<p>Due to extenuating circumstances, I have decided to apply to colleges in the state of California for the Fall 2007 school year though I am still a junior in High school. I go to a selective boarding school on the East Coast, so realize that my GPA is lower because this school's course work is a lot more rigorous. If I went to a general public school, it would be just a bit higher.
Average GPA freshman year: 3.4 unweighted
Average GPA sophomore year: 3.51 unweighted
Courses:
Sophomore
Comp and Lit (Sophomore english): B+
Chinese 450 Honors: A-
Trig Honors: B
Chemistry Honors: A-
World History Honors: A-
Junior Year courses
AP 562 BC Calculus
AP 375 US history
AP 375 English
AP 550 Chinese
REgular Bio
PSAT percentages :
Math:98%
English: 97%
Writing: 94%
SAT II's
Planning on taking SAT II for Chinese projected score 750-800
SAT II Physics: 690
SAT II MAth Ic: 720
Projected SAT I score: 2200-2300 (according to practice tests)
Extra Curriculars
Just a member of many clubs (chess, reporter for 3 school papers, asian club, chinese club, japanese club, Young Democrats)
Went to China for March-May 2006 to study Chinese (does this count)
Almost Eagle scout in Boy Scouts(working on Eagle Scout Project, its all I have left)
Wrestle in winter (jv)
Run cross country in fall (jv)
Involvement in church (weekly)
Colleges:
UC Berkely
UC Merced
UC Davis
UC SAnta Barbara
UC Riverside
UC Irvine
College Counselor, looking at my situation (applying early) gave me these colleges:
U Redlands
U SAn Diego
USC
Santa Clara U
U of Pacific
Menlo College
Whittier
Chapman
Westmont</p>
<p>Well, this is an unusual case--so here's a few things you need to know.</p>
<p>In order to apply to the Universities of California campuses, you are going to have to apply using the category entitled "Application by Examination". The reason you have to do this is because you didn't take enough years of english and social science otherwise, which is a requirement to apply using the other methods.</p>
<p>Here's the link for applying based on exam only:</p>
<p>Here's the link that tells you how many points you get for each of your test scores:</p>
<p>While you can use this second link for determining your UC GPA--in this case, it doesn't mean much--since freshman grades don't count--and in your case, they are just looking at test scores. Also note that you will have to take the SAT II MathIIC test if you don't take the Chinese test, since the UCs won't accept a SAT II MathIC score. (But you only need two SAT II scores, so if you take SAT II Chinese, you don't have to take SAT II MathIIC).</p>
<p>My guess is that the UCs will consider the sophomore scores as a guide even though you are applying by exam only. Based upon this, here are you chances at the UCs you list (notice that I'm including your out-of-state status in as well--since it's harder to get into the best UCs campuses from out-of-state):</p>
<p>UC Berkeley--Reach
UC Merced--Safety
UC Davis--Match
UC Santa Barbara--Match
UC Riverside--Safety to Safe Match
UC Irvine--Match</p>
<p>Other campuses you didn't list are:
UCLA--Reach
UC San Diego--Slight Reach
UC Santa Cruz--Safe Match</p>
<p>As far as the other schools, here's how I rate your chances:
U Redlands--Safe Match
U San Diego (not the same school as UC San Diego)--Match
USC--Reach
Santa Clara Univ--Match to Slight Reach
U of Pacific--Match
Menlo College--Safety
Whittier College--Safe Match
Chapman College--Safe Match
Westmont College--Safe Match</p>
<p>Also, apply right away to the UCs since I think they start accepting applications Nov 1st and cut off apps on Nov 30th.</p>
<p>well, but my family lives in san francisco, my dad works in san francisco and pays taxes there. Does that qualify me as a californian? Additionally, my school does not appear on the a-g course lists for the UCs. I think I will most likely take the SAT II for math IIC because the math at my school is generally very strong.
the requirement for examination is like 425. The lowest I could possibly get is 558, i think.</p>
<p>bumpamatic.</p>
<p>well, but my family lives in san francisco, my dad works in san francisco and pays taxes there. Does that qualify me as a californian? Additionally, my school does not appear on the a-g course lists for the UCs. What do i do then?
