I feel like my stats are either average or below average for these schools, but what do you think my chances would be?
Unweighted GPA (10-11): 3.69
UC GPA (10-11): 4.0
Fully Weighted GPA (10-11): 4.15
SAT I: 1970 (630 CR, 630 M, 710 W)
ACT: 32 (35 E, 34 M, 30 R, 30 S)- I am going to retake this in September, hoping for a 34.
SAT II:
- Math 2: 730 (retaking in October)
- US History: 730
I am also planning to take the SAT II for chemistry in October as well.
Challenging Courses taken (10-11):
- My school did not give me much opportunity to take APs/Honors, and as a result, I could not take many APs/Honors until my junior year.
(10) Chemistry H
(11) AP Chemistry (waiting for score)
(11) AP US History (waiting for score)
(11) Pre-Calculus H
(11) American Lit H
I am also taking two UC- approved online classes (an Art History Class and an Intro to Cultural Geography class). I assumed I would get A’s on them, because right now, I have very high grades in both classes.
Other Factors:
- I am In-State
- Leaning towards Biochemistry for my major, but haven’t officially decided yet
- I won’t be applying for financial aid.
- I would consider my extra-curriculars good but not great.
Other Questions:
- Do UCs ONLY use the UC GPA, or do they look at the Fully Weighted GPA as well?
- How much importance do subject sats carry?
UCLA/UCB will look at fully weighted while the rest of the UC’s use the capped weighted GPA.
UCI/UCSB look like Matches and UCSD probably a High Match. Report your ACT instead of SAT and write some strong essays.
If SAT subject tests are recommended, I suggest you take them just to give you an edge over other applicants.
Good Luck.
Is UCD a High Match as well?
You’ve got a solid shot at UCD, UCSB and UCI. Of course essays play a significant role in the admission process so, it isn’t a lock for any of them.
For UCSD it is a 50/50 proposition. Your GPA and SAT are below their median score
All of these schools have become absurdly hard to get into. Be sure to apply broadly
Good luck.
@NCalRent Won’t UCSD take the higher score though? (If ACT is better than SAT, they consider ACT only, and vice versa)
I am planning to apply for all the UCs as well as some out of state schools, but the mid-level UCs and UCSD are my main goals.
You are correct, they will take whichever score is better (ACT vs SAT)
While your 32 is indeed above average, your UC GPA is pretty well short of the 4.13 average for this year’s admissions.
UCSD accepted something like 30% of applicants this year. 4.13 and 2018 were the average UC GPA and SAT - GPA went up by 02 and SAT by 25 (haven’t seen any ACT report).
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc_san_diego_offers_admission_to_24552_freshmen_for_fall_2014_quarter
With an outstanding essay, you may well make it in but, I stick by my 50/50 proposition.
@NCalRent Will my choice of major also have an impact on my chances at these UCs? Other than Computer Science and most engineering majors, which other majors are impacted?
Other than UCSD, UC campuses do not designate any majors as impacted (per Ms Sun’s blog) but most STEM majors, Psychology, Economics, Business Admin, Nursing etc… are very competitive so you want to have Stats at or above the averages. Also some UC’s will accept you first into the University (UCSD/UCB) and then into your major. Many times if you do not have an alternate major listed, you are accepted as Undeclared and then have to try to change majors later as a student. Choice of major does affect your chances.
@Gumbymom So does putting down a non-impacted alternate major help your chances? I know at UCSB, your major is not considered for admission if you decide to apply for Letters and Sciences, so I was thinking (just for UCSB) of putting down something more competitive (In either CCS or Engineering), as well as putting down an alternate major in L&S (like Biochemistry).
How are your extracurriculars? They could play a major role if your stats are on the border. Judging from the stats only, it looks like:
UCSD: Low reach
UCD: High Match
UCI: Match
UCSB: Match
make those essays meaningful and you will improve your chances. Chance me back?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1790989-chance-me-ucla-ucsd-ucd-cornell-johns-hopkins.html#latest
You will be accepted undeclared at UCSD if you borderline at an impact major at UCSD.
I strongly believe if you want to major in Engineering, then put down Engineering as your major, impacted or not. I would however, select a non-impacted major as an alternate so I would not end up getting admitted as Undeclared unless you truly are Undecided in your major. You just need to have a well balanced list of schools that you are willing to attend regardless of the major you are eventually admitted into and be happy with your choices. Many students do change their mind in regards to majors but like I stated in the above post, picking a non-impacted or easy major just to get into the school and then trying to switch into a more competitive major later on does not always work.
You do t have to play game with UCSD like with other UCs, its admission is pretty straight forward.
@kobe24mamba Here are my extracurriculars, along with a description for each one:
- By the time I graduate high school, I would have been in my school's award-winning band for 4 years. I am planning to write one of my essays on how I transformed from hating the clarinet to absolutely loving it. I started off second to last chair in our lowest band (Concert Band) in my freshman year. Then, I moved up to third chair in our medium band (Symphonic Band), and in my junior year, I was last chair in Wind Ensemble. However, I did really well in the audition for Wind Ensemble, and during my senior year, I will be the section leader in our top group. I really want to talk about my journey to getting there. Also, I plan to continue doing band in college.
- By the time I graduate high school, I would have volunteered at an Elementary School program called Reading Partners for 4 years. I help elementary school kids (anywhere from 2nd to 4th graders) with their reading skills. I love this because I get to form bonds with my students, it is fun teaching them, and it feels amazing to watch your student/s improve with your guidance. I also would have volunteered two summers at a local organization which helps out the homeless. Overall, I would have at least 100 hours before applying for college.
- By the time I graduate high school, I would have been a CSF member for 4 years. I also would have been an NHS member for 4 years. These were the only two clubs I joined in high school, because I didn't really find any of the other clubs interesting.
- By the time I graduate high school, I would have been in cross country/track for 3 years (3 years XC, 2 years track). I was also the co-captain for XC in junior year, and I will be one of the captains for senior year. I couldn't do track and field in my junior year because of an injury, but I recovered, and I am currently training for my final xc season.
- I am also working towards an internship for a small business, by self-studying computer programming, java, etc. My dad was able to get me this internship by asking a friend, who is the CEO of the company. The CEO said that if I learn quickly, I will be able to actually become an intern there, which will hopefully occur before college apps. I plan to continue this internship until I graduate. Although this is not related to my major, I still think this internship is worth pursuing, because I have always wanted to learn computer programming, but I never had the time to do it on my own or take the class/s at school.