Do I have a chance at UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, and UC Davis?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a junior
Hispanic male (born Argentina, lived in Colombia 8 years, came to US at age 9)</p>

<p>I'm in a good public school in California with about 5 people going to Ivies each year and about 20-25 going to Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD</p>

<p>GPA unweighted: 4.00
weighted: 4.40 (expect to get 4.48 by end of junior year and 4.68 by end of senior year, which is good enough to meet the 4.65 standard to be a valedictorian in my school district (more than one is allowed)
class rank: 5/603</p>

<p>Course Loads:</p>

<p>Freshman:
French 1 CP
English 9H
Algebra 2H
Biology H
Career Ops/geography/health
Track and field</p>

<p>Sophomore:
English 10H
AP European History (only a 3 on exam though)
Chemistry H
Math Analysis H
French 2 CP
Track </p>

<p>Junior:
AP English Language and Composition
AP Chemistry (expecting a 5, large amount of people who take it in my school get 4's and 5's)
AP Calculus BC
AP US History
Photography CP
French 3 CP
Track</p>

<p>Planned for senior year:
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Studio Art (photography)
AP Physics
AP Economics/ American Political Systems
AP Statistics
Track</p>

<p>(other APs offered at my school are AP biology, AP computer science, AP art history, AP music theory, and i think that's it)</p>

<p>SAT I: 1970 (will retake after prep classes, hope to get over 2100)
Verbal: 640
Math: 690
Writing: 640 (68 MC, 7 on essay)</p>

<p>Will take SAT II's: Chemistry, US History, Math II (worried though cuz I took precalculus sophomore year) and plan to take Spanish with listening in November during senior year</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Track and Field- 4 years (should get varsity letter this year, won frosh soph 4x100 relay in league finals last year)
CSF (will have 3 years)
Volunteer at American Red Cross chapter in my county (will have 2 years)
Photography</p>

<p>I want to major in electrical engineering</p>

<p>So what are my chances?</p>

2

<p>pretty good. if you can get your SATs over 2100 and keep up your grades. P.S. if you want to do EE, you should go to UCB. They have a double major - computer science + electrical engineering. (it's only offered at UCB).</p>

3

<p>Thanks, zograscope. Yeah, Berkeley is my top choice, but I didn't know about the double major so thanks for letting me know.</p>

<p>By the way, what does "bump" mean?</p>

4

<p>You have a great shot.</p>

5

<p>With the hispanic hook, with a 2100 you'd have a good shot at top private schools too. Have you considered any? Depending on your family's income, they could be even less expensive and several have no loan financial aid.</p>

6

<p>You totally have a chance with those schools. If you don't get in to your top choice school as a Freshman, go to your local community college for two years and transfer. UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz and UCSD all have the Transfer Admission Guarantee Program which means that if you have above a specific GPA (2.8, usually) and take the right general ed classes (easy), then you are guaranteed a spot. I did this for Davis and it's now my fall back school (not a bad fall back; a well ranked school).</p>

<p>Also, if you were to transfer, Berkeley has a special program for minority transfers; I participated in this. They help you strategize your application and essay to increase chances of acceptance. It's called Experience Berkeley, through Stiles Hall. Stiles</a> Hall</p>

<p>There is also another program, I think it's called TAP; which helps minorities with scholarships. </p>

<p>But, those are all last resorts, I think your chances as it stands are excellent. :) GO BEARS!</p>

7

<p>Hey, thanks guys. And hmom5, yeah I've considered some private schools, mainly Harvard, and Stanford and MIT for their strong engineering programs. I'm not getting my hopes up by counting on getting in, but I'm still gonna apply there in case I get lucky; I don't really have much to lose, besides the application fees.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
I'm in a good public school in California with about 5 people going to Ivies each year and about 20-25 going to Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD</p>

<p>class rank: 5/603

[/quote]

statistically, you're looking good.</p>

9

<p>Bump. Does anyone have some advice on what I should try to improve (besides the SAT), or something new to consider doing?</p>

10

<p>You should add some top private colleges, you might get better aid.</p>

11

<p>agree with columbia_student. also, go talk to someone at the schools. make sure that you're picking the best fit for you, not just the best reputation. Cal's engineering program is incredibly competitive, perhaps you can come in on a different major than switch programs? I'm not sure if you can do this, but it's worth asking. I know that as a transfer student, this is often a tactic folks use to get accepted. Some departments really frown on it, however. </p>

<p>I've learned more by meeting with admissions and department people at the schools than doing anything else.</p>

12

<p>Thanks, ilivefree. I was actually just reading this thread specifically about Cal, and it seems like it's best to apply directly for the EECS major, although it's the hardest major to get into at Berkeley, so it seems. I guess I'll just have to take my chances.</p>

<p>I've also been reading that being a minority really doesn't help at all for UC's, so should I even mention it when I apply? And what is Affirmative Action?</p>

<p>And btw yes I will take a chance by applying at Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. I'll just have to hope for the best but I won't be expecting to get in, as I mentioned before.</p>

13

<p>You should still mention it! Affirmative action is when colleges 'bend the rules' for minorities (not usually asians) to help them get a more diverse student body so later they can say "oh yea...10% are hispanics, 10% are asian, 10% are black...this is a diverse campus". Since there are so many asians though, they don't get AA much anymore. You, however, will get a huge advantage! but you're right, only at private schools since the UC's did away with affirmative action.</p>

14

<p>Just checking, nooob. So do you sugest I still mention that I'm a hispanic immigrant when I apply to UC's? Or just for private schools?</p>

15

<p>good chances at all, especially if you boost sat</p>

16

<p>Bump. Anyone know if I should still mention being a minority for UC applications? Any other pointers?</p>

17

<p>Bump. I decided to only mention my minority and immigrant status where it asks to check if you are (so not in essay, etc.). Anyone have any valid reasons to do otherwise? I don't want to seem like I'm playing the minority card when I apply.</p>

18

<p>hey!
i'm a junior and I want to go to Berkeley (or SD, LA, Davis, etc) as well:)</p>

<p>best of luck to you!
i'm guessing with all of your amazing stats that you'd get in with flying colors.
annd i would only mention it when it asks unless your essay is focusing on your heritage or something and how that's been a defining factor or something etc,
yeaaah.</p>

19

<p>Hey, thanks karen2312. And good luck to you as well. I'm only more worried about getting in though cuz the EECS major is the most competitive at Berkeley so it's the hardest one to get into. But if I get in that would be great, and then it would be hell from what I hear for freshman year for the EECS major haha.</p>

20

<p>awe i hope you get in!: )</p>

<p>blah so it's just soo nervewracking because i'm trying to set up my college application like in advance doing all of these things that im interested in but it's really stressful sometimes you know?</p>

<p>bahh, annnd i suck at taking like standardized tests.
likke, for real. i have no idea why.</p>

<p>i have like a 4.25 gpa right now
buuut my test scores are crap:( so impretty sure that's like my total total weakness.
: (
yeah that's my rant of the day.
i'm sitting in my journalism class right now haha:)</p>