I basically got a 2120 on the SAT, and I’m mostly interested in biomedical engineering/ neuroscience/biochemistry. I may be premed. I’m confused between UC Davis and Irvine- I’ll be choosing either one as a safe college (btw, with my score, is this the right decision?)
Davis is closer to home, Irvine seems to be in a better place, but its reallly far from home. I’m a nature-lover, but Davis and its cows and ‘farm stuff’ don’t really match with me- I’m more hiking, outdoorsy type 
On the other hand, I’ve heard Irvine has a large commuter population (not what I want) and a large asian population (I’m asian, but I don’t want to be surrounded by others just like me :P)
Visiting colleges is not an option 
Any suggestions? Also, based on my interests, could anyone give me more safe schools? My situation is slightly complicated (international student,but US citizen, with a parent living in NorCal) so I have no gpa. I’m a slightly above average student(B+/ A-) types, with very little extracurriculars- I’ve played the violin for many years, and have been in the music club, writing competitions, and some science fairs. Really, not much Do I have chances at Berkeley/LA/SD?
Safe schools NOT in Cal, preferably
Irvine does give you access to beaches and there are lots of hiking trails (though you may need a car to access them – I think UCI has a car share program). It’s also a bike-friendly area. The airport (SNA) is very close to campus, so if your home is near an airport and you can afford to fly, it may not be as far away as you think. Last I read, UCI was about 60% Asian vs 37% at Davis.
For Engineering neither UCI or UCD would be considered a “safe” school for you. Too much competition in the UC’s. I would look at UCSC or UCR as possible safe schools since your GPA looks below a solid A (4.0) UCB/ UCLA are Reach schools and UCSD is a Low Reach/ High Match.
@Gumbymom : Are you absolutely sure about that? If I can take college.simply.com seriously, they say Berkeley/LA are matches based on my SAT scores (maybe different for others)
*other factors like gpa, ec’s etc
I agree with Gumbymom, neither UCD or UCI are a true ‘safe’ schools for you.
With your unique International schooling status, it will be very difficult to predict how your
applications might be read. Is your parent living in California a US citizen? Do they pay state taxes?
Have you determined if you will be considered an in-state student or an International?
Since the deadline is coming right up, why don’t you apply to both? Because of campus-by-campus variations, the UC system strongly encourages students to apply broadly.
I would also add in UC Santa Cruz and UC Riverside.
Note that as of last year, UC Riverside has opened a new teaching hospital
and saves a small number of med school seats for UCR students.
If you’re looking for a true safety, look at U Oregon. Great outdoor access and solid bio and neuro.
GPA is king with the UC’s and since you can only quantify your GPA as above average (B+A-) it could be anywhere from a 3.3 to a 3.7 unweighted or weighted? What is your HS course rigor like? How about your essays and EC’s? All these contribute to your chances. Your SAT score is above average for both UCI and UCD but it is only part of your whole application. UCI/ UCD are probably match schools but not safeties. Safeties are defined as a school where you have a very high chance for acceptance and affordable. Is $55K/year affordable or are your parents California residents?
Also, really sorry didn’t mnton it: I’m givng my sat subject tests in maths 2 and chem
If you do well on the SAT 2 subject tests, they can boost your chances but as of now you have no scores. Did you already take them this past Saturday or are you planning to take them in December? UC applications are due November 30. I suggest you apply broadly, include UCR and UCSC onto your list to ensure you have several choices in the spring.
Good Luck. Also no person on CC or a website can accurately predict anyone’s chances in getting an acceptance. Too many variables go into an admission decision.
My parent living in California is an US citizen, and pays taxes- since I m also an US citizen, I will be considered a regular, out-of-state student, with international schooling (I’ve asked all campuses). Actually, I will be applying to a few other schools outside Cal as well, so I don’t really want to apply to so many UC schools. (also, is U of Pittsburgh a safe school for me? They have a really high acceptance rate, so i was curious)
About my SAT subjects- I’m pretty sure I’ll get above 650 in each, but I’m really not sure whether UC will take them into consideration, seeing as I’ll be giving them on the December date. They said I could always send them the scores, but it may not be a factor in admission
According to the UC Website, it states they take December scores.
Yeah, I checked, thanks!
One more question: Are a lot of the UCs cutthroat and competitive?? I really really don’t thrive in those kind of environments, so its a big factor for me.
I can’t speak to the undergrad atmosphere at Davis or Irvine, but I have lived in Davis and visited Irvine. In my opinion, Davis is a great place to be for an outdoorsy person, and Irvine does not seem like a very interesting place to live. Irvine has no real downtown, it’s mostly shopping centers and the campus. It’s close to the ocean, true, and there may be hiking nearby, but it’s not like it’s UCSC in its redwood forest.
Davis may be in an agricultural area, but it’s a green, leafy town with an arboretum and lots of nice parks where everybody bikes everywhere. It’s true that you need a car (or a friend with one) to go hiking, but there are nice trails within 30 minutes, and within 2 hours we have Lake Tahoe and Point Reyes. Within 3 hours, you can get to Big Sur and Lassen National Park. A little further will get you to Yosemite or the Trinity Alps. Everybody I know here is outdoorsy.
UCSC or Oregon are great safeties for outdoorsy folks.
@arctostaphylos : Thank you so much! This was the exactly the kind of advice I was looking for 
I attended Davis and I’ve lived near Irvine, and I agree with arctostaphlos. At Davis you can get in touch with your inner Cow if you want, but it also has a huge hiking, camping, skiing, outdoorsy scene. Much more so than Irvine, IMO.
As for whether these schools are safeties or not, I’d say they would be if you had a GPA comparable to your SAT score. But since your GPA is kinda fuzzy to begin with and perhaps more in the B+ range, I’d say you have a decent shot at admission, but it is by no means a sure thing.
Well, as I said, I don’t really have a gpa, being an international student, so I really wish I had that, t would help me find schools my level too, but I can’t All I can say, is I was by no means in the top 10% of my class, maybe top 20% (we didnt have ranks either) But thank you anyway
You’re international so that should help your chances i think it’s fifty/fifty you get into Davis or Irvine simply because of engineering they are by no means safeties for you doh apply to UCSC and UCR as safeties