<p>Hi. So I am a senior now (class of 2013) and I am applying to all uc campuses except Merced Irvine and Santa Cruz. What UCs can I probably get into??
My unweighted gpa is a 3.9 I have taken around 8 hp/ap classes so far and I'm taking 5 more this year. So my uc gpa will be around 4.5ish.
I have a gotten a 5 on AP bio and 4s on AP English and US history.
I received a 28 on the ACT (10 on writing)-- I going to retake it.
I got a 1950 on the SAT--which I am retaking--prospecting around a 2100. I got a 720 on the bio sat 2. A 660 on us history and a 640 in math (also retaking). I am a California Native and first generation college student.
My extracurriculars are: 9 years of violin, 300 hours of UCLA hospital volunteering, I am the president and co-president of two humanitarian clubs, I have been in CSF and CJSF since 2006. I am in AP art and took photography last year, I am a member of red cross club, ambassador club (a club that does acts of leadership and life readiness) and meals on wheels club. And I am tutor in biology and calculus.</p>
<p>First of all, your unweighted and UC GPA look pretty good!
I would definitely try and raise your ACT and SAT to a 30 and 2100 at least.</p>
<p>What major are you trying to apply for? That’ll determine about your SAT II scores and your chances.</p>
<p>I would say your extracurriculars are pretty good, mostly average but nothing in particular sticks out (except maybe for the 300 hours of UCLA hospital volunteering).</p>
<p>Essays will probably determine a lot :)</p>
<p>I would say for the lower UC’s, you have a pretty good chance (even though be warned they may reject you because they know you won’t attend).
I would say for Davis, San Diego you have a good chance as well (again it’ll depend based on your major)
LA bases a LOT ON stats so your test scores may hold you back.
For Berkeley, again, what major and then I’ll chance you even better then :)</p>
<p>Thank You for your quick response.
I am among for something related to biology. Probably pathology, or intercellular biology. But I am up for recommendations for other majors. I know it is a little late, but do you have extracurricular recommendation?</p>
<p>Your GPA is good, however you SAT and/or ACT are low. Retake the one you prefer or both if you want to, and try to raise your SAT to 2100-2200 and/or your ACT to a 32-33. Your ECs are pretty good, nothing sticks out as said before but they aren’t bad. All in all, with an excellent essay and with a raised SAT/ACT (2100+/32+) you’ll certainly get in some UCs. UCLA and Berkeley are not probable I’d say, except if you blow them away with your essay and get a super high SAT (2300+).</p>
<p>You have a pretty good chance at any UC.</p>
<p>UCLA/Cal: 65%
UCSD: 80%
Rest: 90%</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1379901-chance-california-schools-thanks.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1379901-chance-california-schools-thanks.html</a></p>
<p>chance me back :)</p>
<p>There’s no really such thing as a pathology major at Berkeley or SD so you should go to the Bio department pages to find out an exact major.</p>
<p>Not sure about LA (LOL didn’t apply there) but for Berkeley, you would enter in the L&S in either an Integrative or Molecular Cell Biology Major. Both are competitive to get into since Bio at Berkeley is competitive. I entered as a Molecular Cell Biology Major with Neurology.</p>
<p>SD has a pretty competitive Bio department. All Biology majors are impacted so not everyone who applies will get into there. They look at SAT II and AP scores to determine who gets in, so I would recommend to put a Bio major as 1st choice and another major not in the Bio department as 2nd choice.</p>
<p>I guess a 720 in Bio is ok (might be on the low side, not sure) and I would try and retake Math definitely. I’m in SD as a Human Bio major, so you can definitely ask me questions :)</p>
<p>It won’t help to start EC’s now since you’re a senior and it’s not the best choice personally thinking.</p>
<p>Instead write the best personal statement you can and have it read by a lot of different people including friends (if you trust them), English teachers (I had my senior and junior year teachers read it), and others to see if they are moved by it.</p>
<p>I can also read your essay if you like, just PM me (I’ve read a LOT of essays XD)</p>
<p>Thank you so much, I have not yet finished my personal statement but i will show you when I have. Now that I think about it I am interested in Human Biology, Physiology and Neuroscience, or microbiology as well. In your opinion which major is less cometitive, and has easier acceptance? Also, How do you feel about UCSD, that school is actually my top choice, I just don’t know if I have a good chance. What are the admission officers looking for?
Thank You once again :)</p>
<p>There’s no such thing as a Bio major that’s less competitive since all the Bio majors are competitive in the end nor is there one that’s easier to get into. The Bio department as a whole is competitive to get into. </p>
<p>If you don’t get into there the first time, you can enter with your 2nd major and reapply for the Bio major in your freshman and sophomore year (a lot of people apply for that as well). If you get a high enough GPA and complete all LD classes, you’ll probably get into the Bio department in your 2nd year or so through Exceptional Admissions. This website is here: [Exceptional</a> Admission Information](<a href=“http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/exadmit.html]Exceptional”>http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/exadmit.html)</p>
<p>UCSD wasn’t my top choice actually; it was my 3rd choice (behind John Hopkins and University of Chicago). I got into JHU but couldn’t go due to financial issues >.<
But I really liked UCSD when I visited there for Triton Day and stuff. Awesome Bio program, lots of research chances, good professors, and I heard not bad admissions to medical schools were the things that brought me to UCSD.</p>
<p>Obviously the admission officers will look for good grades, test scores, etc. That’s always first. They’ll look at 10-11th grades and calculate your UC GPA. UC’s won’t look at SAT II that much anymore but for the Bio department at UCSD they WILL look at them (if you look on the UC main site they recommend an SAT II Math 2 and an SAT II science of any kind). Then obviously the IMPORTANT personal statement will come in. Since there’s no LOR they’ll depend a lot on the personal statement. EC’s have an impact as well. They’ll look for leadership, commitment, and passion and stuff. They don’t want EC’s that you did sparingly or without much care. Quality over Quantity :)</p>
<p>Hope it helped!</p>
<p>Thank you so much musiclover4. I Have one more question about UCSD. Are the biology classes so competitive that it is on average difficult to maintain a good high GPA. How are the professors? Thank you once again.
;)</p>
<p>Bump bump bump</p>
<p>The lectures are pretty big like 300+ people sometimes but is it hard to maintain a good GPA? I mean the Bio majors are pretty competitive but if you work hard, keep on top of your work, and study without getting distracted, there’s no reason of not getting an A in the class. It’s the same with all classes: major and GE classes.
Professors, it depends on who you get. Some of them are so-so and some of them are amazing. You have to see for yourself. :)</p>