<p>Harvey Mudd – Strong GPA and math scores help. Try re-taking Physics SAT II.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies, guys. I’ll try to look at your Chances thread Ngstar once I get an opportunity to do so, and hopefully I’ll have something constructive to add. I’ll also ask about UCM and UCR, and see how I like them.</p>

5

<p>-Harvey Mudd low rach, if your good at interviews do it
-UCLA- prob in
-UCSB -in
-UCSD-in
-USD- in
-SDSD -in
dont under estimate your 4.0gpa, that really helps at uc’s</p>

<p>chance back? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/764988-non-amazing-stats-hopefull-will-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/764988-non-amazing-stats-hopefull-will-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Bump.</p>

<p>Will the ECs I’m planning on doing during my senior year significantly help me, or might they reflect on me negatively? Is there a chance that colleges will disregard them to some extent as being last ditch efforts to pad my application?</p>

7

<p>Lol, if you don’t get into SD state, i’ll pay you $100.</p>

<p>As for the ECs, yes, they will probably see them as padding but it will still help you (at least ur doing SOMETHING). Still, I would focus more on essays and getting good grades.</p>

8

<p>Bump again.</p>

<p>What do you guys think my chances are at UC Berkley?</p>

9

<p>Same as UCLA, you’re probably in. 4.0 GPA + SAT over median will go a long way. If you wanted to be more sure, raise your sat to around 2180 +, as that will put you past the 75th percentile in every section.</p>

10

<p>Bump once again.</p>

11

<p>I’m guessing you’ll get a 2250+ if you study for writing and retake, so good chances at all.</p>

12

<p>Bump again.</p>

13

<p>You look good for all of the UCs, esapecially if you up the writing score which is easy with a little practice. Reasoable shot at Mudd, though coming from CA makes it hard. For them you want a higher second subject test.</p>

14

<p>Bump again.</p>