Chances for UCs

<p>Dear peers at College Confidential,
I need information regarding how I stand in acceptance to the UCs. I would appreciate opinions of my chances for all of the undergraduate schools in the UC System.</p>

<p>My GPA is incredibly low in comparison to many who post on College Confidential. I have received three C grades throughout high school, two of which are in my Sophomore year (one in an AP course, one in an Honors course, and one in a regular course). I also have what many would call very weak ECs. I am an Asian (Taiwanese) male attending a very competitive public school in California. My school does not rank, nor does it give + or - grades.</p>

<p>School GPA:
Unweighted: 3.2
Weighted: 3.56</p>

<p>Standardized Tests:
SAT Reasoning Score: 1990
Math: 740
Reading: 620
Writing: 630</p>

<p>ACT Composite Score: 32 (roughly equivalent to 2130 in the SAT Reasoning)
Math: 35
Science: 30
Reading: 34
Writing: 29</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests:
Math IIC: 780, retook and got 800
Chemistry: 770</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores (Both taken during Junior year)
Calculus A/B: 5
Chemistry: 4</p>

<p>Courses Taken in Sophomore and Junior Year and Grades:
Sophomore (my school does not offer AP courses for Sophomores with the exception of AP Computer Science):
Pre-Calculus Honors: C/B
3D Design 1: A/A
World History: C/B
World Literature: B/B
Chemistry Honors: B/B
Spanish 2: B/B</p>

<p>Junior (although I requested to take the class, my school did not allow me to take Spanish 3 this year because they did not have enough space):
AP Calculus A/B: B/A
AP Chemistry: B/A
American Literature: B/B
United States History: A/B
3D Design 2: A/A
AP Computer Science: C/--</p>

<p>Computer Science is a subject that I just can't seem to understand. Upon realization that I was spending very much time on the class only to receive a poor grade, I dropped the class second semester (had I not done so I would not have received an A in second semester AP Chemistry).</p>

<p>Summer 2006:
Psychology 001 at a community college: A</p>

<p>During this summer I had also requested to take Spanish 3 at the community college. However, due to space issues, my school only allowed me to register for one class at the community college.</p>

<p>Classes I am currently taking:
AP Government/Economics
British Literature
Spanish 3
3D Design 3
Physics Honors
AP Statistics</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (once again, very weak to many):
Community Service: well over 200 hours (a majority, up to 200 hours or more, of which were done in 2006)
Adopt-A-Park San Jose (Where a mass majority of the community service hours were from) (11-12)
Member of Key Club (9-11)
School JV Tennis (11)
AIME Participant (11)</p>

<p>Others:
I've "represented" the United States (it was in no way endorsed nor recognized by the United States nor any local governments in the United States) in the "First World Mental Math/Abacus Competition: Foreign Countries Section" in China during the summer of 2004. I received first place in both individual and team results.</p>

<p>Other than general acceptance chances, here is a list of issues I wish people would address:
-My lack of a third year language course (excuse will be mentioned in the application)
-Impact of summer Psychology course
-C grades
-Dropping of AP Computer Science
-The gathering of the mass majority of my community service hours in the past year
-Impact of an award from an International Competition in a subject not many has heard about.</p>

<p>Thank you for your assistance.</p>

<p>You should apply for acceptance using just your ACT and SAT II scores.</p>

<p>The website that gives you the info on this is here:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/exam_eligibility.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/exam_eligibility.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It says you need a total of at least 410. However, you get a total of 453 out of a possible 500 maximum possible as computed using this link:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html&lt;/a> where it says:</p>

<p>If you took the ACT plus its Writing exam: The University takes your highest math, reading, science and combined English/writing score from a single sitting and converts them to equivalent UC scores (see the translation table at right). To give the ACT writing component equal weight to the SAT writing exam, the University multiplies the sum of your converted math, reading and science scores by two-thirds, then adds the converted English/writing score. This subtotal is then added to your two highest SAT Subject Test scores from two different subject areas, which are also converted to equivalent UC Scores, to reach your UC Score Total ([math + reading + science] x 0.667 + English/writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2). </p>

<p>(The chart for the score translations from ACT to SAT and the value of each score you get for your tests is also at this link.)</p>

<p>Your 453 score (as an in-state candidate) should be good enough to get into the following schools:</p>

<p>UCSB, UCD, UCI, UCSC, UCR, and UCM and maybe UCSD</p>

<p>You probably will not be able to get into UCB and UCLA.</p>

<p>If you apply using the regular process, I expect you to only get into UCSC, UCR, and UCM (your chances at the others are just so-so using the regular method of application).</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Using your ACT and SAT II scores:</p>

<p>UC Berkeley: Reach (GPA too low)
UCLA: Reach (GPA too low)
UCSD: Slight Reach-Reach (GPA too low)
UCI/UCSB/UCD: Match
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Safe Match-Safety</p>

<p>If you use your SAT instead of your ACT your odds will drop a lot from what is listed above. Your good ACT makes up for your lower GPA at schools up like Irvine/SB/Davis, but likely will not make up the difference for SD/LA/Berkeley. If you could compute your UC GPA, not just weighted and unweighted GPA, I would have an even better idea of your odds. If your UC GPA is even lower than your weighted GPA, then UCSD is at least a reach, and UCLA/Berkeley are large reaches. As of right now, implying that your uc and weighted GPA are similar, SD/LA/Berkeley look like long shots. Focus on getting into Irvine/SB/Davis, but still apply to reach schools as you never know.</p>

<p>needhelpbadly:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Reach
UCSD: Slight Reach
UCI/UCD/UCSB: Match
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Safe Match</p>

<p>I apologize, the GPA I posted were the UC calculated GPAs.</p>

<p>Upon reviewing several of the statistics of the UCs and these comments, I have realized that I should not expect admission into UCLA or UC Berkeley. However, I am curious to know my chances for UCSD. I also appreciate any knowledge anyone has of how UCSD does their infamous comprehensive review with a numerical cutoff for acceptance (including points given regarding community service hours, awards, etc.).</p>

<p>Thank you for your support.</p>