Can anyone answer these questions?</p>
<p>firewolf185:</p>
<p>UCB: Reach (out of state)
UCSD: Slight Reach (out of state)
UCI/UCD/UCSB: Match (out of state)
UCR/UCM: Safe Match (out of state)</p>
<p>i take it that I'm considered out of state though my whole family lives in california? is that how it is for californian east coast boarding school students?</p>
<p>You will be considered in state. Unfortunately many state schools don't consider the fact that your school might be much more competitive than their local publics. UCs do get some applications from NE preps, but I wouldn't think that many. You may well do better applying to privates which know the preps.</p>
<p>I don't know where you rank with a 3.5 at your school, but at the top preps a 3.5 isn't bad and should get you into much better privates than the ones on your list, especially with 2200 plus SATs. What about the Claremont colleges?</p>
<p>i didnt think about claremont colleges. Pardon my lack of knowledge, normally I would be still researching which colleges suited me. Thanks for the info, I will certainly look into those colleges.</p>
<p>I don't know where you rank with a 3.5 at your school, but at the top preps a 3.5 isn't bad and should get you into much better privates than the ones on your list, especially with 2200 plus SATs. What about the Claremont colleges?</p>
<p>What other private colleges are more selective/good in california? I currently attend a boarding school with a 25% admission rate. Is that important to a college? Plus I'm on a full ride scholarship here (which was even harder to get into than my high school), with 50 dollars a month stipend, plane tickets paid for. Does this information matter for colleges?</p>
<p>Stanford, USC.</p>
<p>Yes, the private colleges know the good NE preps well. Having a full scholarship at a good one is impressive, especially if it's merit based as opposed to need based.</p>
<p>I went to Andover and while we didn't work on a 4 point scale, the equiv. of a 3.5 is good. There aren't that many schools that only take 25%, so I'm assuming you're considered to have done well at your school.</p>
<p>Schools in CA you may want to look at not on your list are Claremont McKenna, Occidental and Harvey Mudd (if they have a major you want), they are ranked considerably higher than most of your privates. If money matters and you're looking for merit scholarships also look at Pitzer.</p>
<p>For HMC, I'm digging the BC calc junior year but not digging the relativel low math/sci SATII.</p>
<p>Going to Choate this year. I made a bad decision with the SAT II MAth 1c. The curve was so bad, i think i missed like 6. THe physics was just......an idiot testing guy in my freshman year. Used his watch for the time... clock on the wall was 5 mins behind! So i had planned my time for 5 questions left to do in the 5 mins but found out that my time had run out. Idiot testing guy. Anyways, the SAT chinese should raise my SAT II scores....i finished a written practice test portion in 15mins. projected to be around 750-800.
Im looking for a larger college because I do not have a major yet and would like a place where I have many choices. My college counselor said that I would have virtually no chance at places like Stanford or Harvey Mudd and Occidental and gave me the above list of colleges to look at. Is what he thinks correct? I dont have chances at more selective schools because I'm a junior applying for college? Should I cross off such private schools then, or should I still try to get into them because of the reputation of my school? Right now I'm leaning more towards the UC system because of its size and its options because of such size. But is it true they wont take my school and scholarship into account?</p>
<p>Your counselor is likely to know.</p>
<p>UCs other than Cal and LA don't get a lot of applications from East Coast preps. They tend to just plug in a GPA with little consideration to the school. But hey, give it a try. Just don't rely on a Chinese SATII if you happen to be Chinese.</p>
<p>If you need to return to CA, why don't you finish high school there? You'll actually do better at many colleges coming out of an average public school.</p>
<p>How many UC's can I appy for? I have a singaporean passport and an american passport. Do I count as Chinese? I learned most of my chinese in highschool...could barely speak or write before high school, only could understand. I learned ALOT due to term abroad and my teacher. will colleges count that SAT as less? I speak english at home and all.
If i go just to a public high school, my GPA will be alot higher, but then my ECs would be all screwed up. No chances at being a president of any club whatsoever. Is that worth the trade?
Also thinking of going half high school+community college classes for credit. Is that a good option? College counseling staff here at Choate isnt too good....alot of new people this year because everyone left last year due to better job offers, fired, etc. Plus they dont know too much about Cali cuz 99% of the kids at my school apply for non west coast schools except for Stanford. No one on east coast applies to Berkeley for instance.
How many UCs can one apply to? I heard you can only apply to 4.
I'm very uninformed as you can see. This forum is great for answering my questions without needing to wait 1 week to schedule an appointment with a college counselor.</p>